Chandigarh, July 12
High drama was witnessed outside the Punjab Raj Bhawan when a Sector-35 resident reached there early in the morning claiming that he had consumed poison and wanted to meet UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil.

The police said the victim identified as Sunil Kumar had arrived with his brother Anil Kumar to meet the UT Administrator. He had come to complain that a woman staying on the ground floor was allegedly harassing him and the police authorities were not taking any action against her.

Police sources said that Sunil called up the Police Control Room and informed them that he was going to take the extreme step. The police swung into action and started looking for Sunil at the Sukhna Lake.

The police in the meantime received the information that two persons, Sunil and his brother Anil, had arrived outside the Punjab Raj Bhawan to meet the UT Administrator and one of them was claiming to have consumed poison.

The area police reached there and the victim was rushed to the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH) in Sector 16.

The police sources said that Sunil drank the poisonous substance in Sector 33 and then reached the Raj Bhawan.

Sunil who stays on the first-floor of the house on rent had alleged that Satinder Kaur, who is another tenant of the house, was harassing him after he objected to her running the tiffin business from the house.

Sunil had a suicide note in his pocket in which he had blamed Bhupinder Singh, SHO of the Sector 36 police station, and the staff of the Estate Office for not acting against Satinder Kaur.

Sunil’s brother, Anil, said that the duo was harassed by the woman and her daughter and the police was not taking any action against them, following which his brother had tried committing suicide.

Satinder Kaur’s daughter Gagandeep Kaur refuting all allegations said that instead both the brothers were harassing her mother. “We had started a tiffin service with the permission of the landlord however, after coming to know that we couldn’t run the business from the house, we shifted the business. However, both the brothers kept harassing us”, she claimed.

Kaur alleged that both the brothers used to abuse her and her mother. “On Friday night, Sunil tried to manhandle my mother after which we called the police and filed a complaint against them”, she said. Doctors at the hospital said they were yet to confirm whether he had taken poison or not, but he was out of danger.

Mohali, July 12
The local police were at their wits end when a pilot Gypsy of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal hit an 18-year-old cyclist at Phase XI here this morning.

The victim, identified as Amar Kumar, a resident of Jagatpura Colony, was a daily-wage worker, and was going to work at the time of incident. The victim sustained serious injuries and was shifted to Mohali Civil Hospital, Phase VI, in a three-wheeler by the police. Later, he was referred to Government Multi Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, where his condition is said to be serious.

According to sources, the victim was hit by a pilot Gypsy when he came all of sudden on the road on which the convoy was passing. “The ‘insensitive’ cops did not stop after hitting the victim, who was later shifted to the hospital in an auto-rickshaw by the police”, said the sources. The police was also confused that how the victim came in the way of the Chief Minister’s convoy, which was on its way to the Phase 11-based new office of the Punjab Mandi Board. There was tight security on both sides of the road and the traffic was blocked at that time.

The Mohali Police later claimed that the victim was hit by their Gypsy, which belonged to the Phase 11 Police Station. Inspector Jarnail Singh, the Station House Officer of the police station, confirmed that the Gypsy in question belonged to his police station.

Interestingly, earlier, Investigating Officer ASI Balraj Singh, who went to record the statement of the victim, claimed that Amar Kumar fell down on his own.

The victim’s friend, Ganesh, who was also behind him on his bicycle, said that they were going to Sunny Enclave to work. “A Gypsy, carrying policemen, hit Amar’s bicycle”, said Ganesh.

Ganesh said that Amar had come from Bihar just four months ago.

Chandigarh, July 12
The Chandigarh Administration is all set to decrease collector rates — the minimum rate at which the property is registered — of converted plots in the Industrial Area, Phase I and II, which were converted from industrial to commercial, under the conversion policy and commercial properties on the Madhya Marg.

A senior official of the UT Estate Office said that they had finalised to reduce the collector rates of the converted plots in the Industrial Area and the commercial properties on the Madhya Marg by 10 to 15 per cent. It will be put forward to the UT Deputy Commissioner to issue final orders in this regard, he said.

At present, the property that is available at Rs 12-14 crore in the Industrial Area, the UT Administration has fixed their collector rates at more than Rs 20 crore. Since there was huge difference between the collector rates and the market rates, the industrialists had even offered to sell their properties to the UT Administration at the collector rates.

The collector rates of converted plots in the Industrial Area are Rs 2,16,216 per square yards. Earlier, there was resentment among the members of the Converted Plot Owners’ Association as the UT Administration had increased their collector rates by 5 per cent last year.

They had even submitted before the UT Administration that when the conversion policy was made, it was decided that the factors like disadvantage of location, relaxation in floor area ratio would be considered while deciding the collector rates of the converted plots in the Industrial Area. But the Estate Office had kept their collector rates at par with the properties of Sector 17.

The collector rates of SCOs on Madhya Marg has been fixed at Rs 5,14,800 per sq yard. Last year, the collector rates of SCOs in these areas was Rs 3,43,200 per sq yard.

Chander Verma, chairman of the Converted Plot Owners Association, said it was a welcome step if the Estate Office was going to decrease the collector rates of the converted plots. Echoing similar view, Charanjiv Singh, president, Chandigarh Beopar Mandal, said the UT Estate Office should also decrease the collector rates of other areas.

Chandigarh, July 12
In a classic example of putting the cart before the horse, visionary officers of the Municipal Corporation installed air conditioners (AC) at the Sector 48 community centres only to realise later that the power supply line could not withstand the load of 32 ACs.

It has been eight months since the community centre was inaugurated, but an 11-KV transformer to make the AC functional is yet to be installed.

Even though residents pay Rs 12,000 to rent out the community centre, they are not getting the benefit of AC.

Sources said the required power load for running 32 ACs was not available, thereby rendering them as mere showpieces.

While the rent for the newly constructed AC community centres is Rs 12,000 per day, the non air-conditioned community centres are available at a daily rent of Rs 5,818.

Sahil Chauhan, a city resident, said, “What is the use of having an air-conditioned community centre when the ACs don’t work?”

“When residents are paying for better services, they should get the same. No one will use the ACs in winter,” added Chauhan.

Deputy Mayor and area councillor Davesh Moudgil claimed that the delay made by the UT Electricity Department had left residents at the receiving end.

“The annual maintenance contract (AMC) of the company, that installed the AC, is about to get over and we have failed to avail the benefit. If the AC develops a problem after a year, the MC will have to bear the expenses,” said the Deputy Mayor.

Moudgil further said the officials responsible for causing the unnecessary delay should be held accountable.

MC SDE (electrical) AK Dadwal said the delay in various approvals from the UT Electricity Department had caused the present state of affairs.

“However, now they have expedited the work and soon the ACs would be made functional,” he added.

‘We have failed to avail benefit’
The annual maintenance contract of the company, that installed the ACs, is about to get over and we have failed to avail the benefit. If the AC develops a problem after a year, the MC will have to bear the expenses.
— Davesh Moudgil, Deputy Mayor, chandigarh MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

Chandigarh, July 12
The UT Estate Office on Saturday sealed shop-cum-office (SCO) numbers 53, 54 and 55, Sector 17, where seven offices were being run by various organisations.

The UT Estate Office team locked some parts of the building due to violations under the Chandigarh Building Bylaws. The officers claimed that the building owners had made enclosures in the basement area.

On the other hand, cabin owners in the building alleged foul play on the part of the estate officials. They alleged that the officials had targeted a certain section of people. The estate officials also sealed a cabin of a nominated councillor of the Municipal Corporation.

Interestingly, the estate officials ‘spared’ an office of the Punjab Government in the same building.

Chandigarh, July 12
Demanding strict punishment for the accused in a hit-and-run case wherein a woman pedestrian was killed and another was injured in Sector 29 on July 11, the volunteers of an NGO — Arrive Safe — staged a silent protest outside the Industrial Area police station here today.

The accused had fled from the spot after hitting the pedestrians in their bid to escape a police naka set up for drunken driving.

Harman Singh Sidhu, President, Arrive Safe, said, “Instead of rushing the victim to the hospital, the accused drove away, which is intentional and not a negligent act.”

“Cases of hit-and-run have become a regular feature in the city. This needs to be curtailed through stricter punishment,” he added.

The NGO, in its representation submitted to the SHO of the Industrial Area police station, demanded that the accused be booked under Section 304 of the IPC, which provides for a 10-year imprisonment instead of the customary practice of imposing Section 304-A, which is a bailable offence.

“The driver instead of informing the authorities or providing medical aid to the injured chose to run away. Section 134 of the Motor Vehicle Act should also be imposed on him,” said Sidhu.

officialspeak
Instead of rushing the victim to the hospital, the accused drove away, which is intentional and not a negligent act. Cases of hit-and-run have become a regular feature in the city.
— Harman Singh Sidhu, President, Arrive Safe

case HISTORY
A woman pedestrian was killed and another was injured in Sector 29 on July 11. The accused had fled from the spot after hitting the pedestrians in their bid to escape a police naka set up for drunken driving.

Panchkula, July 12
Mystery deepens in the death case of senior manager of State Bank of Patiala (SBOP), Rajiv Sharma, as missing links surfaced during police investigations.

The investigators have been trying to find out as to what happened on the night of July 4 with the victim. Sharma had told his son to pick him up from Zirakpur bus stand at 7.30 pm but never turned up at the bus stand.

The police have yet to record the statements of the family.

As per the police, Sharma had told his family that he is going with a colleague to the head office in Patiala. “As the victim told his family that he is going with his colleague, since the day he went missing and after recovery of his dead body, we enquired from all his contacts but no one had gone to Patiala,” said a senior police official.

During preliminary investigations it also surfaced that on July 4 Sharma did not go visited the head office in Patiala and his last location was near a canal in Patiala. He also left his wallet at home but had taken money with him.

DCP Rahul Sharma said, “We already lodged an FIR when the victim went missing. As and when the family gives their statements, if they suspect any foul play, we will immediately take action.”

Meanwhile, the family today went to Haridwar with the ashes of Sharma as they were left only with ashes. On July 4, Sharma had gone to Patiala saying that he had to go to the head office but didn’t return. On July 6, the Hisar police found the body from the canal and cremated when they did not get any intimation from the family.

Panchkula, July 12
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda will address a gathering of Congress Mayors of Haryana, presidents of municipal committees, sitting and former Congress MPs and other dignitaries tomorrow morning.

The function is believed to be a show of strength for those aspiring for ticket from Panchkula and Kalka Assembly constituencies.

Chandigarh, July 12
Students of five-year integrated course of BA LLB are likely to get 15 per cent weightage for admission in the LLM course at Panjab University.

A proposal in this regard was made during a meeting of the Syndicate held today. Vice-Chancellor (VC) Arun Kumar Grover presided over the meeting.

A committee has been constituted to consider the proposal and implement it at the earliest. The VC will give the final approval to it.

From the next session, the university will start an additional soft skill programme course for MA students of the Department of French and Francophone Studies. The initiative is being taken as part of the soft skills proposed by the UGC. It would help the students in improving their verbal communication skills in French.

Meanwhile, Syndics raised objections to the tabling of the proposal to start an under graduate course of domestic violence against children and women without drafting the syllabus. Members of the Syndicate asked to refer the proposal back to the university authorities before taking a decision to commence the course and the authorities should prepare the curriculum and class schedule.

Rejecting the proposal of rotation of chairpersons of various departments, the Syndicate stated that the appointment of director and assistant director of a department was against the calendar of the university. Syndics also rejected the proposal tabled for extension of re-employment and guest faculty from 65 years to 70 years.

In the meeting, the members proposed to the director of the UT Higher Education, Sandeep Hans, who also attended the meeting today, that the practice of promoting 10 per cent assistant professor to professor in Punjab be adopted by the UT Administration.

Meanwhile, Thomson Reuters has listed Prof VR Sinha and university alumnus and Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award winner Prof GPS Raghava in a publication titled ‘The World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds’.

PU Syndicate’s decisions If there is no eligible candidate for the post of principal or teacher after advertisement, the person holding the post will be hired on contract basis. Tenure of Prof Navdeep Goyal and Prof Nandita Singh as Dean Students Welfare, Men and Women, respectively, extended for another year. Prof Ramanjit Kaur Johal appointed as Dean of International Students.

Chandigarh, July 12
Various schools in the city observed the World Population Day by holding events to raise awareness on issues concerning overpopulation.

RIMT World School observed the day on its campus today. The school authorities said to create awareness on population growth and related issues, the students asserted their sentiments through creative slogans and placards. A special assembly was observed wherein students presented a skit on ‘Population Explosion’.

Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 31, Chandigarh, observed the day on its campus today. The school authorities said students were sensitised to the rapid growth of population in the world, particularly in India. The awareness programme included slogan writing, poem recitation and speech contests. A quiz contest was also organised.

The day was observed by the NSS unit and Peace Club of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 38 (West), Dadu Majra Colony. An interactive session was held wherein Sunil Kumar, Youth Officer, Chandigarh State Aids Control Society, was the guest speaker.

Maharishi Dayanand Public School, Daria, in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Chandigarh Administration, organised a run to mark the day. In the boys’ category, Druvsh, Chetan and Harsh Saini won the first, second and third positions, respectively and in the girls’ section, Nishu Thakur, Nikita and Deepika secured the top three spots in that order. — TNS

Chandigarh, July 12
The British Deputy High Commission in Chandigarh along with Manav Charities launched a project “inter-faith and inter-caste communal harmony in Punjab, north Haryana and Rajasthan” at Panjab University here today.

The year-long project got underway with a workshop where panel discussions on the need and urgency for harmony among religions, inter-relationships of communal harmony and family life, peaceful co-existence in Sikh doctrine and other related issues were held.

Deputy High Commissioner for Northwest India David Lelliott said the project was initiated to provide a structured official platform for exchange of dialogue between different faith groups and to empower women as peace agents.

David said though India as a nation had a record of religion tolerance, official channels for structured faith dialogue were wanting.

Recounting the Muzaffarnagar riots last year, he said, “There is a need to reach out to marginalised communities as trouble can start anywhere; all communities are susceptible for conflict.”

In his address, the Deputy High Commissioner emphasised on the role of women as peace agents and the need to encourage their participation at every level.

Talking about the challenges for the project, he said, “Our aim is to reach out to wider communities at grassroots level in rural areas and create lasting results along with networks that can carry forward the dialogue.”

On the ongoing Iraq conflict, David said, “Iraqis have to resolve the issue themselves. We can only support channels of peace. Iraqis are being manipulated again. Their government needs to come up with a system that embraces more community diversity.”

Other eminent speakers at the workshop included president of Manav Charities TS Rajamani, Swami Satchidand, YMCA general secretary Arvind Noel, United Sikhs, India, director Gurpreet Singh and Pro-Chancellor of Desh Bhagat University Tejinder Kaur.

on Muzaffarnagar riots
There is a need to reach out to marginalised communities as trouble can start anywhere; all communities are susceptible to conflict.
David Lelliott, British deputy high commissioner for northwest india

Chandigarh, July 12
Desh Bhagat University students have brought glory to the institution with their performance at the 28th National Level Dance and Drama Competition held at Solan, Himachal Pradesh, recently.

As many as 27 teams from 19 states of the country participated in the competition organised by Fylfot Forum, Solan.

In the boys traditional dress competition, Desh Bhagat University faculty of media student Ankush and Vishal got the first and second places, respectively. In the girls traditional dress competition, faculties of media student Amrita and art and craft student Karan Sandhu bagged the first and second places, respectively.

University chancellor Dr Zora Singh congratulated the students who bagged positions in the competition.