Chandigarh, July 5
The two accused arrested by the operation cell of the Chandigarh Police earlier this week, for issuing fake certificate of a UP-based university, were operating a racket of fake certificates. The police on investigating the case have recovered certificates and marksheets of undergraduate and postgraduate courses of different universities and institutes from the accused.

Complainant Baljit Singh, a resident of Raipur Khurd, had complained that Narinder Sharma, a resident of Hallo Majra village, took Rs 50,000 from him and gave him marksheets of BA-I, II and III of Monad University, Hapur (UP). He had suspicion that the marksheets were fake. The police verified the documents (marksheets) issued by Narinder Kumar from Monad University, Hapur (UP), and the same were found to be fake.

During interrogation, Narinder disclosed that Naveen Kumar, a resident of Palam Enclave-I, Zirakpur (Punjab), was supplying the fake certificates to him and he was further supplying the same to other people. Accused Naveen Kumar was also arrested.

The police during investigations, recovered fake certificates of CMJ University, Meghalaya, Global Open University, Nagaland, Monad University, Hapur, UP, Singhania University, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, Para Medical Council, Mohali, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka, Rajasthan Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Udaipur, Rajasthan and Vinayak Mission University, Tamil Nadu

The police also recovered identity cards of different universities, blank answersheets of Global Open University, Nagaland, and duly signed and stamped blank certificates of Bathinda Institute of Science and Management.

Police sources said that they were trying to find the names of those customers who had benefited from the fake certificates.

Both the accused were produced in the court today and sent to judicial custody. 

Mohali, July 5
A seminar was organised by the Mohali police at Shivalik Public School, Phase 6, today. Policemen discussed various problems they face while doing their duty. “If you want to check the temperature outside, you have to come out of your AC rooms,” this is what the policemen suggested to their senior officers in the special seminar.

The suggestion was made in context of long duty hours of policemen without any rest. “If a policeman has to give long duty of more than 24 hours without any rest, how can one expect good behaviour from him,” asked a cop when the policemen were being taught a lesson of improving their behaviour while on duty.

The seminar meant to address problems of policemen, looking for options for improvement in promotion courses, procuring feedback and suggestions for improving the prevailing training system and basic policing.

“We would prepare a report based on the suggestions and feedback and would be submitted to Punjab government for initiating steps in direction of improving the things,” said the organisers. 

Chandigarh, July 5
The hotel owners in the city will now have to pay more for using the space adjoining their establishments for parties and functions.

In a meeting held recently, the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) of the Municipal Corporation fixed revised charges from Rs 5,000 per function to Rs 5 per sq ft.

The decision will be placed before the MC’s General House for the final approval.

With the new charges, the hotel owners who have areas around 20,000 sq ft adjoining their hotels, will have to shell out Rs 1 lakh for each function for using the open space.

Last year, former deputy mayor and councillor Satish Kainth had raised this issue and wrote to the MC Commissioner to stop commercial activities being carried out by hotel owners. He had alleged that hotel owners were misusing the open spaces in the vicinity by rented it out for parties, marriages, functions etc.

The councillor said it was a welcome move, which would help improve the civic body’s financial condition. He suggested that though the MC has fixed the price, officials should regularly inspect these hotels to ensure permission has been sought for using the MC land. Heavy penalties should be imposed on the offenders, he added.

The MC had signed MoUs with a number of hotel owners, who had using open spaces adjoining their hotels, in the city, including the Industrial Area. The MoU was signed between the MC and the plot owners for maintenance of open spaces. Hotel owners were using these space for holding functions and parties after paying Rs 5,000 to the MC for every function.

Chandigarh, July 5
A decade-old fight of medical negligence of Anuradha Ahluwalia, the mother of Abhishek Ahluwalia, in which the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) penalised a city-based doctor, has given a ray of hope of justice for many others who are going through the similar ordeal since long.

After the NCDRC decision that Dr Sanjay Saluja has to pay a compensation of Rs 70 lakh to the affected family for the medical negligence that led to amputation of Abhishek’s leg in 2003, Anuradha Ahluwalia is receiving calls from people seeking her guidance on proceeding with their fight against medical negligence. Abhishek was 14 years old at the time of the incident.

“Since morning, I have received three calls from affected persons who want to meet me to seek my guidance as they too are fighting medical negligence cases of their near and dear ones,” said Anuradha. Even in the last 11 years while fighting the case, she guided a number of people in their respective cases, she added.

“I have little resources to help needy persons but if the authorities are sincere a number of people who face harassment of medical negligence could get timely justice”, she stated.

After the experience of both dark and bright side of the medical world, Anuradha appreciated the GMCH-32 doctors and remarked that the need of the hour was to strengthen government medical institutes so that common people were not forced to look for treatment in private hospitals, which were no less than commercial shops.

Abhishek Ahluwalia did not want to discuss the week-long medical trauma.

Chandigarh, July 5
A father and son, both residents of Sector 27, were attacked by unidentified assailants outside their home on Saturday night. The victim claimed that the accused also opened fire, however, the police said they were verifying the statements of the complainants.

The victims have been identified as Raj Kumar and his son Bhiwani. The victims claimed that the accused arrived in a SUV and attacked them and even fired two gun shots in the air.

The victims were taken to the Government Multi Specialty Hospital in Sector 16 for treatment.

Chandigarh, July 5
The Rotary Club, Chandigarh Midtown, will launch a signature project—Towards Total Literacy-More for Female— in the Rotary Year 2014-15, claimed new president of the Club, Rotarian RTPS Tulsi.

The 38th president of the club, Rotarian Tulsi was interacting with media persons during the annual installation ceremony of the club held at Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), here today.

“By educating a female, one can educate a family,” so the next Rotary Year has been dedicated to literate women.

Apart from this, efforts will be made in collaboration with the UT administration to accelerate the pace of life by imparting computer education to students of lower section of the society, claimed Rotarian Tulsi.

He also highlighted various other elements of the project including “Happy Schools and Happy Children” by way of upgrading existing infrastructure in the government-run schools in the villages of city.

Stress will be laid on providing clean drinking water and hygiene toilets in girl schools. The club will also provide benches/ desks stationery such as books, dictionaries, school kits, imported pen drives; sports and recreational facilities (on the request of school authorities), health and hygiene kits especially for adolescent girls, claimed ex- president of the Club, Deepak Sood.

Special training would also be given to the students to operate computers.

KTS Tulsi, member of the parliament, Rajya Sabha, who was the chief guest of the function in the evening, complimented the Rotarians for undertaking various community projects and the way it is working to change the lives of the people.

Mohali, July 5
Two persons, Rajesh Verma and Jugal Kishore Verma, both brothers and residents of Phase 9, sustained injuries in a scuffle with their neighbour Sher Khan last night, here.

The reason behind the fight was issue of parking of vehicles.

According to police, the victims were attacked by the accused and his son with a baseball bat and some sharp-edged weapon.

Rajesh Verma, who sustained injuries on his head, is said to be serious and has been admitted at a private hospital while his brother Jugal Kishore was undergoing treatment at Civil Hospital, Phase 6.

“We would take action after recording statements of Rajesh Verma and his brother,” said the official of the Mohali Police. 

Panchkula, July 5
Two persons suffered injuries when their car fell in a 30 feet deep gorge at Burjkotiyan in Chandimandir area, Panchkula. The driver lost balance following which the car fell. The police said, youths were between the age group of 20-25. They were returning to Panchkula when the incident took place. No casualty was reported.

A passerby noticed the car and heard the shrieks and called police after which they were rescued using a crane. The injured were rushed to General Hospital, Sector 6. Burjkotiyan is a tourist spot which becomes an attraction especially during rains. 

Chandigarh, July 5
No seats are left for boys in the UT pool or general category of the BCom-I on the third day of counselling. As many as 126 seats have been left for girls, 98 under the UT pool and 28 under the general category in two city colleges.

Remaining seats in the nine colleges for both the categories have been filled up.

As per the data of the PU, around 800 students were called today, of which 600 took admission in the 11 city colleges.

As per records, under the UT pool, there is no student who has scored below 90 per cent.

The coordinator, RK Gupta, said this year the number of absentees is far less than the last year. “Due to this, a large number of seats have already been occupied. Girl candidates with ranks above 1601 were called for the counselling on July 6. There are 40 seats vacant in the Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45, and 58 seats in the Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, Chandigarh,” said Gupta.

Chandigarh, July 5
As many as 100 persons, including children, will hold a silent demonstration against the decision of the Medical Council of India (MCI) of reducing 50 seats of MBBS. The demonstration will be held at a garden opposite Government Model Senior School, Sector 33 C, tomorrow.

Due to this reason, students have allegedly failed to get admission in GMCH-32.

The Medical Council of India reduced the seats from 100 to 50 due to the non-availability of infrastructure.

A US-based surgeon, Dr Harbir Sekhon, whose son had applied under the NRI quota, submitted an application to the Union Health Minister citing his disappointment over reduction of seats at GMCH-32.

Meanwhile, around 50 parents and students met Dr Harshvardhan, Health Minister, and then the MCI Chairperson, Jai Shree Mehta, in this regard. 

Chandigarh, July 5
The Enactus Dr SSB University Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology (UICET) bagged the third position in the Enactus National Competition held on July 1 and 2 in Mumbai.

The Enactus Dr SS Bhatnagar UICET comprises of 67 members at present and was started in 2011. It has initiated various projects ever since its formation. The team started two projects this year, Phulkari, in which 15 unskilled women have been empowered in Patiala, 50 professionally skilled ladies in Ambala and a special force of 30 female sex workers and unskilled ladies in Mani Majra, Chandigarh. In another project Astitva, four HIV+ women are working in a unit producing non-woven fabric bags under NGO CNP+.

The total number of women empowered in the two projects in the session 2013-2014 is 102.

The team won the first prize for Walmart Women Empowerment Grant of Rs 1,00,000 and secured a second position in a competition organised by MAHINDRA rise for sustainability of projects amounting to Rs 75,00. The faculty advisor of the team, prof Seema Kapoor, was also awarded the best faculty advisor. 

Chandigarh, July 5
The Police Administration allegedly charged examination fee from Scheduled Caste students, covered under the post matric scholarship for SC. Ambedkar Students’ Association (ASA) has submitted a memorandum to the Panjab University Vice-Chancellor in this regard.

The association alleged that while making claim for the scholarship, the concerned department did not include it. Resultantly, the fee checking department is asking SC students to deposit the examination fee. The association said they approached the fee checking department and SC/ST cell a number of times, but all in vain.

The president of the association, Gurdeep Singh, has requested the VC look into the matter at the earliest. — TNS

Chandigarh, July 5
As many as 58 students of the Indo-Swiss Training Centre (ISTC) were awarded diplomas at the 49th convocation of the institute, here today.

In his convocation address, prof SS Mantha, chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), said, “In the recent years, India has made significant progress in providing higher education. The growth of any nation depends on the manufacturing sector and by providing skilled manpower to this sector we can certainly improve it.”

The director of the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Dr Amod Kumar, said ISTC catered to the need of industry at a time when industry in India was in its inception and was in dire need of skilled personnel.

The principal of the ISTC, RC Agnihotri, while presenting the annual report said the centre has produced 3,299 graduates in various streams so far.

The director’s gold medal and the principal’s silver medal were awarded to Karamjeet Singh, Pooja Thakur (instrument technology), respectively. In advanced diploma in dye and mould-making, Varinder Kumar and Amit Kumar were felicitated. And in advanced diploma in mechatronics and industrial automation, the medals went to Bharat Singla and Ritu Rani.