NEIGHBOURHOOD

Labourer found murdered
Tribune News Service

Dera Bassi, June 5
Alleging the collection of extortion money by a mining mafia active in this part of the region, members of the Mubarikpur Stone Crushers Association blocked the Mubarikpur-Ramgarh road in Mubarikpur near here yesterday evening.

The association members were forced to take to the streets when their requests to the area MLA and other senior officers of the department failed to draw their attention towards the “goonda” tax collection by the mafia.

Up in arms against the authorities concerned for turning a blind eye toward their grievances, nearly 60 owners of the stone crushers and their employees staged a dharna on the road, disrupting the traffic for over two hours. The Dera Bassi SHO rushed to the spot and pacified the agitators and restored smooth flow of traffic.

Talking to The Tribune, Amrjit Bansal, president of the newly formed Mubarikpur Stone Crushers Association, complained that certain mafia men had been illegally charging ‘royalty’ on ‘semi-finished’ construction material, which they purchase from Baddi in Himachal Pradesh.

Despite having proper bills, they are forced to pay ‘royalty’ on the finished goods instead of the ‘raw material’, said Bansal.

“There are 85 stone crushing units in Mubarikpur and a majority of them are procuring semi-finished material from Baddi. Some members of a ‘royalty company’ being operated by politically well-connected persons, are collecting money from them for the past some time. The company is collecting a sum to the tune of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh per day,” said Bansal.

“We met the area MLA, NK Sharma, in this regard but to no avail,” he said.

NK Sharma claimed that “the issue of collection of ‘royalty’ illegally came to my notice following which I directed the area Superintendent of Police (SP) to visit the site personally. The police have rounded up four persons from a site while collecting money”. Sharma made it clear that no such activities and illegal mining would be allowed in the area. These were standing orders of the government.

Chandigarh, June 5
In response to the complaint filed by Narinder Kumar, the father of Avinash who died after colliding with a stray cow, the police today filed its report in the court stating that “no one can be held responsible” in the case.

The court will decide the case on June 7, the next date of hearing.

Avinash was riding a scooter on his way back home on the night of August 16, 2013, when he rammed the vehicle into a stray cow near the Colony No. 5 light point. Sub-Inspector Balbir Singh shifted him to the GMCH, Sector 32, where he succumbed to his injuries on August 20.

Earlier, advocate Pankaj Chandgothia had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) against the stray cattle menace. He had also filed an application under Section 156 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for registration of an FIR against the then Mayor Subhash Chawla, Municipal Commissioner VP Singh, Joint Commissioner Rajiv Gupta and area councillor Harphool Kalyan for putting the lives of commuters at risk by failing to end the stray cattle menace.

Chandgothia had contended that Avinash’s death was the direct result of the negligence of the local civic body officials, who violated the court orders dated September 21, 2012, directing them to deal with the stray cattle menace.

In the report submitted today, the police stated that since Avinash collided with a stray cow, no one can be held responsible for negligence or a lapse.

Chandigarh, June 5
Nearly a month after a single Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed that the allotment of all sites in the Sector 7 car bazaar should be carried out by way of auction, a Division Bench today stayed the operation of the order.

The order by the Division Bench of Justice SS Saron and Justice Lisa Gill came on an appeal filed by the president of the Car Dealers Association against the Chandigarh Administration and other respondents through counsel SK Garg Narwana and Vishal Garg.

The development is significant as out of 60 available sites for the sale of second hand cars in the car bazaar in Sector 7, no less than 43 sites have been allotted to the association members. The rest of the 17 sites have been kept open against which any one could compete. A section of members has already moved the High Court saying all 60 sites should have been kept in pool, if there has to be an open competition for allotment.

In his judgment now under challenge, the single Judge had asserted: "The members of the association cannot be permitted to claim preferential right for the allotment of 43 sites. As an interim measure, till such time the allotment of all sites is done by way of auction to be operative from July 6, being Sunday, the corporation should invite applications from all interested persons for granting permission to carry on their business of sale and purchase of old cars for all Sundays till June 29. In case the applications received are more than the number of sites available, the allotments be made by draw of lots".

The Judge said: "Considering the factual matrix, in my opinion, the only mode for the allotment of any site for carrying on commercial activity is by way of auction. The same process should be followed by the corporation. A comprehensive policy should be framed and approved without any delay and the allotment of sites be completed by the end of June 2014.

"While framing the policy, it should be taken care of that once the allotment is being made by way of auction, the permission should be for certain specified period and not for every Sunday. Besides other things, it should also be ensured that the licence/permission is granted to the persons who have some credentials and take care of the fact that bonafide buyers are not cheated with the sale of stolen vehicles".

Chandigarh, June 5
The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Shalini Nagpal today awarded 11 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) to two persons in a case registered under the Narcotic, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

The court also slapped a fine of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2 lakh on convicts Parminder Singh and Balkar Singh, respectively. Parminder and Balkar, residents of Tarn Taran, have been convicted for possessing one kg of heroin.

As per the prosecution case, on June 3, 2011, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), had received a secret information that Parminder and Balkar were travelling from Jalandhar to Chandigarh in a Punjab Roadways bus and were in possession of heroin.

The NCB sleuths arrested them as they alighted from the bus at the Inter State Bus Terminus in Sector 43 here.

On interrogation, the duo revealed that the consignment was meant to be delivered to someone in Chandigarh.

Panchkula, June 5
The ongoing cross-examination in the high-profile Jyoti murder case was deferred till tomorrow by the CBI Court here today. The cross-examination could not be completed today so the Judge deferred the case till tomorrow.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Virender Sangwan, who was an investigating officer in the case, had told the court yesterday how the accused, Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary, hatched a conspiracy to kill Jyoti.

He said the mobile locations of all accused matched with that of the girl on the day of the crime

Zirakpur, June 5
Thieves struck at three flats at Bollywood Heights in Peer Mushalla here and decamped with cash, diamond and gold jewellery worth Rs 10 lakh.

Surendra Kumar Sharma, owner of Flat No. 604, a retired official from the Food Corporation of India (FCI), and his wife, Sunisha Kumari Sharma, a retired vice-principal, had gone Mysore to attend a function on May 26. The miscreants entered their flat by breaking open the locks of the doors. The incident came to light on Thursday morning when a neighbour called them to inform that the locks of their flat were broken.

The stolen items include two diamond sets, two ‘mangalsutras’, gold rings, bangles, one watch and Rs 10,000 cash.

Similarly, doors of Flat No. 403 were also found broken. Household goods were lying scattered in the room. VP Bhalla, owner of the flat, has gone to America for some work. The exact loss could be ascertained only after he returns.

The thieves also targeted a Flat No. 301. They broke open the main gate of the flat. However, they failed to steal items from the flat.

The Punjab Police and a team of forensic experts visited the spot and took the figure prints.

Chandigarh, June 5
Twins Arjit Singh Pannu and Arpit Singh Pannu made an unbeaten 128-run partnership for Chandigarh against Patiala on the first day of the four-day Inter-district Cricket Tournament for Boys (U-19) for the Dhruv Pandove Trophy, being held at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, here, today.

The duo made the 128-run partnership for the 5th wicket. Arjit scored an unbeaten 90 off 194 balls, studded with 11 boundaries, and Arpit contributed an unbeaten 60 off 136 balls, including 8 boundaries to the team’s total. The hosts scored 262 for 4 at the end of the day’s play.

Earlier, Baghminder Singh and Shivam Bhambri put on 40 runs for the first wicket before Baghminder was run out by Anmolpreet for 7 runs. While Shivam departed after that with scoring 38 off 94 balls, including six boundaries. Abhimanyu (29 runs) and Vineet Dhaka (28 runs) remained the other successful run-getters for Chandigarh.

Sukhwinder Singh, G Gogia and Sagar Kumar took 1 wicket each for Patiala.

Brief Scores:

Chandigarh - 262 for 4 in 95 overs (Shivam Bhambri 38, Abhimanyu 29, Vineet Dhakha 28, Arjit Singh 90 (not out), Arpit Singh 60 (not out); Sukhwinder Singh 1 for 53, G Gogia 1 for 77, Sagar Kumar 1 for 15).

In the second match, Amritsar scored 447 runs for 8 wickets in 96 overs against Ludhiana.

The former’s innings was studded with a fine 146-run contribution by Abhinav Sharma and 84-run knock by Marshal Bhagat. The duo made a partnership of 193 runs for the 3rd wicket in 42 overs. Marshal was sent back by Vishwanath for 84 off 47 balls, including 15 boundaries and a six, while Abhinav went to score another 99-run partnership with Kunwar Pathak for the 5th wicket before Abhinav was caught by Parul off Nikhil after scoring 146 off 179 balls, including 14 boundaries and 6 sixes. Kunwar scored 63 off 90 balls, including 12 boundaries. Next batsman Rahul scored a quick-fire 51 off 61 balls, including 11 boundaries.

For Ludhiana, Vishwanath claimed 3 for 86 while Hartejasvi (2 for 70) and Nikhil (2 for 81) claimed two wickets each.

Brief Scores

Amritsar - 447 for 8 in 96 overs (Marshal Bhagat 84, Abhinav Sharma 146, K Pathak 63 Rahul 51, Rohit Kumar 32 (not out); Hartejasvi 2 for 70, Nikhil 2 for 81,Vishwanath 3 for 86).

In the 3rd match, Jalandhar posted 266 for 7 in 95 overs against Mohali. The Jalandhar innings revolved around a sparkling unbeaten ton by Mansab Gill who remained unbeaten on 139 off 265 balls. He was ably supported by Rohit Maria (47 off 150 balls).

Brief Scores

Jalandhar - 266 for 7 in 95 overs Mansab Gill 139 (not out), Rohit Maria 47, Amrik Singh 39; Akshay Kansal 4 for 32, Jasinder Singh 3 for 80.

Chandigarh, June 5
The PK Cricket Academy registered a 9-wicket win over Mount Abu Cricket Academy to win the final of the North India Summer Cricket (U-14) Tournament, which concluded on the grounds of the SD School Cricket Academy Sector 24, here, today.

The losing side after electing to bat first, was bundled out on a mere total of 80 runs in 23.2 overs.

A fine bowling spell by right arm leg spinner Nishiket Singh (4 for 8) and Lakshay Kundra (2 for 14) damaged Mount Abu’s batting line-up.

Daksh Shokeen remained the only main scorer for the team with 28 runs.

Chasing a modest total, the PK Cricket Academy achieved the target in 19 overs with Yash Bhatia scoring an unbeaten knock of 40 runs off 32 balls followed by another unbeaten knock by Sameer Ahmed (29 runs).

Nishiket Singh bagged the man of the match and man of the series awards. Yash Bhatia was the best batsman while Dhruv Batra was the best bowler.

Daksh Shokeen was named as the best promising player of the tournament. Barjinder Sharma, former Himachal ranji player, gave away the trophies and best prizes to the budding cricketers.

Brief Scores-

Mount Abu Cricket Academy: 80 all out in 23.2 overs (Daksh Shokeen 28; Nishiket Singh 4 for 8, Lakshay Kundra 2 for 14)

PK Cricket Academy: 81 for 1 in 19 overs (Yash Bhatia 40 not out, Sameer Ahmed 29 not out).

Chandigarh, June 5
The ONGC 13th Asian Billiards and 15th (U-21) Asian Snooker Championship will be held from June 7 to 13 at the UT Guest House Sector 6, here.

The Punjab Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) is organising the championship under the aegis of the Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports and Billiards and Snooker Federation of India.

DS Bains (IAS), president, PBSA, said: “Internationally renowned cue sports players from 14 countries will be participating in the event and people of the region will witness world-class talent in action. The participating countries include India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Hongkong, UAE, Qatar, Syria, Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, Mynamar and Iran.” — TNS