NEIGHBOURHOOD

Railways’ apathy poses threat to lives
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, January 8
Residents of Banur have raised concerns about the proper supply of drinking water in the area. They have alleged harassment at the hands of the authorities in the absence of the provision for the basic necessity of life.

In the absence of proper arrangement for drinking water, residents of Ward Numbers 5, 6, 7, 4 and 8 are the suffering lot.

Santty Thamman, who has been seeking justice in this regard, is holding a fast unto death due to the setback. Santty alleged that Banur is being neglected as the area does not even offer proper medical services and a suitable arrangement of drinking water for residents.

Meanwhile, residents of the area have demanded that a solution to the problem should be sought at the earliest.

Chandigarh, January 8
Four months after a Maloya resident committed suicide, the police have booked his wife for abetment to suicide under Section 306 of the IPC.

Mithlesh Rani, a resident of Sector 40, reported that her son Vinay married Seema in 2003. The couple was blessed with two children, Achal and Krishna. Since marriage, they had been residing at Maloya Colony. She alleged that for the past few years, her daughter-in-law Seema did not have good relations with her son.

"She along with her mother used to harass my son Vinay," claimed Mithlesh. On September 10, Seema alleged that her husband Vinay hanged herself to death.

However, Mithlesh Rani alleged that her daughter-in-law killed her son Vinay. She added that Seema hanged Vinay after killing him with help of her relatives.

An Inquiry into the complaint was conducted by the Crime Branch, Sector 11, Panchkula.

After taking a legal opinion, the police registered a case of abetment to suicide on January 8.

Chandigarh, January 8
A 28-year-old woman has alleged that she was raped by two Kharar residents.

The woman, hailing from Punjab, said she had come to Chandigarh to pursue a course in International English Language Testing System (IELTS). She claimed that she was a divorcee and also had a son. She met one of the accused, Prince, hailing from Ganganagar, about one and a half months ago outside a coffee shop in Sector 10.

The woman claimed they both became friends after which he offered to help her in the divorce proceedings.

Both of them used to visit discotheques for parties and were joined by Prince’s friend Jassi.

The woman claimed that on November 9, three of them went to a discotheque. She said both the accused laced her drinks with sedatives before taking her for dinner. After the dinner, they raped her in the car near a railway crossing in Mani Majra.

The woman said they also threatened her of dire consequences if she didn’t keep mum. The victim said she had also lodged a complaint at the Mani Majra police station on December 15 in this regard but to no avail.

She alleged that the relatives of Prince were pressurising her to marry him or take money to put an end to the matter.

Chandigarh, January 8
Two students pursuing engineering diploma in an institute in Sector 26 here have reportedly gone missing.

The students, who were identified as Ashok (17) and Rishab (16), have been reported missing since January 6.

The police said both of them left for their institute on January 6 but did not return. The two were pursuing mechanical engineering diploma from Sector 26 Polytechnic and used to stay in Sector 20.

Notably, Rishab is brother of a Chandigarh police constable Naresh.

The police have registered a case of kidnapping. Efforts are on to trace the whereabouts of the youngsters.

Panchkula, January 8
A nine-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a 25-year-old youth at Manav colony in Mansa Devi Complex here today.

The police have registered a case under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the accused, Amar Lal. According to information, the victim informed her father about the incident and immoral comments passed by the accused, following which the matter was reported to the police. It was then that the accused, who used to stay in the neighbourhood, was arrested by the police. The medical of the victim was conducted at the General Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula, this afternoon. — TNS

Mohali, January 8
Two persons have been booked by the Mohali police today for allegedly duping as many as 35 persons of over Rs 25 lakh.

The accused have been identified as Harjit Singh Bajwa, alias Manjit Singh Bajwa, the owner of WTS Immigration Services, and his partner Amarpreet Kaur Gill.

The duo allegedly conned the victims on the pretext of sending them abroad.

The police have registered a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy against the duo at the Mataur police station.

The Station House Officer (SHO) of Mataur police station, Inspector Navin Pal Singh Lehal, said the accused had been running their office at Sector 70, here.

“They had collected sum of different amounts, ranging between Rs 35,000 to Rs 2 lakh. Different promises were made to different persons. They had assured their clients to send them on work visa to countries such as Poland, Australia, Canada and America,” said the Station House Officer.

Notably none of their clients were sent abroad, said Lehal.

Some of the victims met the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) today and urged him to take strict action against the accused

Chandigarh, January 8
Local shuttlers brought laurels to the City Beautiful by winning title of girls (U-19) badminton championship (team event) during the ongoing 59th SGFI National Badminton Meet for girls (U-14, U-17 and U-19), being held at badminton hall of Sports Complex, Sector 42. In the final match of the championship, Chandigarh team defeated Delhi 2-0. In first singles match, Sanya beat Akanshi 2-1 at 21-16, 14-21 and 21-12 whereas in doubles category Muskan and Kailash defeated Akanshi and Noor in straight sets 2-0 at 21-15 and 21-16. The team of Tamil Nadu secured third position in the same category.

In the girls (U-17) final, Maharashtra defeated Delhi 2-0 with Vaidehi defeated Bhavya Rishi 2-1 (21-11, 19-21 and 22-20) whereas in doubles’ category, the duo of Cherish and Mrunamai defeated Bhavya and Anamika 2-0 (21-13 and 21-19). The KVS side managed to attain third spot. In the final match of girls (U-14) event, the team of Maharashtra overpowered Gujarat by 2-0. In the match of singles category, Simran defeated Salvi 2-1(19-21, 21-18 and 21-17) whereas in doubles category, Rashi and Malvika blanked Salvi and Noopur 2-0 (21-12 and 21-10). In the same category, Assam won the hard line match. The final of individual’s category will be played tomorrow.

Chandigarh, January 8
Physical training instructors of government schools are opposing a recent decision by the Municipal Corporation, in collaboration with the UT administration, to supervise the school grounds after school hours for gully players, with silent lips.

Teachers and staff flayed the pilot project by the UT Administration that has allowed the Municipal Corporation to use the ground of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, on trial basis for facilitating “gully” players.

The long-pending project that was approved in the house meeting of Municipal Corporation on December 30, last year, would allow the "gully" players to use the government schools’ grounds after school hours. However, the grounds will be opened under the supervision of physical training instructors (PTI). Already under load, PTI teachers are finding it hard to take out time for evening shifts.

These PTI teachers’ are already looking after sports activities of school, supervise classes of physical education (on behalf of their superiors) and also take care of extra-curricular activities of the school.

According to sources, some physical education professors, have already managed to depute themselves on various posts of DPI and DEO offices, in order to comfort themselves and to keep in touch with superiors on regular basis.

As per the proposal, “gully” children will be allowed to use the grounds for a specific period of 2 hour 15 minutes.

In summers, the playing hours will remain from 4:15 to 6:30 pm while for winters the timings would be 3.15 to 5.50 pm. “How can the authorities expect us to work so much. After working for 6 odd hours, they want us to stay here and keep an eye on gully players. The grounds are meant for facilitating the players, school children, however for amateur players, the authorities should come up with other projects. If they want to produce players, then the coaches appointed with the UT administration should be asked to attend these evening sessions,” said a PTI teacher. When contacted DPI school, the authority in-charge, he was unavailable for any comment.

After this pilot project, if successful, the Municipal Corporation will run the same project in all 26 government schools of the City Beautiful.

Along with the PTI teachers, the Municipal Corporation will depute their own staff but only for the maintenance and security purposes.

“The political parties are playing this game for their personal motives. Failing to find any solution, the pressure is been put on government schools,” said another teacher, seeking anonymity.

Chandigarh, January 8
Judokas of Guru Nanak Girls College, Ludhiana, with 29 points, bagged the team championship of the ongoing Panjab University Inter-College Judo Championship for Women, being held at Gymnasium Hall of Panjab University, here today.

Chandigarh, January 8
Indian girls continued to dominate the ongoing Indian ITF Junior-1 Grade Tennis Championship, being held at CLTA tennis courts, Sector 10, here today. In girls’ category, top seeded Pranjala Yadlapalli, representing India, marched ahead in the quarterfinals. In today’s match, she defeated Jaipet Anontaweesil of Thailand. She blanked her opponent in straight sets 6-3 and 6-1.

In another match, second seeded Dhruti Tatachar Venugopal faced some resistance from Raveena Kigsley of USA. Dhruti won the match 5-7, 6-3 7-5 while in another thumping success, Indian contender Vanshika Sawhney defeated third seeded Tamachan Momkoonthoo in a closely contested match. She defeated her rival 6-4, 7-6(2).

Chandigarh, January 8
In the final match of the North Zone Indian Audit and Accounts Department Hockey tournament, concluded at the Hockey Stadium of Sports Complex, Sector 42, team of Accountant General of Punjab defeated Accountant General Haryana, to lift the title. Punjab team won the match on penalty strokes 6-5. Both the teams ended their stipulated time on a 1-1 draw.

In the first half, Ranbir Singh of Accountant General Punjab team scored the first goal. He marched ahead with solo effort and taking full advantage of his stick work dodged the defenders and scored in the third minute of the match. The Punjab side continued to play at the same pace but failed to score another goal. After locking the first 35 minutes in chase, the strikers of Accountant General Haryana side held their nerves. Regular penetration made the Haryana strikers to level the score. In the 43rd minute, Gurmeet Singh, after taking a regular pass defeated the custodian and netted the leveler. After the draw, the match fate went to penalty-strokes, where Accountant General Punjab side defeated their rivals. Gaurav Hans of AG Haryana was declared as the best player of the tournament. Both the teams will participate in the Inter-Zonal Hockey Tournament being played at Kolkata from January 13 to January 17. In the closing ceremony, Kulbir Singh, IPS, gave away the trophies to winners and runners up teams.

Chandigarh, January 8
Maharashtra’s Swapnil Gugale scored a double century to guide the visitors towards a draw against Punjab, during a match of Col CK Nayudu Trophy, held at PCA Stadium, Mohali, here today. With this draw, the Maharashtra side qualified for the semi-finals stage of the ongoing championship.

Starting their day, from overnight score of 7-runs, the team went on to score 457-runs losing four wickets. Opener Swapnil Gugale scored a brilliant unbeaten knock of 210-runs studded with 24 boundaries and a six (entire innings).

He was supported by Rahul Tripathi who also scored a brilliant 131-runs studded with 10 boundaries. NS Shaikh contributed his share of 42-runs.

On the basis of first innings lead, the Maharashtra side attained an upper hand and marched ahead in the semi-final stage.

Panchkula, January 8
Ideal Tennis Academy will organise a combined Junior Tennis Tournament for boys and girls (U -12 and U-14 years) at Manav Mangal School, Sector 11, Panchkula from January 11 to January 13.

In this combined event boys and girls will compete with each other.

The interested players can enroll themselves with Miraj (9872722369) or Sumit Kumar (9646963803) before January 10 (6 pm).