The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

COURTS

HC slaps fine on Mohali SSP, Zirakpur Municipal Council
To pay Rs 50,000 for not making bus stop functional
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 17
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on the Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police and Zirakpur Municipal Council for their failure to regulate traffic and making Zirakpur bus stop functional on time.

As the traffic management case came up for resume hearing, Justice Rajive Bhalla also made it clear that the money would have to be paid from the pocket of the authorities concerned. The order, however, has been kept in abeyance for enabling the authorities to improve the condition till the next date of hearing, failing which the directions would come into effect.

The order came after the bench was told that some more time was required to make the bus stop functional. Justice Bhalla also took note of the fact that the bus stand constructed there was without a proper exit. He asked the authorities concerned to remain present on the next date of hearing, February 21, with a detailed plan.

Justice Bhalla orally observed in the open courtroom that it was a conceded fact that the plan for entry and exit of traffic at the bus stand was not planned after holding consultations with the National Highway Authority of India.

The High Court, on the previous date of hearing, had also reproached the Mohali and Panchkula authorities for their inability to regulate traffic in Zirakpur and Panchkula. The bench had asserted that the practice of loading and boarding of passengers near the flyover was still a major cause of concern and a safety hazard.

Justice Bhalla had made it clear to the authorities concerned that special provisions were required to be made for the parking of the buses in service lanes carved out of the highway at least 100 meters before the flyover. It had directed the Mohali Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police to file an affidavit on the functioning of the bus stand and further arrangements for traffic regulation in Zirakpur.

Justice Bhalla had also taken a serious note of illegal hoardings and banners in Panchkula, and directed the Panchkula Municipal Corporation to file a status report on the issue. The bench had directed the Panchkula administration to install CCTV cameras at vital public places such as malls, markets, parking lots, light points and roundabouts. The bench also recommended night-vision cameras with video recordings.

Give a week’s notice before summoning witnesses: HC to UT Administration
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 17
Pulling the Chandigarh Police up for shielding its personnel in the Sharmila accident case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed that independent witnesses in the matter would not be exempted from recording their statement against the erring police personnel.

A division bench of the High Court also told the Administration to give at least a week’s prior notice to the witnesses before summoning them for recording their statements.

The directions came after amicus curie in the case advocate Onkar Singh Batalvi informed the bench that attempts were apparently being made by the UT Administration to shield the erring policemen.

Batalvi said the authorities were giving one-day prior notice to prevent the independent witnesses from giving evidence against the erring policemen before the departmental inquiry. The bench was also told that the authorities concerned had started moving applications before the probe panel for exempting the independent witnesses from making deposition.

“By adopting such measures, the authorities are making the departmental inquiry an eyewash to save the erring policemen responsible for the negligent death of the victim,” Batalvi said.

He also told the court that the UT Home Department had disbursed three months’ maintenance allowance to Sharmila’s children in accordance with the High Court’s directions.

Sharmila was crushed by a CTU bus in Sector 10 on May 7 last year. The police allegedly failed to rush the injured woman to a hospital just around 100 metre away, as the SHO reached the spot two-hour late.

Batalvi said Sharmila’s husband died in October 2012 due to alleged negligence of the Panchkula police, which delayed timely medical assistance. After her husband’s death, Sharmila was taking care of both the children. She had also taken up the issue of compensation for the negligent death of her husband.

“Now, the children have become orphan on account of negligence on the part of Chandigarh and Panchkula authorities. The governments concerned should not only provide them with monetary assistance but should also secure some job for them for their survival in future,” he said.

CBI court records evidence

Chandigarh, January 17
Evidence was recorded in the case of corruption involving then Punjab MLA Raj Khurana. The court deferred the next hearing of the case to February 10.

The Chandigarh special CBI court on Friday recorded statement of the complainant, Manpreet Singh, in the Rs 1.5-crore bribery case involving Khurana.

The investigating agency also submitted the video recorded during the trap laid by it besides other evidences to prove the corruption charges. Khurana and Devinder Singh Gill, an employee in the office of registrar of firms and societies, Punjab, were arrested in 2011 for demanding bribe from the secretary of Punjab Automobile Mechanic Association for closing a case against it. — TNS

CRIME

Stepfather held on charge of raping minor

Chandigarh, January 17
The police have arrested a Kajheri resident for allegedly raping his stepdaughter.

Sources said the victim, a minor, was a student of Class V at a government school. The girl alleged that the accused, Thakur, raped her for three days repeatedly from January 3 to January 5.

The girl said the crime took place when her mother had gone to their native place.

The police have registered a case under Section 376 of the IPC and Section 5 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012. — TNS

Fate deals a cruel blow to newborn girl
Hina Rohtaki
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, January 17
The premature baby girl, who was delivered at the Alchemist hospital today, opened her eyes to a dark future. While her mother, Reena, died of head injuries soon after giving birth to her, the father, Ram Kumar, was arrested for the crime. The child, weighing 1.5 kg, is presently on ventilator.

“The woman was very critical when she reached the hospital. Her head was so badly clobbered that parts of her brain could be seen. There were multiple injuries on the left side of her head and clots on the right side,” said a hospital official.

Seeing the woman’s condition, the doctors decided to get the child delivered. Besides a neuro surgeon, a pediatric surgeon tended to her. Although the child was saved, the woman, unfortunately, died, said the official.

The baby would be kept on ventilator till her condition becomes stable.

Reena’s sister is married to Ram’s elder brother, and till now she is taking care of the baby.

Accused repents

Police sources said Ram Kumar had been crying bitterly and repenting his deed since his arrest. “Although he says that all happened in a fit of rage, a crime is a crime,” said a police official.

Victim’s father Babu Ram said that Reena had immense liking for children and had made big plans for her child.

“She was eagerly awaiting the birth of her child, but who knew she won’t even be able to see her face,” said the grieving father.

Car stolen in broad daylight

Mohali, January 17
A resident of Swara village has complained to the police that his car was allegedly stolen by three persons this afternoon.

According to the police, Jaskaran Singh said he went to buy liquor from a shop near Jhanjeri village in his Swift dezire car. He parked the car near the liquor vend and left the keys inside the vehicle. Three youths who were already standing near the liquor vend got into the vehicle and sped away.

The police have registered a case under Section 379 of the IPC. — OC

Girl kidnapped on pretext of marriage
Our Correspondent

Mohali, January 17
A resident of Kansala village, falling under the Mullanpur police station, has complained to the police that a youth of the village had allegedly kidnapped his daughter on the pretext of marriage.

In his complaint to the police, the father of the girl said Jasvinder Singh, who lives in the same village, used to follow his daughter. He had been asked several times not to do so but he didn't pay heed. His daughter was 17 years and 11 months old.

He told the police that his daughter went missing on January 12 around 6.30 pm. The members of the family tried to look for her, but to no avail. The police have registered a case under Sections 363 and 366-A of the IPC.

3 hurt in road mishap
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, January 17
Three persons were injured in a head-on collision between a Himachal Roadways bus and a truck near Khangesra village in Chandimandir this evening.

The bus driver identified as Rajender and the conductor along with the truck driver were rushed to the General Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula.

The police are investigating the matter.

SPORTS

All-India Inter-University Archery Championship from today
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 17
Panjab University (PU) is all set to host the All-India Inter-University Archery Championship (for men and women) commencing from tomorrow on PU campus.

Organised by the PU Directorate of Sports, the five-day long championship will conclude on January 22.

Giving the details today, University Director of Physical Education Dr Dalwinder Singh said about 800 archers from 75 Universities are participating in the tournament.

PU Dean University Instructions Prof AK Bhandari will be the chief guest for the inauguration ceremony to be held tomorrow at 12 pm.