The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

COURTS

Ex-NRI Sabha chief, kin acquitted in rape case
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 18
The Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Shalini Nagpal today acquitted former chairman of NRI Sabha Amarjit Singh Virk and his wife and son in a case of gangrape. The court acquitted former NRI Sabha chairman, Amarjit Singh Virk, his wife Surinder Kaur and their son Gurjeet Singh Virk.

The case was filed in a district court on August 27 last year after a 32-year-old Nabha resident lodged a complaint alleging that she had been sexually assaulted by a person at the behest of Virk in Sector 68, Mohali, on July 13, 2011.

The woman alleged that accused Amarjit Singh had met her at Nabha and allured her to file a case against Nawab Singh, a Patiala resident.

She came to Mohali in September 2011 where she alleged she was raped by some person at the behest of Virk and forcefully made to close an FIR against Nawab Singh under pressure.

During the course of arguments in the court, it came to light that the victim was Human Rights Manch vice-president in Punjab.

Defence counsel Tarminder Singh stated before the court that the entire story was concocted by the prosecutrix to falsely implicate the accused persons.

It was also stated that there were numerous call details between the victim and Nawab Singh and further of Nawab Singh with police officials pointing that the case was stage-managed. Amarjit was thus implicated in a false case to settle a property dispute between him and Nawab Singh, it was stated.

The victim's statements in the court were also contradictory, resulting in the acquittal.

Doon MLA denied interim bail
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, December 18
The local court today rejected the interim bail plea of Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary, main accused in the Jyoti murder case. The legislator had sought bail to attend the fourth session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.

Chaudhary had moved an application requesting that he may be allowed to attend the session from December 17 to 21.

Doon MLA and four others have been accused of killing Jyoti, who hailed from Hoshiarpur. The victim was found murdered on a road in Sector 21 here. The chargesheet stated that since Jyoti was coming in the way of Chaudhary’s political career and wanted him to continue relationship with her, he eliminated her with the help of aides. Jyoti was allegedly strangulated before being run over by a truck to show it as an accident case.

Forum penalises Club Mahindra

Chandigarh, December 18
Club Mahindra Holidays and Resorts has been penalised for keeping its client in the dark. It has been directed by Chandigarh Consumer Forum to refund Rs 2.86 lakh to a sector-37 resident who took its membership. The company has also been directed to pay Rs 25,000 for deficiency in services.

Dr Sushil Paul Singh alleged that he was told that a holiday package voucher has come in the draw of lots in the name of the complainant which contains 2 nights and 3 days offer. A representative of the respondent told him that there are two packages either to pay Rs 3,45,341 approximately with down payment of Rs 34,534 or a package of Rs 2,54,260 with down payment of Rs 25,426 and become a member of the club.

The complainant alleged that when he tried to book a holiday at Nainital through the club membership, he was told that the booking needed to be done six months in advance.

CRIME

Youth held for sodomy bid
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 18
The police have arrested a 19-year-old youth for attempting to sodomise a four-year-old boy. The police arrested Mohammed Talib in a case registered under Sections 377 (unnatural sex) and 511 (making an attempt) of the IPC.

The accused was produced in a local court and remanded to judicial custody. Talib allegedly took the victim, who was residing in his neighborhood, out on the pretext of giving him a chocolate last night.

The victim’s uncle got suspicious when he did not find the child in the house and enquired about him from children playing on the street. He came to know that Talib had taken the child to some secluded place. The police said after a brief search, the uncle caught the accused making a bid to sodomise the boy. Talib managed to give him the slip, but was later arrested.

The accused was on good terms with the victim’s family and visited their house frequently. A case was registered at the Mani Majra police station.

Thieves strike at housing complex
Tribune News Service

Zirakpur, December 18
Thieves decamped with jewellery and cash after breaking into four flats at Astha Apartments in Pabhat village here today. Giving the information about thefts, Bharat, a resident, said Maneesh Saneja of flat number D-203 left for work along with his wife in the morning. He got information about the theft from a neighbour in the afternoon. He said the miscreants managed to flee with gold jewellery worth lakhs of rupees.

In other incident, thieves broke into flats number D-503 and B-403 and decamped with valuables. Thieves also broke the locks of flat number D-502, but failed to find any valuables.

The police, on receiving the complaints, have started the investigation.

SPORTS

Year 2013 ender
Odds apart, city players leave a mark
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 18
As the year 2013 is coming to an end, we take look back on the city’s performance in the field of sports. Though maintenance of existing sports infrastructure and planning new infrastructure remain a cause of worry, local sportspersons continue to perform well. The UT Sports Department, the UT Education Department and local associations are the main players behind running sports affairs in the city.

City lacks synthetic track for athletes

Even as the biopic on the life of Milkha Singh, ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’, proved a major hit at the Box Office and continues to be a source of motivation for young athletes, the hometown of the Flying Sikh is, ironically, bereft of a single synthetic track. Milkha himself has requested the Administration on a number of occasions to implement the proposal for laying a synthetic track in the city, the Administration is yet to make a move. The issue was highlighted in July also but to no avail.

2 yrs on, indoor basketball court under construction

The opening of an indoor basketball court at the Sports Complex, Sector 42, missed yet another deadline. The project was supposed to be completed by 2011. However, the engineering department failed to construct the indoor hall of the basketball court even two years later. Also, the basketball court at the Sports Complex, Sector 7, is under construction for the past two years.

Age row

For the first time in its history, the UT Sports Department was shocked by the 'height of negligence' on the part of its officials. In September, it was found that the players declared overage by the UT Sports Department in 2009-10 were allowed to participate in a football tournament in 2013. Later, it was found that the department indulged in favouritism and selected players under the state-run Chandigarh Hockey and Football Academy. Parents of some players moved court.

Two footballers leave academy

Apprehending a bleak future, two players of the Chandigarh Football Academy left the academy in the middle of their seven-year contract in July. And the Sports department failed to take action against the duo. However, the players returned in September to represent another club pitted against the Chandigarh Football Academy.

Shooting range still under construction

Since 2011, a Rs 1-crore soundproof shooting range of 40x20 m is under construction at the Panjab University (PU). The project was supposed to complete in the middle of 2013. The PU is also coming up with a world-class AstroTurf for field hockey. Also, for the first time in 20 years, the football team of the university failed to qualify for the All-India Inter-university Football Tournament.

Work on AstroTurf misses another deadline

The UT Sports Department missed yet another deadline to lay an Astroturf of international standards at the hockey stadium of the Sports Complex in Sector 42. The present AstroTurf has surpassed its expiry date during the year 2008-09. A new field was expected to replace it by the end of 2011. But till date, the department failed to come up with the pink-blue field.

Gyms yet to be upgraded

Gyms situated at the local stadiums remain in a state of neglect. In 2013, no gym was upgraded. However, proposals to upgrade high-tech gyms remains on the top of the must-do list of the officials.

CLTA pact with MTF

The Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA) signed a protocol with the Madrid Tennis Foundation (MTF) in May. The protocol was signed for three years under exchange programmes, including training and coaching systems. Under this memorandum, the World’s top tennis coaches from Spain visits the CLTA to upgrade training facilities, help coaches and to aid trainees in acquiring latest skills.

Looking forward to

Coming up of multi-gymnasium hall having indoor stadiums of badminton, squash and table-tennis courts at the Lake Sport Complex.

Laying of new AstroTurf field at Sector 42 stadium with two six-a-side AstroTurf fields at the Hockey Stadium, Sector 18, and the girls’ hostel in Sector 18.

New indoor basketball court at Sector 42.

Addition of games in the gradation policy of the UT Sports Department.

Cricket stadium of Sector 16 hosting an IPL or international match.

Projects of AstroTurf in floodlights, synthetic athletics and shooting range at the Panjab University.

The feats

The women kabaddi team of the Panjab University won the gold medal for the first time in the history of its participation in the All-india Inter-university kabaddi championship.

Soccer players of the Chandigarh Football Academy make it to the junior national team. Also, while representing the city, the local soccer team won the top three positions in different categories in the school national games.

Local hockey players Amanjot Kaur; Shilpi Dabas and Poonam called to attend a national coaching camp.

The junior hockey team won the All-India Nehru Hockey Cup.

Four junior golfers from the city make it to the merit list of the Indian Golf Union circuit.

GNPS cagers too good for GMSSS-20
Tribune News Service

Players in action during the inter-school basketball tournament being held at the Sports Complex, Sector 46, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Chandigarh, December 18
Cagers of Guru Nanak Public School (GNPS), Sector 36, defeated Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Sector 20, by 97-12 during a match of the inter-school basketball tournament for boys and girls (u-19) being organised by the UT Sports Department here today.

For the GNPS, Jasmine shone bright with 34 points while Akshita and Amrinder contributed with 20 and 8 points, respectively. For the losing side, Harpreet earned six points while Ruchika chipped in with four points.

In the second match, Carmel Convent, Sector 9, trounced Gurukul World, Mohali, 32-8. Parul (10 points), Nilisha (7 points) and Aishwaria (4 points) remained the main scorers for the winning team. Anureet of Gurukul collected 4 points.

Results

IS Dev Samaj School, Sector 21, bt Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, by 41- 24. Bindu, Namanpreet and Rani of the winning side score 14, 10 and 7 points, respectively.

St Anne’s School, Sector 32, bt Manav Mangal School, Mohali, 44-16. Kensiya and Ashita of St Anne’s scored 20 and 13 points, respectively, while Mannat was the only scorer for Manav Mangal.

DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, bt Gurukul World, Mohali, by 84-9. Aman and Sumit of DAV scored 41 and 18 points.

Sri Guru Harkrishan School, Sector 38, bt Bhawan Vidyalaya, Sector 15, Panchkula, 48-15. Preet Inder Singh and Jashanpreet of the winning side won 20 and 16 points, respectively. For the losing side, Vikrant took 5 points.

Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, bt Carmel Convent, Sector 9, by 86- 23. Akshita, Amrinder and Jasmine scored 30, 22 and 18 points for the winning team. Prabhleen of Carmel Convent scored 12 points.

GGMSSS, Sector 20, bt Gurukul World, Mohali, by 58-6. Rajni, Harpreet and Ruchika of the winning side scored 30, 12 and 7 points, respectively.

PML SD Public School, Sector 32, bt Moti Ram Arya School, Sector 27, by 111-36. The main scorers for the winning side were Harkirat (29 points), Deepak (24), Himanshu (19) and Dardbant 15 points. For the losing team, Abhinav scored 17 points while Rohit and Jayesh took 6 points each.

Vivek High School, Sector 38, bt Doon International, Mohali, by 61-18. Pranjal and Abheydeep scored 19 and 9 points, respectively, for the winning side. Vishwajeet and Aman of Doon International won 9 and 6 points, respectively.

Tennis tourney
Seerat, Baani win doubles event
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 18
Fourth-seed CHART trainee Digvijay Pratap upset top-seed Param Pun to move into the finals of boys (U-16) singles category of the People for Animals-Chandigarh CLTA-AITA Championship Series Tennis Tournament.

Digvijay forced Param Pun to make errors in the first set and blanked him with a 6-0 win. However, Panam bounced back in the second set. He was leading the set 5-3 when Digvijay returned with his winning streak picking up the next four games in a row to finish the game 7-5.

In the second semi-finals, second-seed CHART trainee Vikrant Dahiya dominated against the third-seed Nihit Rawal. Vikrant claimed the game 6-1, 6-2.

In the finals of the doubles category (girls), Baani Singh and Seerat Pannu defeated Pious Mudgil and Gayatri Kumaraiah 7-5, 6-3.

Results

Boys singles (U-16) semi-finals: Digvijay Pratap bt Param Pun 6-0, 7-5; Vikrant Dahiya bt Nihit Rawal 6-1, 6-2.

Girls singles (U-16) semi-finals: Baani bt Pious Mudgil 6-1, 6-0; Tanya Batra bt Gurneek 6-1, 7-5.

Girls doubles (U-16) finals: Baani and Seerat bt Pious and Gayatri 7-5, 6-3.