NEIGHBOURHOOD

Residents protest poor amenities
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 15
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh to clarify its stand on the feasibility of launching a helpline number for dog bite cases in the city.

Justice Rajan Gupta also asked the corporation to inform the Bench whether its required additional vans and personnel to control the population of stray dogs in the city. Justice Gupta further sought a status report from the corporation on the issue of monitoring funds allocated to NGOs for sterilisation and immunisation of dogs. The direction came after the High Court was told that the corporation was paying Rs 1,000 per dog to local NGOs for sterilisation, immunisation and treatment.As the case came up for resumed hearing, MC Joint Commissioner Rajiv Kumar Gupta filed an affidavit before the court underscoring comprehensive schemes for the management of stray dogs in Chandigarh.

Giving details, the Joint Commissioner said complaints related to dog bite incidents could now be made online on the corporation website. Besides this, relevant information on dog control cell, dog catching van and NGOs engaged by the corporation to deal with stray dog related incidents was available on its portal. He claimed that the corporation had already spent Rs 2, 28354 on education, literature and rabies vaccination.“The implementation of the scheme is an ongoing process, which is in its nascent stage and its effectiveness can be gauged only after lapse of reasonable period,” the corporation stated in its affidavit.

It was also added that the scheme required undisturbed run for at least five years to prove its effectiveness. Referring to the issue of disposal of dead dogs, the corporation claimed that an incinerator would be installed at each dog shelter. Else, a common incineration plant for disposal of dead dogs would be set up. The case will now come up for further hearing on May 22.Gupta has already informed the High Court that 8,199 incidents of dog bites were reported in rabies vaccination clinic at Sector19, Chandigarh, from January 2013 to April 2014. Out of the total incidents, 1,823 cases pertained to bites by pet dogs, while remaining 6,376 incidents pertained to bites by stray dogs.He added 6,948 dogs in the last five years have been sterilised and vaccinated against rabies; and not even a single case of rabies had been reported in the city. He also told the court that the administration had completely banned commercial breeding of the dogs in the city. Otherwise, on an average 300 dogs were being vaccinated annually.

Chandigarh, May 15
A minor fire incident was reported at the CRC branch in the Punjab and Haryana High Court here this evening.

Fire officials stated that they received a call at 6.57 pm after which two fire tenders from Sector 17 fire station and one from Sector 11 fire station was rushed to the High Court. Fire was reported in the UPS installed in the wall at the CRC branch, which had got burnt. The fire was controlled before it could spread in other parts of the branch.— TNS

Panchkula, May 15
One person was killed while two others sustained serious injuries as a car they were travelling in met with an accident on the Kalka-Ambala road near Surajpur late last night.

It is learnt that the driver lost control over the vehicle (Maruti DZire) bearing a temporary registration number (PB-08BW-7483) and being driven on high speed. The vehicle collided with roadside steel railings along the highway near Dosarka. The impact of collision was so strong that the vehicle tossed and turned for almost 12 metres on the highway, an eyewitness to the mishap said.

On hearing a thud, the owner of an eatery nearby, Kamal Dev, rushed to the spot only to find the car driver lying on the roadside and two others trapped inside the ill-fated vehicle. He said the drivers of the trucks parked nearby also rushed to the spot and helped in pulling the injured persons out of the car.

On receiving information, a PCR vehicle reached the spot and rushed the injured to the Civil Hospital, Panchkula, where doctors declared the car driver dead.

The deceased has been identified as Parminder Singh, a resident of Phagwara. The other two occupants of the car have been identified as Manjinder Singh, a resident of Pathankot, and Ajay Sharma, a resident of Panchkula.

The injured duo was battling for life, the police said.

Prithavi Singh, in-charge of the Amarvati police post, said Parminder’s body was handed over to his family members after post-mortem examination.

The police have impounded the vehicle and a case in this regard was registered at the Chandimandir police station.

The police have initiated investigations to know the cause of the accident.

Mohali, May 15
The police have arrested two persons for allegedly selling fake educational certificates. A large number of such certificates have been recovered from their possession.

SSP Gursharan Singh Sandhu today said a Chandigarh resident had informed the police that Sanjay Sharma, a resident of Himachal Pradesh staying in Phase VI here, along with Priyanka Thakur, a resident of Kharar, and Atul Bhatia of Sector 40, Chandigarh, was allegedly selling duplicate certificates of matriculation and Class XII of the self-styled National Council School of Education under their signatures and seals, to innocent persons. Sharma had an office in Phase I, Mohali.

The flat in KBS Colony, Chhaju Majra Road, Kharar, where Priyanka Thakur lives, was allegedly used to prepare and store fake certificates.

He said the police conducted a raid on Sanjay Sharma's office and seized six allegedly fake certificates issued by the RCSE, 13 detailed marksheets of Shridhar University, Rajasthan, 13 of Manav Bharti University, Solan, and five allegedly fake certificates of CMJ University, Meghalya. Besides, six CPUs and a laser printer were also seized.

The SSP said the police also conducted a raid on the flat and seized 8,000 allegedly fake certificates printed in the name of the RCSE. Besides, a desktop, a keyboard, a printer and a laptop were also seized.

The SSP said the accused were also allegedly selling fake degrees in different subjects in connivance with some employees of different universities.

An FIR under Sections 420, 465, 468 and 120-B of the IPC was registered on May 14 in this regard, he said, adding that the two suspects, Sanjay Sharma and Priyanka Thakur, were arrested and produced before a court, which remanded them in police custody for two days.

Zirakpur, May 15
The police today claimed to have arrested the 19-year-old, who was suspected to have killed the 32-year-old woman at her house in Ravindra Enclave, Baltana.

Sources said the suspect was asked to surrender by his mother late last night.

During questioning, Amit Kumar (19), a resident of the same locality, confessed to have committed the crime under influence of liquor on the intervening night of May 10 and 11.

In his statement to the police, Amit admitted that he had relations with Seema, the deceased, for the past couple of years. He claimed that they consumed liquor on the particular night and had a scuffle after Seema tried to pressure him to kill his mother and sister, who were objecting to their relation, Zirakpur SHO Ravinder Kumar said.

The accused further admitted to have suffocated his ‘girlfriend’ by forcibly immersing her face in a tub full of water. Amit stated that when he returned to senses the next morning, he realised his mistake but it was too late by then. To destroy evidence, he allegedly poured kerosene on the woman and set her afire, the SHO said.

The accused fled from the scene after locking the house from outside, the police added.

A case under Sections 302 and 291 of the IPC has been registered against Amit Kumar at the Zirakpur police station. The accused will be produced before the court tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the deceased’s body was handed over to her family members this evening after post-mortem examination at Dera Bassi Civil Hospital.

Chandigarh, May 15
The Chandigarh Police have booked three student leaders and arrested one of them for the alleged defacement of public property.

The poster was pasted outside the boundary wall of DAV College and Skating Ring in Sector 10.

The accused included Rajdeep Singh, Ragav Sood and Nitin Rathore. Rajdeep was arrested and released on a regular bail.

Police sources said the posters included names of these student leaders, who are scheduled to contest the college elections from DAV-Sector 10.

Raghav and Nitin are yet to be arrested.

Meanwhile, three separate cases have been registered against the students. The police are investigating in this regard. — TNS

Chandigarh, May 15
The soccer team of SD Public School, Sector 32, defeated St John’s School, Sector 26 (1-0) in the first match of the 6th Saint Soldier's Football Trophy held at the Saint Soldier International School grounds in Sector 28, here, today.

Prabh of SD Public School with his solo effort posted the first goal in the 27th minute.

In the second match, St Kabir School, Sector 26, beat Mount Carmel School, Sector 47 (3-0). Left-in Arjit pumped in two goals. He scored the first goal in the 10th minute followed by another in the 25th minute. Sahil pushed the margin to 3-0 in the 26th minute. In the third match, Vivek School, Sector 38, beat Saint Soldier, Mohali (2-1). For Vivek High School, Dilraj scored the first goal in the 20th minute while Jobandeep doubled the lead in the 45th minute. Rajdeep Singh from St Soldier School reduced the margin in the 19th minute. In the fourth match, DPS, Sector 40, registered a win (1-0) over Shishu Niketan Senior Secondary School, Sector 22. 

Chandigarh, May 15
Manjot Singh, Sarabjot Singh and Shivam Vij won titles in their respective categories on the concluding day of the Paragon Total Tennis Championship held at Paragon Senior Secondary School in Sector 71, Mohali, today.

In the boys' (U-14) category, Sarabjot defeated Shrenik Bhalla 9-6. In the boys' (U-16) category, Shivam defeated Parmeet Deol while in the men’s category, Manjot Singh defeated Nikhil. — TNS

Panchkula, May 15
The 3rd Manav Mangal Open Speed Skating Carnival, 2014, will be held at Manav Mangal School, Sector 11, from May 17 to 18, here.

The tourney will be conducted by Rolling Tigers Skating Club for enthusiastic skaters of the tricity. The event will be open for the age groups of U-4 years to above 16 years in various levels of rink races and road races. The skaters are advised to collect entry forms from Manav Mangal School and contact Chander Singhal (9878925557) for details. — TNS