The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Picture not rosy at Patiala bus stand
Gagan K Teja
Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 27
Despite getting a revenue of Rs 12 lakh per day from the Patiala bus depot, the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) has miserably failed to provide facilities to commuters at the bus stand.

One can see stray cattle roaming at the bus stand. Garbage welcomes one to the place and stink keeps emanating from public toilets.

About 45,000 passengers are made to suffer due to the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities. There are no security arrangements at the bus stand, notwithstanding the fact that it is one of the busiest junctures in the city.

Stray dogs can be seen everywhere.

Though the PRTC charges Rs 100 as entry fee, it appears that funds are not being utilised in a proper manner.

“The condition of the toilets is extremely bad. Despite charging money for its use, the toilets are not maintained and keep stinking," said a passenger. Another passenger, Paramjit Singh, said illegal slaughterhouses were mushrooming alongside the boundary wall of the bus stand. "There is no seating arrangement," said Sakshi Walia, a resident.

With the proposal of shifting the Patiala bus stand hanging fire, passengers are facing a lot of inconvenience. Waterlogging adds to the problem, making it difficult for commuters to even enter the bus stand.

COURTS

kidnapping case
Accused sent to 14-day judicial custody

Chandigarh, January 27
Chinar Dutt (22), accused in the kidnapping case of three-year-old girl Harmeini, has been sent to judicial remand till February 9. Harmeini was recovered by the police from a village near Jind on January 20 and has been reunited with her parents.

Chinar is a co-accused in the case. She had kept the girl with her for six days at the behest of Jagpal Beniwal and his brother-in-law Raju, a resident of Kaithal.

Both Jagpal and Raju are still on the run. The police said they would be arrested soon, adding that there were more accomplices who helped the accused in the case and they would also be arrested soon.

Police investigations revealed that the kidnapped girl used to address Chinar as her “masi” and thus it was easier for her to kidnap her along with her male accomplice, Jagpal.

The police said the name of the third accused, Raju, cropped up during the investigations as he was the one who used to make ransom calls and kept the child in confinement for six days along with Chinar.

Harmeini was kidnapped on January 15 from Hotel Royal Inn in Sector 22 by her father’s business partner Jagpal and his woman accomplice, Chinar. Harmeini’s father Harish Arora, who runs a share trading business, and her mother Priya Arora, residents of Delhi, had reported to the police that Jagpal was demanding a ransom of Rs 60 lakh from them. — TNS

CRIME

Thieves strike at different places in city
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 27
Thefts were reported in two houses, while a snatching incident also took place on January 26, in different parts of the city. Thefts at five booths were also reported in Sector 41 on the intervening night of January 26 and 27. Thieves struck at Charan Singh Colony, Mani Majra on Saturday.

Complainant Sabbu reported that a DVD player, clothes and Rs 1,500 cash was found missing from his house.

Another house theft was reported in Sector 33, where thieves managed to decamp with a gold necklace, a gold tikka, two gold bangles, gold rings, five gold nose pins and silver “pajeb: apart from silver ornaments. The thieves managed to enter the house by breaking the locks of the main door. The theft took place on the intervening night of Sector 26 and 27. Shutters of five booths were reported broken by thieves in Sector 41 booth market on the intervening night of January 26 and 27.

Complainant Vishal Sood a resident of Sector 37, Chandigarh, reported that thefts at Booth Nos. 136, 138, 139, 140 and 141 were reported. The police stated that thieves managed to decamp with Rs 64,000 cash and three mobile phones.

A case under Sections 457and 380 of theIPC has been registered in the Sector 39 police station, Chandigarh.

Sources said that the security guards posted at the ATM machines installed in the market were also questioned by the police. The UT police also arrested two persons in separate incidents for stealing iron grills in Sector 26 and pieces of bronze from a factory in Industrial Area.

In another theft incident, house owner Shahid Ansar,i resident of Phase I, Ram Darbar, reported that thieves decamped with Rs 45,000 cash from his house between January 24 and 26.

The UT police caught Ravi, a resident of DMC, and Desh Raj a resident of Phase -I, BDC, Sector 26, while stealing an iron grill near the local bus stop in Grain Market, Sector 26, on Sunday.

In another incident, Parmod Kumar, a resident of Hallo Majra village, was caught stealing red handed from Factory No. 209, Phase-1, Industrial Area, while stealing 37 pieces of bronze.

Cases were registered at different police stations and an inquiry had been initiated.

Shop owner manhandled

Chandigarh, January 27
Shopkeepers of Gol Market on the PGI campus staged a protest outside the PGI police post after one of the constables allegedly manhandled an owner of a restaurant, his brother and their father.

The matter was reported to the police after whom the complainant and the constable struck a compromise.

Shop owner Robin Gupta alleged that a man under the influence of liquor was creating ruckus outside his shop so he informed the police and constable Kuldeep Singh came to the shop. “Kuldeep slapped me and manhandled my brother Rajat Singla”, Gupta alleged.

He further alleged that the police also manhandled his father who arrived at the police post. Refuting all allegations, Gurmukh Singh, SHO, Sector 11 police station, said that no such incident took place. It was just a misunderstanding between the constable and Gupta. — TNS

SPORTS

Chandigarh beat Mohali by 10 wickets
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 27
In the final match of Double Leg Cricket tournament for boys U-19 category, the Chandigarh Cricket Academy defeated Mohali Cricket Club by 10-wickets, held at Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, here today.

The Mohali team posted 169-runs, while batting first, in their allotted quota of 45 overs. Their opener, Harsaroup, scored 41 off 70 and Taranpreet contributed 30 off 36 for the Mohali team, while another batsman, Abhijeet, chipped in with useful 22 off 32. For the bowling side, Bhagwinder claimed 3 for18 and Aseem took 2 for 19.

In reply, the winning team achieved the target with Bhagwinder and Shivam Bhambari staying unbeaten for the first-wicket partnership. Bhagwinder scored a brilliant unbeaten century (109 off 101), studded with 14 boundaries and four sixes. He was equally supported by Shivam from the other end, with his unbeaten knock of 57 off 87.

This budding cricketer wants to emulate Dravid
Vaibhav Kaushik has represented UT at the national games recently
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 27
Vaibhav Kaushik (15), an upcoming budding cricketer of the City Beautiful, has strong determination to reach great heights and realise his dreams. A student of St. John's School, Sector 26, is an upcoming player and under his captaincy, the local cricket team successfully secured third place in the National School Games in the boys U-16 category. He also participated in the Punjab inter -district tournament.

"Cricket is a part of my life. I want to be like Rahul Dravid and I to reach that level I need to polish my cricketing skills.", said Kaushik.

Kaushik began following the game, when he was seven-years old. During the initial stage, he went to Lahore to watch an India-Pakistan, one-day match, in Gaddaffi Stadium, Lahore and joined the cricket academy soon after returning. Now he has been representing his school, state and proudly contributing in team's victories.

Kaushik stated, "My father is my mentor. It's very difficult to perform consistently and that's when his presence matters the most. "