Mohali, September 20
Four assailants targeted a doctor couple last night and took away their Honda City car (Regn No. DL9CU 6696, white-colour) after opening fire to scare the onlookers who had gathered there.

The incident occurred at around 10.45 pm last night near gurdwara, located on the road separating Phase V (residential area) and Phase VII in Mohali. The victim couple, Dr Gaganjit Singh and his wife Dr Shruti, both residents, was on their way to Ludhiana in their new Honda City car after having dinner at a local restaurant in Phase IIIB2.

The miscreants, who came in a golden-coloured car, were carrying sharp-edged weapons and a pistol. “They also opened fire into the air when some gathered onlookers tried to come to our rescue”, said Dr Gaganjit Singh, who is a doctor at a private hospital in Ludhiana. His wife Dr Shruti is serving at a private hospital, here.

Giving details, Dr Gaganjit Singh said the assailants forced him to stop his car by hitting it from the rear. “When I slowed down my car after being hit from the rear, they overtook me and stopped their car in front of my vehicle. One of them came to my side and asked me to come out while another assailant pulled my wife out of the car and put a sickle on her neck. He threatened us that he would kill her if we raised an alarm,” alleged Dr Gaganjit Singh.

To save his wife, Dr Gagnjit held the sickle and raised the alarm following which some persons gathered at the spot. “Then one of them pulled out his pistol and fired three-to four shots into the air and pointed the weapon towards the gathered crowd before taking away my car”, said Dr Gaganjit Singh.

As he resisted, Dr Gaganjit sustained cuts on both of his hands. He said that he had purchased the car just six months ago.

The police have registered a case under Sections 382 of the IPC and under appropriate Sections of the Arms Act at the Phase I police station.

Mohali SSP Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti said that investigations were on. “The culprits will be nabbed soon”, said Bhatti.

Chandigarh, September 20
An Indian Air Force’s transport aircraft AN-32 suffered damage as it landed at the Chandigarh Air Force Station late this evening. No casualties were reported. The IAF will be conducting a court of inquiry into the incident.

There were 11 persons onboard, including the crew and six passengers. Sources said some of them sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was being flown by two officers of the rank of Flight Lieutenant and was returning from Bathinda. The IAF had ferried teams of the National Disaster Response Force and their equipment from Bathinda to J&K for flood relief operations this month. These teams are now being deinducted. Sources said the aircraft veered off the runway and caught fire. There was a sudden gust of wind due to which the aircraft “bounced up” and then touched down hard on the runway. “We call this wind shear, which results from certain overhead cloud formation or lightning and can be very severe in proximity to the ground and tricky to negotiate,” a pilot said. The sources added that the hard impact the aircraft made could possibly have damaged the right side of the undercarriage, which could have resulted in the aircraft veering off the runway. Emergency services and crash tenders managed to control the fire. Senior officers from the airbase also rushed to the site.

Chandigarh, September 20
A woman, a resident of Burail, was allegedly set afire by her in-laws on Friday after her family failed to meet their dowry demands.

The victim’s father, Tejpal Singh, hailing from Kurukshetra, said his daughter was married to Amandeep in June this year. Tejpal alleged that ever since the marriage, his daughter’s in-laws had been torturing her for dowry.

Tejpal claimed that he was unable to give Rs10 lakh and a car that they had demanded. Tejpal complained to the police that his daughter called him on the night of September 18 and told him that her in-laws were planning to set her afire. Tejpal with his relatives left for the city from Kurkshetra and while he was on his way on September 19, a relative called up to inform him that his daughter was set afire by her in-laws and she was admitted to the PGIMER.

Tejpal reached the city and gave a complaint against his son-in-law Amandeep, father-in-law Ishwar and mother-in-law Kanta for trying to kill his daughter.

The police have registered a case against the three. Investigations are on.

Chhat Bir, September 20
Abhey, an adult lion, that had been alluring visitors in the Lion Safari of the Asia fame Chhat Bir zoo, died after a week-long illness, here today.

With the death of the Asiatic lion, the wildlife conservation at the zoo has once again suffered a major setback thus bringing the vet-care for zoo inmates under the scanner. Sources in the zoo revealed that the big cat was off-feed for the past over a week. The veterinarian attending to Abhey reportedly tranquilised the beast which further deteriorated its health. The carcass of the animal was disposed of in the zoo incinerator after a postmortem was conducted this afternoon. With the death of Abhey, now the zoo is left with five Asiatic lions (a lioness Heli and her three offsprings) and an old lion, from among the inbred lions.

Dhirendra Kumar, Chief Wildlife Warden, Punjab, claimed that the lion was off-feed for some time and died today.

“We made our best possible efforts to save the big cat but to no avail. Teams of experts from Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareli, and the Wildlife Institute on India (WII), Dehra Dun, were called to examine the cat. The postmortem examination showed the lion die of infection in the lungs,” Dhirendra Kumar said.

To phase out hybrid lions and to restore the lost glory of the zoo, the Punjab wildlife Department had acquired Abhey and Heli, two years ago. The pair mated successfully and added new life to the Safari by giving birth to four cubs in July, this year.

Chandigarh, September 20
The beautiful environs of Sukhna Lake hummed with activity today as senior citizens started arriving in droves early morning to take part in the two-km ‘Walk for fun’, an annual event, held in run up to the Senior Citizens’ Day.

The event drew a large number of participants, mostly in their eighties.

President of the Senior Citizens’ Association Daljit Singh Grewal said till 2009, there was an element of competition in which men and women in different age-groups had to cover different distances. The practice was discontinued as cases of over-exertion surfaced. “Since the aim of the walk was to get people out to breathe fresh air in the serene atmosphere of the lake rather than testing their stamina, it was felt that a non-competitive event would do just as well,” he added.

IGP RP Upadhyaya flagged off batches of senior citizens (below 70 and above 70) in separate groups of men and women.

During an interaction with the IGP, several senior citizens sought stricter enforcement of traffic rules, especially for two-wheelers and rickshaws carrying school children; check on PG accommodation to curb indecent behaviour in neighborhood parks; enforcement of ban on loud music and synchronisation of traffic lights at roundabouts.

A musical chair completion was also organised on the occasion. Winners of the event were awarded.

Chandigarh, September 20
A woman, an accused in the molestation case of alleged con man Devinder Gill’s wife Kricpy Khaira, today blamed a senior officer of the Punjab Police for pressurising the Mohali Police against taking action against Khaira.

Addressing mediapersons here, the woman, whose name came up along with Punjab Police Inspector General Gautam Cheema and Ajay Chaudhary in the Kricpy molestation case, alleged that the officer in question pressured the Mohali police not to take any action against Kricpy.

She further alleged that at least 42 complaints of cheating against Kricpy were pending with the Mohali police but the latter were doing nothing in this connection.

Seeking a CBI inquiry into the entire episode, she said, “I would reveal the name of the officer at an appropriate time.”

“I have made a complaint against the officer in question at the Centre level,” the woman said while maintaining that she was falsely implicated in the Kricpy Khaira molestation case.

On a Panchkula court granting bail to Gill in a rape case, the woman, who is the complainant in the case, said she would challenge it in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Panchkula, September 20
Panchkula will witness hi-tech Ramlila this year. For the first time in the tricity, a LED screen will depict the background for the scenes during the Ramlila. Till now, most of the organisers are using projectors.

A few artistes have also been called from Punjab this time instead of the local ones.

The Adarsh Ramleela Club is organising the Ramleela from September 22 at the Shalimar ground here. Till Dasehra, which falls on October 3, it would be staged from 9pm onwards.

“We will ensure that we have all hi-tech features this time. We have specially purchased a LED screen that would show backgrounds of different scenes synchronising with the artistes staging the act,” said Ramesh Chadha, president of the club.

He said “even the ‘Tadka’s character will appear to the audience from a height of 25 ft for the first time.”

“The ring that Hanuman gives to Sita has been made with special effects,” said another member of the club. Nearly Rs 8 lakh will be spent for organising the Ramlila. Private security guards have been roped in to avoid parking chaos. Seating arrangements has also been made for the event.

Panchkula, September 20
Panic gripped Sector 28 here when a chopped off arm of a man was found near a drain this evening.

It was after the children, who were playing nearby, screamed on seeing the arm that a passerby informed the police.

The police suspected that the man could have been murdered and the body chopped into parts, which were dropped at different locations so as to avoid suspicion.

Searches are being conducted to locate the body. “We will get a search conducted in the morning as well. We have also told the authorities at the General Hospital, Sector 6, to inform us if a body or man with amputated arm reaches there,” said Inspector Arvind Kumar, Station House Officer, Chandimandir police station.

“The doctors would be able to tell the age of the victim,” the SHO added.

Third incident

Notably, this is the third such blind case where the police are groping in the dark.

About a fortnight ago, a decomposed body of a man was found near the North Park Hotel. Doctors believed it to be a murder. However, the case has not been solved yet.

Further, a half-burnt chopped body of a man was found near Ghaggar river recently.

The police had lodged a case of murder, but the identity of the person could not be ascertained so far.

Chandigarh, September 20
Justice SK Mittal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court called upon district and sessions judges to effectively monitor performance of judicial officers in their respective divisions to ensure maximum disposal of cases.

“This will not only provide speedy justice to litigants, but also help in enhancing common man’s faith in the judicial system,” said the judge, while chairing a meeting of district and session judges to review the performance with regard to disposal of cases.

Justice Mittal, who is also the chairperson of the State Legal Services Authorities of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, also impressed upon all the judges to ensure the disposal of maximum number of cases at National Lok Adalats.

It was found that the number of cases disposed of in 2013-14 was more than the number of cases instituted during the year in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

The pendency of 20-year-old cases, as on March 31, 2014, was 101, only 0.009 per cent of the total pendency. The pendency of 15-, 10-, and 5-year-old cases was 275, 1,258 and 30,800 respectively.

Chandigarh, September 20
As part of the 67th Raising Day celebrations of the Western Command, a “bara khana” (grand dinner) was organised for the troops and their families at the Chandimandir Military Station today. A cultural programme comprising folk dances and songs was also presented on the occasion.

Senior military officers, junior commissioned officers and other ranks as well as civilian staff of the command were present on the occasion.

Earlier on September 15, a wreath-laying ceremony had been held at the Veer Smriti war memorial in Chandimandir to pay homage to martyrs.

The command was raised in 1947 as the Delhi and East Punjab Command with headquarters at Delhi. It was redesignated as Western Command in January 1948.

Chandigarh, September 20
The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India, Chandigarh division, has sent relief material to the flood-hit state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Chandigarh, September 20
Panjab University is again reconsidering to introduce one-year LLM (Master of Law) course from the next session in the Department of Law. The proposal is going to be tabled in the Senate meeting scheduled to be held on September 28.

Records revealed that in February 2014, the Syndicate approved the proposal of one-year LLM course under which there will be two semesters rather than four in the previous course. The Dean has also proposed to start the LLM course in the evening shift rather than in the morning.

Sources said the UGC had issued directions for the introduction of one-year LLM course in universities. Following these instructions, some of the national law universities have already started LLM course of one-year duration.

The sources said the proposal was mooted in the Syndicate meeting held in May last year. But as the session had already started, the authorities kept it pending for the next session.

In Europe and America, LLM course is of one year, while in India students have to spend two years for the same course. Keeping this fact in view, the UGC also introduced the one-year course last year.

Another issue that is going to be tabled in the meeting is the introduction of house rent provision for around 200 reemployed faculty members as there is a provision of this facility in the Panjab University calendar for re-employed faculty.

The university is planning to convert the traditional Dasehra Ground into a cricket ground with an expenditure of Rs 9 lakh. The proposal will be tabled at the meeting for the approval.

The issue regarding the approval for a new parking lot near new teaching flats at a cost of Rs 30 lakh is also going to be discussed at the meeting.

Despite the Panjab University Teachers’ Association opposing the implementation of the capping system, taking a plea that the UGC is also reconsidering it, the university authorities plan to table it for consideration and approval of the Senate.

There are 60 agenda items that will be tabled in the Senate. The agenda runs into 1,500 pages and weighs around 7 to 8 kg.

Chandigarh, September 20
The Department of Humanities of GGDSD College organised a freshers’ party, “Serendipity”, for first-year students of Bachelor of Arts (BA) today.

Senior students presented a lively medley of songs and dances to welcome the first-year students.

Principal Dr Bhushan K Sharma welcomed the first-year students and urged them to make the optimum use of the facilities provided by the college and actively participate in extracurricular activities to ensure all-round development.

The audience danced to the numbers presented by the college music band. Students displayed their talent through powerful dance and musical performances. They also took part in interesting competitions such as tongue twisters and eating the most amounts of sweets.

A modelling contest was also held on the occasion. As many as 42 girls and boys participated in the contest. It was conducted in three rounds. Anmolpreet Singh and Kibria bagged the Mr and Ms Fresher titles, respectively. Amit Sharma and Niharika won the Mr and Ms Personality titles, respectively. Avijeet and Sukriti were adjudged the best dressed students.

Chandigarh, September 20
A 10-day annual training and sailing camp for Naval wing NCC cadets of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh NCC Directorate is being conducted by the No. 1 Chandigarh naval NCC unit here. As many as 103 cadets, including 40 girls from various colleges, are attending the camp.

As part of the camp activities, a sailing competition was held at the Sukhna Lake today, in which four teams took part. The winners of the competition will become a part of the NCC Directorate team for the all-India sailing competition scheduled to be held in November at Chilka in Andhra Pradesh.

The camp commandant, Commander US Thakur, said other activities like ship modelling, boat pulling, drill and shooting were also being conducted during the camp, which will continue till September 27.

Chandigarh, September 20
On the eve of International Day of Peace, students of Dikshant International School, Zirakpur, spread the message of peace at the Plaza in Sector 17, here, by holding a signature campaign.

The students had designed a 12-ft statue of Mahatma Gandhi with plaster of Paris, signifying peace on which they took messages from people on “What Peace means to a common citizen?.”

It would be sent to the office of Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, along with a relief fund collected by the students of the school for the flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir.

The campaign stressed on promoting people-to-people contact and cultural exchanges for spreading the message of peace in the region.