NEIGHBOURHOOD

Boy killed, 20 hurt in cracker mishaps
Suman Bhatnagar

Patiala, November 4
Narain Public School, Patiala, wore a festive look at its two-day annual function ‘Aghaas’. The students captivated the audience with a spectacular show.

On both the days, the show began with the lighting of the lamp by the chief guests GK Singh (IAS) Deputy Commissioner, Patiala, and Indermohan Singh Bazaz, president SAD, Patiala, along with Avtar Singh Arora, managing director of the school. Shavinder Kaur Bazaz, executive director, Manjit Kaur Waraich, principal, Praneet Kaur, vice-principal, Hema Chopra, head Prep Wing.

Prodigies from Nursery to XII took the stage using a mix of Hindi and English music and contemporary dance steps ignited the entire audience to grooming beats and tunes.

On both the days, the show had 10 sequences, capturing different moods, styles and beats. The audience too sat immersed, lapping their toes, clapping hand and humming these tunes. The dances of different categories and plays (English, Hindi and Punjabi) exuding patriotism and national ethos. The cultural items concluded with bhangra and gatka. The chief guest on the second and concluding day honoured the meritorious students. — TNS

Patiala, November 4
The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, celebrated PharmFest-2013 based on the theme ‘Diagnostic Tools: The Backbone of Clinical Health Care System’. Various events like quiz competition, debate and poster presentation were organised. A guest lecture on ‘Radiodiagnostic Techniques’ was also delivered.

Banur, November 4
One person was killed in a road accident near here last night. The deceased has been identified as Jagat Singh, a resident of nearby Karla village.

The accident occurred when the victim was going on the Banur-Chandigarh road last night and suddenly his motorcycle slipped. He was rushed to the PGI, Chandigarh, where he succumbed to his injuries. His body was handed over to his relatives after conducting the postmortem examination. 

Ropar, November 4
Ropar Deputy Commissioner, PK Agrawal, has banned plying of heavy vehicles on the newly-constructed link road on both banks of Ganguwal Power House to Ropar-Majri via Anandpur Sahib here today.

Ropar Executive Engineer (B and R) in his complaint to Deputy Commissioner had complained that the heavy vehicles including trucks and tippers were plying on these link roads resulting in damage to them.

Similarly, plying of the heavy vehicles (more than 20 tons) has been banned on bridge constructed on the National Highway 21 on road from Behrampur up to old Morinda-Ropar road, and National Highway 21 from Khabra village up to Old Morinda Road.

This order will be applicable till 31st December 2013. The drivers of heavy vehicles prefer this route to avoid toll plaza near village Solkhian village on Kurali-Ropar road due to this the bridge and roads were being damaged.

Ropar, November 4
A 19-year-old youth was killed when his motorcycle hit a tree at Mianpur near here last night. The deceased has been identified as Joginder Kumar, a resident of Mianpur, a student of Class XII.

Sources said that Joginder along with his friend, Kailash on pillion rider, was going towards his home from nearby railway crossing when a stray cattle came on road suddenly. In order to avoid hitting the cattle, Joginder lost control over his motorcycle and hit a tree and died.

The pillion rider suffered minor injuries and was discharged from hospital after first aid, said the police.

Ropar, November 4
Ten people, including two children, were injured due to burning of crackers here yesterday. 

The victims were identified as Parminder (30), Arvinder (37) Harjit (25), Harshpreet (14), Vinod (30) Manvinder (11) all residents of Ropar and Inderjit (18) and Madan (30) from Bheora village and Sarbjit (27) from Ghanola village. According to doctors the victims were brought yesterday night. All the injured were discharged after administering them first aid, said doctors. — TNS

Dera Bassi, November 4
Diwali was celebrated with fervour at various places in Dera Bassi sub-division. People used fire crackers and distributed sweets to each other. So far, no untoward incident has been reported regarding the celebration of festival.

SP, Anil Sharma, said proper places and timings were fixed for fire crackers. There was rush in the markets for shopping during the festival.

Chandigarh, November 4
District Consumer Disputes Redressal forum has penalised an insurance firm for undervaluing the insurance against a dead cow. The New India Assurance has been directed to pay Rs 10,000 to the complainant towards compensation for harassment and deficiency in service and Rs 5500 to the complainant towards litigation expenses.

Narinder Singh, complainant got insured 11 cows from the Opposite Party. Out of these 11 cows, one died and the matter was intimated to the Opposite Party. The dead cow was examined by the doctor, who removed the microchip. The post mortem on the dead cow was also conducted and the investigator verified that the dead cow as the same, which was insured with the opposite party.

It has been contended that the complainant completed all the formalities for settlement of the claim but the opposite party, instead of paying the genuine claim of the complainant, offered Rs 45,000 instead of sum insured (Rs 52,000). It is the admitted case of the parties that one Cross Breed Milch Cow of the complainant along with other 10 cows of the complainant was insured with New India Assurance. “The opposite party has not produced any such documentary evidence, which could show that the terms and conditions of the Cattle Insurance Policy were conveyed to the complainant. The terms and conditions enclosed with the Cattle Insurance Policy produced by the OP do not bear the signatures of the complainant. The mere fact that the terms and conditions are that of Standard Cattle Insurance Policy does not warrant that the same were known to the complainant," the forum ruled. 

Chandigarh. November 4
A departmental store has been penalised for selling a "Frooti" bottle carrying foreign particles. District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Arora Karyana and Confectioner, Sector 37, to pay Rs 10,000 to the complainant for harassment and mental agony and Rs 5,000 towards litigation expenses.

Varun Bhardwaj, the complaiant, purchased a Frooti bottle of 1.5 litre from the departmental store. After reaching home, the complainant found that some foreign elements were floating in the sealed bottle. The video film (CD) of the foreign elements floating in the same bottle was prepared. The complainant approached the store with the original sealed bottle and brought the facts to his notice but he showed his inability to help in the matter and asked him to contact the manufacturers. The cost of Frooti bottle was Rs 65. As the opposite party failed to come forward to contest the case, the complaint was proceeded ex parte. The evidence of the complainant went unrebutted. "It is also important to note that the original CD produced along with the complaint was displayed in the presence of the learned Counsel for the complainant but the pictures of the same were blurred. Thereafter, the learned Counsel for the complainant produced a fresh copy of the CD. That CD was operated/played in the presence of the proxy Counsel for the complainant before this Forum and we saw one small black object floating in the liquid inside the bottle," the forum observed. Apart from the above infirmities it is also worth mentioning that store has not produced any bill or cash memo showing that the bottle in question was purchased by it from any authroised dealer and the seal on the bottle is genuine, the forum stated in jugdment.

Mohali, November 4
A 28-year-old labourer was murdered by some unidentified persons on the eve of Diwali at Nayagaon village here. The body of the victim, Ashok Kumar, a painter, was recovered from a vacant plot at Vikas Nagar in the area. According to the police, the victim's head had been crushed under a vehicle in a bid to conceal his identity.

“Ashok Kumar, a resident of Harraipur in UP, was done to death by hitting him on the head with heavy stones. Later, his head was crushed under a vehicle,” the police said. The police recovered two bloodstained stones and some food items from the spot.

Panchkula, November 4
Six persons were injured in a clash after they were involving swords and stones this evening at Kharag Mangoli.

Two of them, identified as Rajbir and Depti, have been referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, while Upesh, Vidya Devi and others have been admitted to a hospital. — TNS

Mohali, November 4
A shopkeeper of Teur village sustained injuries accidentally when two groups quarrelled and later one of them opened fire.

Manjeet Singh, SHO, said Balbir Singh, who was a truck driver, had come to the village to celebrate Diwali with his family members. When he was taking the truck through the village street to his house, a ramp of another villager got damaged. This led to heated arguments between the two groups. While Balbir Singh, his brother, Nahar Singh and Jaswant Singh and Gurmeet Singh (also two brothers).

The SHO further said Nahar Singh allegedly fired at the other group from his licenced .12 bore gun. The gun shots missed both Jaswant Singh and Gurmeet Singh but accidently hit Narinder Kumar, a shopkeeper.

He was taken to the Civil Hospital in Kharar from where he was discharged from the hospital, added Manjeet Singh.

The police has registered a case under Sections 307, 323 and 34 of the IPC and under the Arms Act against Nahar Singh on the complaint of Gurmeet Singh. 

Chandigarh, November 4
A property dispute in a house in Buterla village went awry when members of a party attacked the rival party with rods and sticks. Three persons, including a woman, was injured in the attack.

The police has arrested a person, identified as Kuldeep Singh, in a case of trespass and rioting registered at the Sector 39 police station.

The injured have been identified as 50-year-old Jarnail Singh, Kuldeep Kaur and Surinder Singh. The accused are residents of Kharar. One of the accused has been arrested.

The incident occurred at 2 pm when over a dozen persons attacked the family members with rods and sticks.

Chandigarh, November 4
While the Chandigarh Administration and Chandigarh Golf Club management is yet to solve the lease money row, the UT Administration has proposed that the golf facilities of the club should be made available to common city residents at subsidised charges. At present, Rs 500 is charges from non-members from Monday to Friday, and Rs 1000 on Saturday and Sunday. The administration wants these rates to be subsidised.

Recently, the officials of the UT Administration submitted their point before former Supreme Court judge Justice Kuldeep Singh, who had been appointed a mediator by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to settle the lease row between UT and Golf Club.

A senior official of the UT Administration said they submitted before the mediator that along with Golf Club members, the common man should also be allowed to avail the golf facilities at subsidised rates. The facilities, which are at present available to non-members, should be provided at further subsidised rates. The Administration also suggested that more non-members be provided the facility, they submitted.

Recently, the Administration had decided that the Chandigarh Golf Club would have to shell out Rs 1.20 crore per annum as lease amount. Earlier, the Administration had offered Rs 1.61 crore lease amount to the club. The Administration had also communicated their decision to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

In a letter issued by the Administration in November 2012, the club was asked to deposit Rs 9.27 crore by January 16, 2013. The lease period was proposed for five years, with an annual enhancement of 7 per cent in the rent. The lease was to be effective from March 16, 2008.

Later, the club filed a petition challenging the decision to enhance the lease amount and Rs 9.27 crore as rent, including interest, for five years - March 2008 to 2013. As per the earlier lease, which was for 20 years - 1988 to 2008 - the annual lease amount of the club, established on August 25, 1966, was Rs 1 lakh.

Chandigarh, November 4
The soccer team of SGGS College-26 defeated Post Graduate Government College, Sector 11 (B-team), in their opening match of the Chandigarh Institutional League that kicked off here today. The team thumped their rivals 5-2.

Pressurising the team since the start of the game, the team opened account through Rajan Negi, who netted the first goal in the 12th minute after getting a good pass from the left flank. The team had led 1-0 till the first 45 minutes of the match and later scored the second goal through substitute defender Nikhil Prashar. He diverted the ball on a corner kick taken by left-footer Rajan. In the meanwhile, the Sector 11 team reduced the margin through Imran in the 47th minute of the match. But SGGS College bounced back with Nikhil scoring through another header in the 49th minute of the match. At 3-1, the Sector-11 side made some good moves and scored their second goal in the 48th minute by Masood. Later, making their grip tighter, the SGGS team named the match by scoring two goals through Rajan Negi (74th minute) and Saurav (77th minute).

In the second match, DAV College, Sector 10, edge past Post Graduate Government College, Sector 11 (A Team), 2-1. The DAV side found their way through the defense in the 21st minute when striker Abhijeet Kataria chipped in the first goal. And soon he doubled the joy after scoring in the 32nd minute of the match. At the other end, the team of government college reduced their margin in the dying minutes.

In the third match, DAV Senior Secondary School (White), Sector 8, beat PEC University 3-0. Right-striker Rupesh Thakur pumped in 2 goals in the 45th and 75th minutes while left-winger Harish added another one to secure full points from this win. In the fourth match, DAV Senior Secondary School (Red team) outclassed Government College for Commerce, Sector 42, 7-0. Robin scored three goals in the 46th, 69th, 72nd minutes, respectively, while Sandeep contributed two goals to the tally. Wang and Milan contributed a goal each in the team’s win. 

Mohali, November 4
Daly College Indore defeated Delhi Public School, RK Puram, New Delhi, to win the final of The Indian Public Schools Conference Boys (U-17) Cricket Tournament, which concluded at the cricket grounds of Yadavindra Public School here today. Batting first, the winning side scored 118 runs for 8 wickets in 20 overs while the Delhi side could manage to score only 107 runs before getting all out in 19.3 overs.

The host side of Yadavindra Public School secured the third position after defeating Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, New Delhi.The host side posted a healthy total of 142 runs in 19.1 overs at the loss of 4 wickets whereas Delhi Public School scored 139 runs in 20 overs, in their innings.

Earlier, in the semifinal matches, the Yadavindra Public School, Mohali, went down against Daly College, Indore, by 4 wickets. Batting first, Yadavindra Public School scored 95 runs while Daly College attainted the target in 18.5 overs. In the second semifinal, Delhi Public School, Mathura road, tasted defeat against Delhi Public School, RK Puram, New Delhi. The RK Puram school complete the target of 135 runs losing five wickets in 17.5 overs.

Sankalp Srivastva of Delhi Public School, RK Puram, was named the Best Player of the Tournament while Vishal Chauhan of Daly College, Indore, bagged the Best Batsman of the Tournament award. Parth Kohli of Yadavindra Public School was adjudged the Best Bowler of the Tournament.

In the quarterfinal matches, the Yadavindra Public School defeated Modern School, New Delhi. After electing to bat first, the YPS posted 92 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 18 overs whereas the Modern School, New Delhi, could manage to score only 90 runs in the allotted slot of 20 overs. In the second quarterfinal, Motilal Nehru School of Sports, Rai, went down against Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, New Delhi, by 2 wickets. The Motilal Nehru School of Sports posted 83 runs while the Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, chased down the target in 19.1 overs. Daly College, Indore, defeated Sanik School, Kapurthala, while Delhi Public School, RK Puram, defeated Mayo College, Ajmer. 

Chandigarh, November 4
Chandigarh NCC cadet Neha Dadwal of No.1 Chandigarh Air Squadron has won gold medal in skeet shooting (clay pigeon-trap) at the All-India Vayu Sainik Camp that concluded at Bengaluru on October 31.

A student of DAV College, Sector 10, she was among the 42 cadets, including 14 girls of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh NCC Directorate, who attended the camp. The directorate bagged the third overall position among 17 directorates and the cadets were felicitated by the Additional Director-General, NCC, Major-Gen PS Mander, here today.

Cadet Aayush Kaushal of No. 1 Punjab Air Squadron won the silver medal in flying. The Directorate team came first in volley ball and second in drill, tug-of-war and line area (tent pitching). The team had been trained by Wg Cdr Jaideep Singh Jeji, commanding officer of the Chandigarh squadron.