The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

COURTS

Man gets 10-year jail for raping minor
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 23
A local court today sentenced a person to a 10-year imprisonment for raping a minor. The court also imposed a penalty of Rs 13,000 on Manoj Kumar, a resident of Ramdarbar.

When the victim did not return from school, the complainant started looking for her. Failing to find her, the complainant filed a complaint with the police stating that Manoj Kumar had kidnapped her daughter. On May 30, the police arrested the accused from the railway tracks near Sector 47. The victim was with him.

3 acquitted in rape case

A local court today acquitted three gang rape accused after the ‘victim’ turned hostile. Monty (19), a resident of Zirakpur, Mohit (19), a resident of Sector 41 and Kulwinder (19), a resident of Sector 20-D, were accused of raping a 16-year-old girl. As per the prosecution, on April 27, the police received information that a girl who went missing from Krishna Market in Sector 41 was found near Golf Club.

The police reached the spot and found the girl crying. One of the relatives of the victim filed a complaint alleging that the trio had raped her. The victim got a call from one of the accused, Kulwinder, who was known to her. The complainant said the victim had talked to the accused on phone and had never met him before the incident. When the accused came to the market, the ‘victim’ told her neighbour Nisha to go back. Kuwinder then called his friends and raped her. Later, the victim turned hostile following which the accused were acquitted.

Tanishq dacoity
Court raps investigating agency
Aneesha Sareen
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 23
The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, Nazar Singh, has lambasted the investigating agency for its failure to prove the guilt of the nine accused who have been acquitted in the Tanishq dacoity case.

While the main witness in the case turned hostile, the other witness (security guard) was not examined by the prosecution in the court.

The police failed to bring independent witnesses to the court. They did not even check whether the weapons recovered from the accused were working. “The prosecution has failed to bring sufficient cogent, convincing and clinching evidence to prove the offences under Sections 395, 328, 171 of the Indian Penal Code and 25/54/59 of the Arms Act, therefore, the accused are acquitted of the said offences. However, the prosecution has been able to prove its case regarding the recovery of gold items, which were taken away from the showroom in Mani Majra. The accused face Section 411 of the Indian Penal Code.” The dacoity at Tanishq was reported in January 2011 when armed robbers barged into Tanishq showroom and took away gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 10 crore. The police had later arrested 10 accused, including mastermind Paras. Paras managed to escape and has been declared a proclaimed offender. The remaining nine were acquitted in the case of armed dacoity while convicted in the case of recovery of stolen items under Section 411 of the IPC two days ago.

One witness hostile, another not examined

The court stated: “The prosecution was required to prove that it was all the accused who committed dacoity in the showroom of the complainant by administering some intoxicants to security guards Swaran Singh and Dina Nath at gunpoint. Swaran Singh is the star witness of the case, but he did not support the prosecution version and retracted from his previous version nor did he identify the accused. Second security guard Dina Nath was also the star witness, but he has not been examined by the prosecution.

Police could not prove that guards were drugged

“Dr Yuvraj Singh Cheema supported the prosecution version as he did not take stomach wash to detect the substance administered to Swaran Singh, meaning thereby, there is no evidence on the paper to spell out the ingredients of Section 328 (causing hurt by poisoning) of the Indian Penal Code,” said the court.

About the weapons

“Three constables, who were prosecution witnesses, nowhere stated that they had test fired the pistols allegedly recovered from the possession of the accused. They stated that the pistols were in a working condition, but that is not sufficient to bring the said pistols within the definition of fire arms. “A thing that looks like a gun or pistol must possess a potentiality of a weapon. Unless evidence is forthcoming, the matter should not be allowed to rest on mere visual examination. An article that looks like a weapon, may turn out to be a gadget or a show piece following test fire.”

No independent witnesses

The court stated: “The case of the prosecution rests on the official witnesses and independent witnesses were not asked to join the raiding party despite availability. The prosecution had examined 24 witnesses in the court. “No doubt, the statements of the officials cannot be discarded because of their official status and they are as good witness as any other person, but at the same time the fact cannot be ignored that the police personnel take certain steps to crack the case. Therefore, as a matter of caution, the statements of the police officials are to be scrutinised minutely.

police inaction
Court directs cops to file their reply on January 29

Mohali, January 23
The Mohali court today directed the police to file their reply as to why no action has been initiated against AAP’s senior leader Kumar Vishwas on the complaint by a local resident on January 29.

The Mohali Judicial Magistrate, Surbhi Prashar, in whose court the complainant, Gurinderjit Singh, had filed the complaint against Kumar Vishwas for hurting the religious sentiments of Hindu, Sikhs and Muslims in his several public addresses, directed the police to inform the court of its action in this regard on the next hearing date.

Gurinderjit Singh, a resident of Sector 68, had moved an application in the court on January 18, demanding registration of a criminal case against Vishwas.

The complainant had stated that while watching some video clippings of Vishwas on a social networking site, he found some objectionable comments on Sikhs gurus, Muslim religious leaders, Lord Shiva and Lord Hanumana. — TNS

CRIME

Man dies in road mishap
Our Correspondent

Zirakpur, January 23
A man was killed in a road accident in Zirakpur yesterday evening. The accident occurred when the victim, who was driving his motorcycle at MS Enclave in Zirakpur, was suddenly hit by an unidentified car killing him on the spot.

The deceased has been identified as Bhuleshwardass Vaisnoo of New Generation Apartment at Gazipur.

The police have registered a case against the unidentified car driver under Sections 279, 337, 427 and 304A of the IPC. The body of the victim has been handed over to the relatives after conducting an autopsy.

SPORTS

Hockey India League
Rupinder to play first home game
Misses the presence of his mentor Jasbir Singh Bajwa who taught him the basics
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 23
Old times are always good to remember. Being a child, one grows up with many hands coming in support and there remains a special hand that proves too good for his future.

The same thing happened with Rupinder Pal Singh, 23-year-old former trainee of the Chandigarh Hockey Academy, who found his mentor in late local hockey coach Jasbir Singh Bajwa during his tenure as a trainee here.

Rupinder Pal Singh, defender-cum-ace drag flicker of Delhi Waveriders, is all set to play his first home game against Jaypee Punjab Warriors in Mohali on January 25 during the opening match of the 2014 Hockey India League.

Rupinder, having almost 83 international caps, is looking forward to play an important role in his team. However, he is missing the presence of his late coach Jasbir Singh Bajwa. The former hockey coach was appointed to the Chandigarh Hockey Academy.

Jasbir died of cardiac arrest in 2011. His sudden death left the hockey lovers in a shock. The local hockey academy is still struggling to get a coach like him.

“I remember everything. Sir (Jasbir Singh Bajwa) used to take us to a gurdwara near Sector 42 (Attwa Chowk) before every practice session. He told us to remember god before every match. He taught me the basics of the game. Now when I am playing for the Indian team, he is no more to see me on the hockey field,” said Rupinder.

Telling more about his stay in the local academy, Rupinder said: “Back in 2002, I was not sure about my future. We used to practice hard and play local tournaments. No doubt the academy was doing well, but he made us feel comfortable here. Several names get add to one’s career but the first name always remains close to the heart. After the usual practice, we used to roam around,” said Rupinder, who hails from Faridkot.

On being asked what do the Indian academies lack, the international drag flicker said professional coaching aspects and facilities for junior players were the two things to look into.

“The basic need is to get an Astroturf field at every centre for sub-junior players and then the professional coaching aspect. I do share a strong bond with this city (Chandigarh). Had it been in Faridkot, I would have been ended working in farms. When we play under foreign coaches, we realise the importance of learning the basics of the game. In order to overcome hindrances, we need to promote well-built infrastructure for players,” said Rupinder.

Rupinder said his team was practicing hard to claim the 2014 HIL title. “Like last year, we have all the good names in our kitty. The team is in good form and we are ready to take up the challenge,” he said.