The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

COURTS

Rape case against dera chief
Defence counsel submits list of 98 witnesses
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, February 22
The defence counsel of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh today presented a list of 98 witnesses to the special CBI court stating that they too may be examined in the rape case.

The public prosecutor of CBI, HPS Verma, alleged that the introduction of the new list was a bid to delay the verdict in the case.

Defence counsel SK Garg Narwana said, "We would like the court to know the exact story, which is why we presented the list."

The list includes people not only from the Dera but some outsiders as well.

It was in the last hearing that the Dera chief, in his statement recorded under Section 313 of the CrPC through video conferencing, told the court that he was medically and physically unfit to establish a physical relationship as he was 'not potent'.

The Dera head appeared through the video conferencing and answered 201 questions during the cross-examination in the rape case.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is facing multiple cases of murder and rape.

CRIME

group clash
Cross-case registered

Chandigarh, February 22
A day after four youths suffered injuries when the two groups attacked each other with sharp-edged weapons on the road separating sectors 10 and 11, the Chandigarh Police have registered a cross-case.

The police said Abhinav Dutta and Harmanjot Singh had an altercation over parking of vehicles in Sector 10 following which they called their associates. The two groups attacked each other. Gurnam Singh, Abhinav Dutta, Harmanjot Singh and Rana Karamjit Singh were hurt. On Dutta’s complaint, a case had been registered against Harmanjot, Rana and others. The police have arrested the duo. On Harmanjot’s complaint, the police booked Gurnam Singh and three others. — TNS

Three booked for violence
Tribune News Service

Mohali, February 22
The local police today booked a person and his two nephews for beating up his wife and her brother-in-law on Friday night.

On the complaint of victims, Parminder Kaur (40) and her brother-in-law Sarbjit Singh Kalra (34), the police have registered a case under Sections 323, 324 of the IPC at Phase VIII Police Station. The accused have been identified as Inderjit Singh Baghi (Parminder Kaur’s husband), Isharjot Singh and Rajinder Singh.

In the complaint, the victims alleged that Baghi, a resident of Sector 68, used to beat Parminder after consuming liquor every now and then.

“Yesterday night, Baghi hit her with a flowerpot, following which she called her brother-in-law (husband of her younger sister), Sarabjit Singh Kalra. The trio (Baghi and his nephews) then thrashed Kalra and attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon,” said the police.

Both Kalra and Parminder Kaur are undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital. While Kalra sustained injuries on his head, neck and spine, Parminder Kaur’s nose bone has been fractured. She also received injuries on arms.

The accused are still at large.

Though the Mohali Police have registered a case in the matter, JPS Kalra, father of Sarbjit Singh Kalra, was upset over the callous attitude of the police officials present on the duty last night. “The accused were present at home when the police arrived. Instead of taking them into custody there and then, they simply let them go, claiming that they would be arrested later,” alleged Kalra.

Kalra alleged that instead of taking the victims for medical check-up, cops asked the family to take them (the victims) for medical treatment. “This is your duty, not ours, this is what cops told us last night,” said Kalra.

Minor molested

Chandigarh, February 22
A man has been arrested for molesting a 12-year-old girl.

The police said the victim, a Class VIII student and a resident of Maloya, was returning home from market on Friday when the accused, identified as Rang Swami (40), lured her and took her to the jungle area near Maloya. The accused molested her. He tried to rape her but she managed to flee. The victim narrated the incident to her parents, who reported the matter to the police. The accused has been arrested. Further investigation in the case is under way. — TNS

SPORTS

Parasdeep begins campaign with win
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 22
Local contender Parasdeep Virk registered victory in a well settled match against Vikrak Srinivas, in the first round match of ITF Men’s Futures Tennis Tournament, at CLTA tennis courts, Sector 10, here today. Parasdeep Virk bt. Vikram Srinivas 7-5, 4-6 and 6-3. In other matches, Rutget Cramer of Netherlands defeated Rahul Sadhwani, 6-7 (20), 6-3 whereas Shahbaaz Khan beat Ajay Yadav 3-6, 6-3 and 7-6. Wild card entry for main draw was given to Sanam Singh (India); Anvit Bendre (India); Ranjeet Singh (India) and Vikrant Dahiya (India).

Results (First round)

Dhruv Goyal bt Balaji Lakshmanan 6-4, 6-4; Yogesh Phogat bt Saurabh Singh 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; Ankit Sachdeva bt Ivan Divkovic 2-6, 6-3, 6-3; Kamal Kishore Maderna bt Ashish Kapoor 4-6, 7-5, 6-3; Nihit Rawal bt Himanshu 6-2, 6-1; Tejas Chaukulkar bt Archit Jain 6-1, 6-2; Parasdeep Virk bt Vikram Srinivas 7-5, 4-6, 6-3; Rutger Cramer bt Rahul Sadhwani 6-1, 6-7 (20), 6-3; Kirksteen Rebuyas bt. Raghvendra Subramanya 6-2, 6-1; Kapil Ghuraiya bt Tanay Mehta 6-0, 6-2; Vidit Vaghela bt Christopher Marquis 3-6, 6-1, 6-4; Gurinder Singh bt Suraj Beniwal 6-4, 6-1; Venkat Iyer bt Ankush Arora 6-4, 6-3; Zvonimir Babic bt Arvind Singh 6-2, 6-4; Deepinder Bains bt Chinmay Pradhan 6-4, 4-6, 6-3; Sahbaaz Khan bt Ajay Yadav 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5).