Transporter robbed of Rs 5,000 at knife point
Tribune News Service

Dera Bassi, May 24
Miscreants reportedly robbed a Bhankharpur-based transporter of Rs 5,000 at knife point on the Ambala-Kalka Highway at the local bus stand here yesterday night. The incident took place at 1 am when the transporter, Satyavir, was waiting for some vehicle to go to his home at Bhankharpur. Four youths who were travelling in a tempo approached him. The youths, who claimed that they were heading towards Chandigarh, offered him a lift.

In a complaint to the police, Satyavir said he took a lift in their vehicle. Instead of taking the railway over bridge (RoB) to go to Chandigarh, they drove the vehicle on a side lane of the highway.

After reaching underneath the RoB, one of the occupants took out a knife and put it on his temple. He told him to handover cash and other valuables, the complainant alleged.

They snatched Rs 5,000 from me and warned me of dire consequences. I somehow managed to escape from their clutches and reached Bhankharpur, said Satyavir.

Atul Soni, station house officer of Dera Bassi, said a case had been registered against the youths on the complaint of Satyavir.

The police have initiated investigations in this regard. The police have launched a manhunt to nab the suspects.

“The victim is operating a transport company from Bhankharpur. He was returning to his home in Bhankharpur from Delhi yesterday night when he fell in the trap of the youths,” the SHO said.

Youth booked for raping woman

Dera Bassi, May 24
The Dera Bassi police have booked a youth for allegedly raping his neighbour, a mother of two kids, here, today. The accused and the victim are dwellers of slums in Haibatpura village. Mirza Mohd Aasin, investigating officer in the case, said Mithu Prasad, husband of the victim, in a complaint to the police alleged that his neighbourer Salman Mohammad (19), hailing from Bihar, barged into his jhuggi and committed the crime.

In another incident, a youth of Bhankharpur village was booked by the police in an attempt to rape a minor girl.

ASI Shyam Chand said the youth, Sonu, tried to rape a eight-year-old daughter of migrant labourers, hailing from UP, at the village last evening.

The girl was alone in the house as her parents were away for some work.

Hearing the screams of the girl, some neighbourers reached the spot and nabbed the youth. After giving him a beating, they handed over the youth to the police. A case has been registered in this regard on the complaint of Inam Singh, father of the girl. No medical examinations have been conducted in both cases yet. — TNS

Man consumes poison, ends his life
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 24
A 38-year-old man committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance during his stay in a room at Hotel President here this noon. The man was identified as Vishal Sharma, hailing from Dera Bassi and working as an accountant with an automobile company, with the help of his voter ID card, a copy of which he had submitted while check-in at the hotel last afternoon. The deceased was found lying in his undergarments in the room while his shirt and trouser drenched in his vomiting and bearing remnants of sulphas were found lying closeby.

Sharma was about to check-out at 12:30pm today but he did not come out. A waiter, Puran, had gone to the room to alert him, but finding no response, he called the hotel staff who along with the police broke open the door and found his body lying there.

Forensic experts were called to the spot and later, the room was sealed.

The police also checked the CCTV footage of his check-in carrying a black bag.

The hotel staff said he did not move out ever since he came yesterday.

Puran told ADCP-1 Naresh Dogra that the deceased seemed fine this morning as he had a ‘parantha’ and tea.

The police informed his family about the incident and got to know that he had been missing for two days. It also found two mobile phones in the room, both of which were switched off. The deceased was reportedly married for 14 years and has a nine-year-old daughter. Amit Sharma, brother-in-law of the deceased, reached the spot this evening. He cited no reasons for him to commit suicide as he even ruled out any matrimonial dispute.

Amneet Kondal, SHO, New Baradari Police Station, said: “She was waiting for the wife of the deceased.”

“We will only be able to find anything conclusive after she reaches here and gives her statement,” she added.

68-year-old arrested for molesting granddaughter
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 24
A 68-year-old man was arrested for allegedly molesting his granddaughter in Sector 25 here today. The accused, identified as Mohan Birla, has been arrested under Section 354-A (molestation) of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act.

The victim is a student of Class VII at a local school. The mother of the child complained to the police, following which a case was registered at the Sector 11 police station here.

The victim’s mother said earlier Mohan used to behave in the same manner with her. When he started doing the same with her daughter, she was forced to lodge a complaint against him.

Further investigations are on in the matter.

Thieves decamp with cash

Chandigarh: Thieves decamped with cash amounting to Rs 2 lakh after they struck at the plot of Sanjay Arora in Phase I, Industrial Area, Chandigarh. A case under Sections 380 and 457 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered at the Industrial Area Police Station here.

Boundary wall razed

Panchkula, May 24
High drama was witnessed today when a team of the Haryana Urban Development Authority demolished the boundary wall of the house of an Indian rowing player in the Chowki area here.

The player, Gurjinder Cheema, was away with his wife Kamla Dalal, a former national hockey player, when his children informed him that HUDA officials had come to demolish the wall.

Villagers gathered and protested against the authorities, but to no avail. The family members said the case was pending before a court, still the HUDA took this action. Meanwhile, the villagers tried to block the National Highway near Ghaggar village when the HUDA removed their hutments. After the intervention of the police, the situation was brought under control. As many as 15 hutments were finally cleared by the HUDA. — TNS

Youth jumps to death before train

Lalru, May 24
Depressed over his poor financial condition, a 24-year-old youth of Ambala City reportedly committed suicide by jumping before a running train near the Dappar railway station, near here, last night.

The Railway Police said a mutilated body of the deceased was removed from the Ambala-Chandigarh rail line after receiving information from passers-by about 11pm yesterday, claimed Rachhpal Singh of the GRP. He has been identified as Amit Kumar, a resident of Ambala City. The police called his father who claimed that Amit was working with a jeweller in Manimajra, Chandigarh, and was upset over his financial situation. The body was handed over to his family after autopsy. — TNS

Priya, Tuba begin with wins

Chandigarh, May 24
Priya Sharma defeated Akanksha and Tuba defeated Mariam, in the respective matches of girl’s junior category, during the 17th St. Stephen’s Carrom Ranking Tournament under the auspices of Chandigarh Carrom Association. In the first competition, Priya Sharma defeated Akanksha 21-00 and 17-00 while Tuba defeated Mariam 17-02 and 14-10, Nidhi beat Sanya Chadha 19-00, 9-10 and 9-01 while Manu outclassed Komal Gupta 21-00 and 21-00. Earlier, in the first round of boys (sub-junior) category, Atul Yadav beat Pradeep 19-0 and 10-07 whereas Gurjeet Singh defeated Vansh Gupta at 13-00 and 9-00.

Results: Boys’ (sub-juniors) round I: Atul Yadav bt Pradeep 19-0,10-07, Gurjeet Singh bt Vansh Gupta 13-00, 9-00; Round II; Sohil bt Dhruv 7-00, 16-00, Yash Gupta bt Atul Yadav 13-00, 13-00; Gur Rehmat bt Gurjeet Singh 16-05, 20-04, Mihir Yadav bt Nitin 12-00, 11-00, Rishu Sharma bt Gopal Kakkar 21-00, 21-00, Aryan Singh bt Rajal- 17-00,16-06, Chirag bt Moyank 17-00,15-00; Quarterfinals: Sahil Thakur bt Yash Gupta 06-05, 14-00, Mihir Yadav bt Gur Rehmat 17-00, 9-04, Rishu bt Aryan Dhaka 20-00,14-.00, Chirag bt Monna Singh 19-00, 12-00. Boys’ juniors: Talib bt Ansh Gupta 21-00, 17-00, Yishu bt Ankit 21-00, 21-00, Mihir Yadav bt Jatin Chaudhary 10-4,12-8; Sahib Preet bt Yash Gupta 21-00, 21-00; Sahi Thakur bt Nimitanshu 20-14, 21-06; Quarterfinals- Talib bt Chirag 21-00, 21-06; Arish bt Sahib 10-9, 21-00. Girls (sub-juniors)- round I: Drishti Jain bt Sanjini Mamgain 14-0, 7-00, Nidhi bt Atamdeep Kaur 21-00, 21-00, Akanksha bt Divya Sharma 21-00, 8-04; Sanya Chadha bt Sanya Bansal 21-00, 21-00; Komal bt Gurjan Kakkar 21-00, 21-00; Maryam bt Geetanjli 21-00, 21-00; Drishti Jain bt Anushika 9-5, 3-10. Quarterfinals: Nidhi bt Ashu 21-02, 21-06; Sanya Chadha bt Akanksha Bhatia 18-00, 21-00; Komal bt Drishti Jain 21-00, 19-00; Maryam bt Parul 21-00, 21-00. — TNS

Chess tourney
Tarini leads tally on Day 1
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 24
Chess prodigy Tarini Goyal led the first day with 3 points during the Chandigarh Open and Girl Chess Championship. The championship started today at St. Xaviers’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, Chandigarh. Tarini maintained the lead in the girls (U-19) category. A total of 53 players, including 11 International players, from different schools of Chandigarh participated in the championship.

In the open category (U-19) Anubhav tied with Jaskirat at 3 points each, while in open (U-11) Shishir Lamba lead the tally. In the open and girls (U-11) category Shrushti Fulzele secured 3 points at the end of the third round. Four boys and four girls in under-19, two boys and two girls in under-11 category, will be selected to represent Chandigarh at the nationals to be held at Pune (U-19) from July 10 to 18, Orissa (U-11) from July 24 to August 1.

Results: Girls (U-19) third round: 3 points: Tarini Goyal; 2½ points: Arunima, Kashish Kaushal; 2 points: Simranjeet Kaur, Edha Garg, Rhea Sharma; 1 point: Aarika Dhir, Preet Kamal Kaur, Saumya, Nehal.

Open (U-10) category third round: 3 points: Anubhav Tuknayat, Jaskeerat Singh; 2 points: Yogik Khurana, Archit Gupta, Rohit Roy, Yash Yakhmi, Ishaan Singh Mendiratta, Rishit Gupta, Rishabh Jain, Amartya Bhattacharjee, Armaan; 1 point: Navrattan, Gurfateh Singh; Mansimran; Piyush Aggarwal; Karanveer, Sunisht.

Open (U-11) third round: 3 points: Shrushti Fulzele, Shishir Lamba; 2½ points: Jaspreet Singh, Pratyaksh Goel; 2 points: Jiyana Gupta, Jaskaran Singh, Saumya Lamba, Shiven Gupta, Anhat Singh, Arnav Khushwaha, Arjun Sagar; 1 point: Mitali Saini, Punya Garg, Bhavya Batra, Ishita, Krish Gupta, Manit Singh, Shaunak Chaudhary.

Nikita beats Aaryan 5-0 in tennis
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 24
Budding tennis player Nikita Kharangra and Ibadat Kaur defeated their respective male rivals, in the combined girl’s tennis championship for boys and girls, being held at Chandigarh Club, Sector 1. In a match of combined (U-12) category Nikita Kharangra defeated male rival Aaryan Chhatwal 5-0 while in the combined (U-14) match, Ibadat Kaur beat the male rival Mehul Gupta 6-1.

Results: Boys and Girls combined (U-12) Round II: Gurjosh Singh bt Dyumat Sachdewa 5-0; Viren Kumar (Boy) bt Kumar Mahishmat 5-2; Sunny Goswami bt Agrime Tiwari (Girl) 5-4(4); Abhi Jain bt Jivaj Chawla 5-4(5); Snehil Saini bt (Girl) Amarjot Kaut Bundhel 5-4(7); Pranay Sharma bt Rakshit 5-0; Keshav Aggarwal bt Aaryan Gupta 5-2; Shrinik Bhalla bt (Girl) Aditya Talwar 5-0; Arshjot Bhatti bt (Girl) Bindu Kulriya 5-0; Jatin Kumar bt Chirag Malhotra 5-1; Sehaj Naangal bt Preet Kumar 5-0; Aum Chopra bt Gaurav Dhir 5-1; Nikita Kharangra (Girl) bt Aaryan Chhatwal 5-0; Rishi Jalota bt Arnavjit Sodhi 5-0; Rohit Mallik bt Ajay Sharan 5-3

Boys and girls combined (U-14) prequarters: Ibadat Kaur (Girl) bt Mehul Gupta 6-1; Akshit Chhabra bt Parveen Kumar 6-3; Pranay Sharma bt Agrima Tiwari 6-4 (Girl); Sehaj Naangal bt Shrinik Bhalla 6-3; Saurav Yadav bt Arman Modgil 6-1; Udgam Aggarwal bt Daksh Marwaha 6-4.

Bridge championship
Spartan qualify for super league round
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 24
Spartan Bridge Club with highest points becomes the first team, among top six teams, to qualify for the super league round of ongoing National Open Bridge Tournament. The championship was organised by the Punjab Bridge Association at The Aroma Hotel, Sector 22.

On the second day, Spartan team secured 112 points to qualify for the super-league stage while Constellation team with 104 points was at second spot. Punjab Bridge Association (team -A) remained at third spot with 100 points followed by Himachal Bridge Association (team-A) at fourth spot with 95 points. Himachal Bridge Association (B -team) (95 points) and Punjab Bridge Association (79 points) remained the other two teams to qualify for super league stage. A total of six teams had qualified for the super stage league. On the first day of the tournament, teams from Delhi, including Constellation, Spartan and Target, dominated the Swiss League scores with 59, 58 and 56 scores, respectively.