NEIGHBOURHOOD

Garbage dots streets in Ropar
Indefinite strike by sanitation workers enters fourth day 
Tribune News Service

Ropar, August 9
Indefinite strike by safai karamcharis entered fourth consecutive day today. It is for the second time that safai karamcharis have resorted to indefinite strike during the past one month.

Heaps of garbage dot streets as sanitation workers go on an indefinite strike in Ropar. A TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPH

Earlier, the safai karamcharis had begin an indefinite strike on July 5 demanding regular service for 112 safai karamcharis employed on contractual basis. After an assurance from the Municipal Council officials and councillors regarding the regularisation of jobs before August 5, the protesting employees had resumed with their duties on July 11.

In a tripartite meeting between the leaders of safai karamcharis, municipal councillors and the executive officer of the Municipal Council on July 11, it was decided that the civic body will regularise the jobs of 22 safai karamcharis. However, the Municipal Council failed to do so, which led the karamcharis to protest against the alleged failure. There are 45 employees with a regular job while majority of the safai karamcharis are employed on contractual basis.

The strike has resulted in the accumulation of heaps of garbage at every nook and corner of the town. A visit to different places revealed that the garbage lying for days together has started leaving stench in areas including the Civil Hospital road, Civil Hospital, Gandhi Chowk Road, and the Congress bhawan.

The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Ropar, Pushpinder Singh Kailey, said, “A meeting was held with the protesting employees. Their demand has been put before the state government. However, the district administration has to look for some alternative in case the striking employees do not join their duties.” 

Fatehgarh Sahib, August 9
Four miscreants have been accused of cheating city-based doctors, Dr Sushil Kumar and Dr Ajay Kumar, employed with Dharm Hospital, Sector 15-C. The doctors were allegedly duped of Rs 1.30 crore by the miscreants on the pretext of selling the Punjab government custodian land in Mattor village, Mohali.

The doctors alleged that Gurpal Singh, his wife Sukhwinder Kaur and his son, all residents of Sirhind, and Gurpal’s brother-in-law, a resident of Jodhpur village, Bassi Pathania, prepared fake registered documents of sale deed and forged fake seal of the Tehsildar, Mohali. The stamp papers were reportedly purchased from the Joshi stamp vendor, Chandigarh. The Fatehgarh Sahib police has registered a case under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC. Investigations are on to nab the culprits.

Fatehgarh Sahib, August 9
The bank authorities should make the credit and saving schemes as per the needs of the rural and agriculture sector, so that people from the rural region may benefit from it and improve their financial status, said the Deputy Commissioner, Arun Sekhri, while addressing the gathering after inaugurating the new branch of HDFC bank at Badali Ala Singh today. As many as 40 new accounts were opened on the spot.

DC urged the farmers to take loans as per the requirement and advised them to pay installments regularly to avoid any inconvenience in future.

Rakesh Joshi, cluster head Patiala zone, said, “This is the eighth branch in Fatehgarh Sahib and 340th in the State. In past two years, the bank has opened as many as 124 branches in rural sector along with ATMs. There are over 648 ATMs set up in the state.”

Joshi also announced an opening of a new rural branch at Kheri Naudh Singh in Fatehgarh Sahib.

The branch manager, Amit Sarin, said, “To facilitate farmers zero balance saving accounts will be opened. The bank will also organise an Aadhar card camp.”

PatialA , August 9
Taking strict action against the students who seek admission in colleges to make a free bus pass and work at some private place, the authorities at Government Mohindra College, Patiala, have decided to omit the name of students from the college, if they continuously miss classes for four days.

Principal Dr Sukhbir Singh Thind said he was not against their working to earn money, but they waste the college seats, which could have been given to some other students. "I have directed all the teachers to submit copies of attendance registers every month. We will take strict action against such students," said Thind. Meanwhile, the students said the UGC had already laid guidelines regarding the minimum attendance. — TNS

Kalka, August 9
A family, from Delhi, travelling in the Hawra-Kalka train was robbed of cash and jewellery worth Rs 1.47 lakh on Thursday.

The incident reportedly took place at around 1.15 am when Rekha Sharma, a resident of Paschim Vihar, Delhi, along with other family members, were on their way to Shimla.

When the train reached at Kurukshetra railway station, some miscreants boarded the train and one of the miscreants took away Rekha’s bag while she was sleeping.

The bag reportedly contained Rs 1.05 lakh and two gold rings, three mobile phones and some other important documents.

When she raised an alarm, the thieves got down of the running train and managed to flee.

The GRP officials have lodged a zero FIR and sent it to the Kurukshetra GRP for further investigations.

Kalka, August 9
An unidentified body of a 35-year-old man was recovered from Karnapur village of the Pinjore block. The Pinjore police said the deceased was found dead near NH-21-A. The body has been sent to the Kalka Community Health Centre for the autopsy. —OC

Mohali, August 9
The police has booked two persons of an immigration company for allegedly duping a person of Rs 5.20 lakh on the pretext of getting a student admitted to a college in London.

Sohan Singh, a resident of Ral Majra village in Nawanshahr, complained to the police that the immigration company, based in Phase II, Mohali, took Rs 5.20 lakh to get his son Amandeep Singh admitted to a college in London. However, when his son reached London on November 2, 2012, he was told that the college had been closed.

Sohan Singh alleged when he brought the matter to the notice of the company, he was told that his son could be admitted to another college for which he would have to pay more money. He demanded his money back, but to no avail. A case has been registered.— TNS

Chandigarh, August 9
Chandigarh trounced Moga by six wickets in the ongoing U-19 Women Cricket Tournament held at Gian Jyoti School, Moga. Moga won the toss and elected to bat first. They were bundled out for 123 in 39.2 overs.

Amarpal Kaur (34) and Monika Rani (17) were the main scorers for Moga. Priyanka Guleria and Rajni Devi claimed three wickets each.

Chandigarh won the match in 27.3 overs for the loss of four wickets. Taniya Bhatia scored an unbeaten 58 off 92 balls with the help of eight boundaries.

In the second match, Amritsar beat Combined XI by 10 wickets. Batting first, Combined XI were bundled out for 43 runs. Neelam was the most successful bowlers for Amritsar, claiming eight wickets for nine runs. Amritsar scored 45 runs for no loss in 9.1 overs. Priyanka scored an unbeaten 23 off 23 balls with one four and two sixes. Amritsar got five points including a bonus. 

PCA secretary lauds players

Mohali: Asking cricketers to be wary of inducements, secretary of the PCA stadium, said players should learn a lesson from the past. He was referring to the spot fixing scams that left the country shocked. He lauded players and coaches for putting up a good show in the recently held championships. He said pre-season fitness camps helped in honing the skills of players. He said the PCA management would support players in every possible way. He congratulated Mandeep Singh, Sandeep Sharma, Sarabjit Singh Lada, Jeevanjot Singh and Rahul Sharma on their achievement. The lads have been selected for India-A team. He said more youngsters should make it to the Indian team.

Chandigarh, August 9
St Xavier's Senior Secondary School organised a badminton tournament for teachers.

Eighty teachers, including staff members, took part in the event. Pritam Rawat and Monica Jalota were the winners of the tournament. Ronald John and Puneet finished runner-ups while Tyrone Gilbanks and Swati Sharma stood third. Principal of the school Mervin West lauded the efforts of the sports department.

Vice-chairman I William gave away prizes to winners.