The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

COURTS

Jyoti murder case: 9 accused withdraw applications
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 10
In a U-turn by the nine accused in the Jyoti murder case, the applications which they moved in the court stating that they may be dispensed from recording statements under Section 313 were withdrawn today.

The prosecution argued that the examination of their witnesses was yet to complete following which the accused withdrew the applications.

Yesterday, applications were moved by nine of the 12 accused. In the same, they said as there was no direct evidence against them, they may be dispensed from recording statements under Section 313. Applications have been moved by Nirmal, Kamaljeet, Baljeet, Harbhajan (who were accused of harbouring the accused), Paramjeet (one of the aides of accused Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary), Tilak Raj (the truck driver who has been accused of running the truck over Jyoti’s head), Ashish, Pankaj and Satish (accused of issuing sim cards on fake documents to the MLA and his aides).

The defence counsel had also pointed out that discrepancies had surfaced in the call details provided in Tilak Raj’s location given by the police.

The accused involved in harbouring also told the court that there was not any direct evidence. Those involved in the procurement of the sim card had also got the same plea.

CRIME

Three held for rape
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 10
A 40-year-old woman has alleged that she was raped by an auto-rickshaw driver, while his two friends restrained her family from saving her. The UT police have arrested three persons for the crime.

As per the complaint, the woman was raped due to an old enmity with the accused. The victim, is the wife of an auto-rickshaw driver stated that she was raped when her husband and brother-in-law were also present at her residence in Sector 52.

The three accused have been identified as Arun Singh (21) and Rahul (19), both residents of Sector 52 and Ravi Kumar (24), a resident of Sector 38.

The victim alleged accused led by Arun, barged into her house when her husband and brother-in-law, were also at home. The accused tied her husband and brother-in-law before thrashing them. The accused Arun, locked the room following which he raped the woman.

The victim’s family lodged a complaint with the police after the accused left the spot. The police have registered a case of rape under Section 376, wrongful restraint and act done by several persons in furtherance of common intention under Section 34 of the IPC.

The medical of the victim was conducted at GMCH-32 and doctors confirmed rape.

SPORTS

FIFA World Cup
City players, veterans root for favourite teams
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 10
Be it veterans or local players, everybody is rooting for his favourite team this FIFA World Cup. The house is divided as there is no clear favourite. This time, the focus is on teams instead of individual players.

Among the veteran players, Harjinder Singh, former skipper of the Indian football team and also the member of the Indian side, which won the only Asian gold medal, feels that old warhorse Brazil is still among the favourites to claim the winning trophy.

He agrees that other teams like Germany, Argentina and even England are strong contenders. However, the Brazilian side will have an edge with young experienced team under the support of the home crowd.

“If you ask old people (the veterans), Brazil is still our favourite. No doubt, there was an era of Brazil and the world is well aware of that. I will definitely support Brasil. However, teams such as Argentina, Spain and England have also improved their standards and are surely among the front-runners for the cup. Every world cup remains full of surprises. Hopefully, the same will be witnessed this time. The real fever is yet to grip the nation. After one or two matches, the craze will increase among the masses,” said Harjinder Singh.

The Brazilian side is among the front runners not only for being ‘host’ for the world cup or for their past record, but also for their recent feat in 2013, when the young side won the confederation cup after defeating world champion Spain by 3-0.

“Club games stand nowhere when players represent their nation. Being the host is an advantage but also a pressure for the team to come over. All players are well equipped and intelligent. According to me, Germany and Argentina are the front runners for the cup. The situation will be clear once the tournament will start initially,” said Tejinder Kumar Sharma, another former skipper and former coach in Chandigarh. Presently, he is coaching young children in the US.

Coming back to the youngsters, Harvinder Pal Singh, a former defender of the Salgaocar Football Club, IIT Bangalore-XI and the Mohun Bagan Club, puts Argentina and Brazil among his hot favourites. He is the fan of Lionel Messi and Neymar.

“Brazil is a common favourite team of all professional footballers. Names representing a nation matter a lot. Argentina is another contender for the cup, followed by Italy. The excitement will remain throughout the tournament. I want that the 2014 title should go to these three teams,” said Harvinder Pal Singh, who is presently working with AG Audit Haryana and supervising the Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s (CAG’s) team in Chandigarh.

His counterpart, Sanjeev Maria, former defender of the Indian team, who played for various clubs, including Mohun Bagan, feels that Italy and Portugal can make a difference this time.

“Being a defender, I always feel that this game depends a lot upon defenders covering defence of the team. According to me, these two teams have improved well. In every world cup, dark horses play a shocking role. Hopefully many upside down moments will come even in this world cup,” said Sanjeev Maria, who is appointed as the skipper of the CAG’s India team.

‘Biggest event of the year’

“With changing times, football is among the most watched sports in the world. No doubt, the 2014 World Cup is the biggest event of this year. It’s very difficult to say who will win the World Cup. Even countries like the Netherlands, Korea Republic, France and Japan possess the courage to surprise the rivals. It is sure that the status of soccer will improve with Brazil, the country famed for soccer, hosting the World Cup,” said Surinder Singh and Bhupinder Singh (Pinka), former players and nationally renowned coaches.

Cricket Tournament
Amritsar all out for 201 on Day 1
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 10
The first match of the Punjab Inter-District Cricket Tournament for Boys (U-25) played between Chandigarh and Amritsar witnessed fall of 14 wickets with both teams struggling hard to face opponents’ bowling attack.

A fine spell by Chandigarh bowlers fumbled Amritsar’s batting line up on a low total of 201 runs in 67.3 overs.

In reply, Chandigarh’s batting line up is struggling on 51 runs for 4 wickets.

A five-wicket haul by Chandigarh’s Rahul and fine spells by Gurinder and Siddarth Kaul enabled the side to bowl out Amritsar on a low total. For Amritsar, opener Rohan Marwaha scored 72 off 121 balls with 10 boundaries and two sixes. For Chandigarh, Rahul claimed his 5 for 66 runs, while Gurinder claimed 3 for 87. Siddarth took 2 for 6 to complete his tally.

In reply, the Chandigarh team scored 51 runs for 4 wickets in 25 overs at the close of day’s play. Naveen (22 runs) remained the scorer for Chandigarh, while for Amritsar Ashwani claimed 2 for 19.

In the second match, Robin Singh’s 143-run contribution helped Jalandhar to stand tall against Patiala. The Jalandhar team scored 395 for 6 in 95 overs. Robin Singh hit a brilliant ton (143 off 248 balls) studded with 19 boundaries and a six. He was ably supported by Mandeep Singh (senior), who chipped in 85 off 86 balls with 11 boundaries and two sixes. Mandeep Singh (junior) (42 runs) and Bhupinder Singh (37 runs) remained unbeaten on the first day. For Patiala, Amaninder claimed 3 for 113, whereas Beant Singh hogged 2 for 31.

In the third match, Mohali’s batsmen bundled out for 135 runs in 40.2 overs against Ludhiana. Arshdeep Brar scored 49 runs and Kunal Mahajan contributed 22 runs. For Ludhiana, Sukhwinder claimed 4 for 25, while Deepak Bansal took 3 for 25.

In reply, the Ludhiana team scored 172 runs. Anil Sihag scored unbeaten 67 runs, while Ankit Pursharthy scored unbeaten 29 runs.

Ishwari, Aesha advance to next round in tennis meet
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 10
Ishwari Matere and Aesha Patel outclassed Smera Mehta and Aishwarya Patil in straight sets during the first round doubles category match in the ongoing CLTA’s Asian Boys and Girls (U-14) Tennis Championship. It is held at the CLTA Courts in Sector 10 here today. The winning pair outclassed their rivals 6-1 and 6-0.

In the boys’ doubles category, Theertha Macherla and Drumil Thakkar beat Vaibhav Kundu and Sacchit Sharma 6-3 and 6-4.

In the main draw match of the boys’ singles category, Saurav Kalkal upset top seed Amit Beniwal in straight sets 6-3, 6-3, while continuing her winning spree Prinkle Singh defeated Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi 6-3 and 6-1 in the girls’ category.