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| Wednesday,
October 17, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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Six robberies in one night Zirakpur, October 16 Armed with swords, daggers, iron rods and sticks, members of the gang struck at a farmhouse in Chhat village, a dera in Nabha village, a house in Dasmesh Colony, Lohgarh village, two houses in Akali Kaur Singh Colony and a tubewell in Bhabhat village. They struck at the area and looted the inhabitants after committing robberies. The miscreants broke into a farmhouse owned by Mr Deepinder Singh Dhillon, a Chandigarh resident, and stabbed Mr Bhoot Singh, a labourer. According to the police, the robbers struck at a dera headed by Mr Kishan Gopal, a mahant, in Nabha village at about 1.30 a.m. Mr Gurmukh Singh, elder brother of the mahant, noticed two unidentified persons as the dogs started barking at them. He raised an alarm and Mr Kishan Gopal, who had just arrived after selling his paddy crop in the Panchkula grain market, came outside the house after hearing the noise. Mr Gurmukh Singh said one of the robbers signalled to his accomplice by flashing a torch he was carrying. Hiding in the nearby fields, about 12 armed members of the gang reached the spot and attacked three members of the family with sticks. The clash continued for over half an hour. In the meantime, Mr Amar Dass, alias Babla, son of Mr Kishan Gopal, rushed inside the house, took out a double barrel gun and fired a shot in the air. Hearing the shot, the miscreants fled from the spot, leaving footmarks on the wet fields from where they ran away. After a gap of over one hour, the robbers struck at the house of Mr Kanwar Singh in Dasmesh Colony in Lohgarh village on the Zirakpur-Patiala highway. They hacked Ms Darshna Kaur and her son Harpal Singh, alias Palli, with iron rods in their sleep. The miscreants reportedly overpowered the guard of the colony and tied up his hands and legs. They forced him to sit mute in a nearby plot with weed. One of them took his whistle and kept blowing it till their operation was completed. They entered the house by forcibly breaking open the lock of the main gate. The victims were reportedly locked up inside the kitchen and the house was ransacked. The robbers took away cash and jewellery and locked all doors of the house from outside before leaving. The robbers next entered the house of Mr Gurbaksh Singh in Akali Kaur Singh Colony in Bhabhat village. He said, “I noticed a man on the boundary wall of my house when I woke up to answer the call of nature at about 1.45 or 2 am. He was wearing shorts and a swetter and was a Punjabi-speaking youth”. As the owner raised alarm, the man jumped into the courtyard of the house and threatened him from dire consequences. Swords in their hands, 10 youths, scaled the boundary wall and entered the house. They were demanding the cash and jewellery kept inside the house. “They put swords on our necks, took a bedsheet and bundled us up after tying us with both ends of an iron cot in the lobby. They covered our faces with blankets so that we could not raise alarm”, said Mr Rajinder Singh, son of Mr Gurbaksh Singh. They entered the room in which Ms Surendra Kaur, wife of Mr Rajinder Singh, was sleeping. The robbers disconnected the telephone and took away over Rs 1,000 from their pockets, she said. They also took away a wooden bat, three or four chunnis and some garments. Some of them entered the adjacent house, owned by Mr Gurbaksh Singh’s widowed daughter-in-law, Ms Sukhwant Kaur. They thrashed her and locked her four children in a room before fleeing from the scene. Twelve labourers who were camping at a tubewell in Bhabhat village were the next target of the gang. They overpowered the sleeping labourers and injured Mr Shyam Sada and Mr Uttam Yadav seriously. After robbing them of over Rs 3,500 and their clothes, they fled from the spot. Cases have been registered at Dera Bassi, Banur and Sohana police stations for the incidents in their respective areas. The wooden bat taken away from the house of Mr Gurbaksh Singh and used to beat the labourers was recovered. |
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Authors most exploited,
says Hari Jaisingh Chandigarh, October 16 Inaugurating a two-day seminar on copyright organised by the federation at the ICSSR Complex of Panjab University here today, Mr Hari Jaisingh said that authors were the most exploited “commodity” in the country. “That is why they look westwards to get their books published. Things are changing. More than legality or the law, what is needed the most is trust and transparency between the publisher and the author. Unfortunately, authors of language books often have to run after their publishers for royalty. “No one resents publishers making money but at the same time, they must not deprive the authors of their rightful due. Further, youngsters, who are creative and capable of excelling, must be afforded an opportunity. Why do they have to look to the Western world to get recognition?” Mr Hari Jaisingh said suggesting that the ideal thing would be to combine business with creativity. “Free flow of ideas is the only way to generate creativity. And there is tremendous talent in language publishing for the betterment of our democratic society,” he said. Talking about the role of the police and legal experts in enforcing the Copyright Act, Mr Hari Jaisingh emphasised the need for sensitising the police as law-enforcement agencies alone could not fight either copyright infringements or plagiarism. “Think big and act big,” he said maintaining that piracy had to be fought and creativity had to be given a boost. The seminar, which has attracted experts on copyright, police officials, legal luminaries, authors and even readers, will feature discussions on the basics of the Copyright Act, how to sign agreements with authors, compulsory licensing under international conventions and other related issues. Earlier, in his keynote address, Mr D.N. Malhotra, Chairman, Copyright Council, Federation of Indian Publishers, said that the “protection of copyright encourages creativity”. Tracing the history of copyright in India, he said that intellectual property was the common word used for it. The rights of creators in every field of art were protected by the Indian Copyright Act, 1957 , with a number of amendments to make it up to date with the changing national and international scenario. “The Indian law is quite comprehensive”. The importance of copyright, he said, was not only for safeguarding the economic interests of society as a whole, but it was through the creativity of the intellectual that a society progressed. “Any society or state that looks the other way when copyright infringements and piracy take place does so at its own peril and thus hampers the advancement of society,” he said maintaining that all such infringements should be taken seriously. Mr Malhotra also talked about “moral right”, how a piece of creative art falls in the “public domain”, “national treatment” in the case of infringements of the Act involving foreign authors, and how music companies had employed retired police officers of good repute for creating its own investigative and follow-up agency by quoting the case Mr J.F. Ribeiro. Earlier, Mr Raj Kumar, a member of the federation, in his address of welcome talked about various aspects of the Copyright Act and the need for organising the seminar. He said that the federation was ready to organise even workshops for the benefit of authors, lawyers and even police officers for better appreciation of the Act. Mr S. Ramaiah, former Chairman of the Copyright Board, spoke on the Copyright Act as amended upto last year. |
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UT to permit conversion of
commercial property Chandigarh, October 16 An applicant wanting conversion from leasehold into freehold will have to demolish or rectify all violations carried out in the property within one month. This will also apply to Chandigarh Housing Board flats. A separate rule in case of persons who surrender property has been approved. This will allow graded fines to be imposed according to the period taken by the owner to surrender property purchased in an auction.
Highly placed sources said the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), this morning asked officials of the Administration to expedite the process of drafting a set of rules which will govern the changes. There has been great demand for permission for conversion from city residents and owners of these high value commercial as well as industrial properties. A rate for conversion on a per square yard basis is being presently worked out, a well placed source. This will be on the same parameters applied in case of conversion of residential property. However the rate will be different and not be on the same lines as the residential property. The parameters will be like rates in the last five auctions, the prevailing market rate and also age of property, among others. The last aspect will be important as someone may have purchased the property 40 years ago and maybe paying annual lease money. He will not be willing for conversion at the present market rates. This is the opinion among senior officials of the Administration. So the formula of rate fixation will also have the aspect of age of property. The location of property will also be borne in mind as the rates for example, in Sector 22 may vary from those in Sector 40. Balancing these rates will be a delicate task, a source says, while adding that there will be little or no revenue loss on account of payment of lease money. This sum is paid annually by people who own leasehold property. When the property is converted into freehold, the owner will not have to pay any lease money. The shortfall in revenue will be met through the conversion charges levied one time on the people seeking conversion. The sources add that rates of conversion will not be as low as the those fixed for residential property. For the real impact, permission to sell on a floor wise basis will have to be given. This will be done under the Apartment Act, officials say.
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Courting controversy, Daler Mehndi style Chandigarh, October 16 Daler Mehndi’s two music albums, “Ek Dana”and “Nabi Bubba” have remained mired in controversies following objections from Sikh and Muslim organisations. His third album “Lehria” has failed create any ripples in the musical world. Speaking at a meet-the-press programme at the Chandigarh Press Club and later in a talk with media-persons, Daler Mehndi alleged that he had paid a bribe of Rs 25,000 to a person named Happy for withdrawing objections to certain scenes in his music album “Ëk Dana”. He did not respond when pointed out by journalists that the objections to certain scenes involving children in “Ek Dana” were raised by the All India Sikh Students Federation owing allegiance to SAD headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal and the Delhi Akali leader, Mr Avtar Singh Hit. He was in Canada doing a show when the controversy over “Ek Dana” broke. He had apologised for the scenes which had offended the feelings of the Sikh community. Certain scenes showing children behaving in an objectionable manner were deleted from the video. His other album “Nabi Bubba” offended the Muslim community, forcing him to amend it. Daler Mehndi said the objections had been raised by an obscure Muslim organisation which gained publicity because of him. In reply to question, he admitted that he was not much seen on television channels these days. He promised to come back with bang. |
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Major Bhatnagar’s dismissal confirmed Chandigarh, October 16 Major Bhatnagar of 5 Para had been found guilty of violating good order and military discipline during Operation Vijay in the Kargil sector in 1999. He had, however, been acquitted of the more serious charge of disobeying lawful command while on active service. The first charge, under Section 41 of the Army Act, stated that on June 15, 1999, Major
Bhatnagar, while performing the duties of company commander, when ordered by Commander 80 Brigade, Brig Devinder Singh, to attack Point 5203, showed unwillingness to perform the said task by stating, “my company, including myself, is unfit for an attack operations and can at best undertake occupation of a defensive position,” or words to that effect. The second charge under Section 63, said that when ordered by the Brigade Commander to attack Point 5203, “improperly” stated that he and his company were unfit for attack and could only undertake defensive operations. He had been convicted on this charge. |
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Lion cub
dies of pneumonia Chhat Bir, October 16 According to sources, two lion cubs were suffering from pneumonia and were undergoing treatment at the zoo hospital for the past one week. Their condition deteriorated due to lack of proper treatment, sources alleged. Mr R.K. Luna personally took the cubs to Ludhiana where one died, while the condition of the second is said to be serious. It is alleged that the zoo has inadequate medical staff and animals are suffering in the absence of qualified veterinary staff. |
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PU’s improvement exam issue under study Chandigarh, October 16 Following a representation from students, the university has constituted a committee to look into the affair, it is reliably learnt. The committee will deliberate on the feasibility of conducting the improvement of undergraduate and postgraduate classes (full papers) along with the
supplementary examination. The supplementary examination also includes compartment cases. The committee comprises Prof Mohan Maharishi, Dean, University Instructions, Prof Ashok Sahni, Prof R.J. Hans Gill, Prof M.M. Sharma, Prof S.S. Kumar, Principal R.C. Jeewan and the Controller of Examination, besides others. The office not is not in favour of a change in the existing format of the examination. The improvement examination is going to increase the bulk of work on the examination branch. The duration of the examination is bound to increase if examinations were conducted in all subjects. In case the change is incorporated in the existing system, the total number of working days in an institution are bound to suffer. The university is supposed to ensure 180 teaching days in an academic year. Under the existing circumstances, the best efforts yielded about 115 lectures. The university is likely to have lesser days because it has only five working days in a week against six in colleges. Sources said till 1995, the improvement examination was conducted along with the supplementary examination. A senator moved a resolution seeking conduct of the improvement examination with the annual examination. The university Senate approved this. The main reason ascribed for the postponement of the improvement examination was paucity of staff because of engagements in the classroom teaching. The problem of space for the conduct of examination in the colleges would naturally arise because the process would take at least 15-20 days, affecting the academic interests. The sources point out that the process of declaration of results, which has seen a considerable improvement over the past couple of years, was also likely to suffer in case another bulk of workload was added. Another related developed on this front is the university proposal to give 10 per cent weightage in the annual examination results to the results of the house examination in September and December. In case, the university house accepts the proposal it would increase the bulk of examination manifold. A number of students, however, had a difference of opinion on the issue. It was pointed out that in case the improvement examination was held in September, it would save them the extra pressure during the annual examination. Also, because of lesser time difference with the earlier annual examination students could prepare better in September. It is felt that the university can add more working days to the calendar by working out an alternate plan. Teachers, however, said the increasing workload was difficult in the existing routine for the benefit of the teachers and students as well. |
It’s time for abstinence, fasting and worship Chandigarh, October 16 Considered auspicious, Navratras are, like Divali, observed to celebrate the victory of good over evil. According to mythology, Goddess Durga had killed the demons in the form of Bhairon. Even Lord Rama had worshipped Goddess Durga for strength to win the battle against Ravana. Guru Gobind Singh had written a book on Goddess Durga, titled “Chandi di War”. Worshipping Goddess Durga is said to be a way of purifying the soul and strengthening it against all evil in life. During this period, nine sisters, including Durga, Kali, Naina Devi, Mansa Devi, Vaishno Devi and Chintpurni, are worshipped. According to the managing committee of Kalibari, Maha Shasthi programme will be held on October 22. This will be followed the next day by Mahasaptami. On October 24, Mahaashtami will be celebrated. It will be followed by Mahanavami the following day. Mahadashami will be celebrated on October 26 along with the immersion of idols of Goddess Durga in the Ghaggar. Shree Lakshmi Puja will be held on October 31. The programmes will conclude with Shree Kali Puja on November 14. Different sector societies are organising kirtans and Durga puja at the houses. The kirtans will continue throughout the week. A majority of the women, as well as men, will fast the entire week. Some families will fast on the last day of Navratras. In any case, during the fasts, residents will have a diet of fruits, vegetables and kuttu atta. They do not eat dal, rice or cereals the whole week. Most of the men, though not on fast, will not consume liquor and non-vegetarian food during the Navratras. Hotels and restaurants have special Navratra menu. Navratra meals are prepared in most of the hotels and restaurants. In some restaurants business dips. Gold prices also tend to rise during the Navratras. A lot of marriages are organised during this auspicious period. |
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Police bandobast complete Chandigarh, October 16 According to information available, over 300 cops have been deployed in the Mansa Devi complex to ensure that the mela passes off peacefully. It is learnt that other than the police force from the city, reserves from the Ambala range have also been called in for the arrangements here. Sources in the police say that anti- sabotage teams or bomb disposal squads will be carrying on a regular exercise in the complex every day. Though the Panchkula police itself does not have its own bomb disposal sqaud, the squad from the Haryana Police Headquarters has been called in. It is learnt that on an average a lakh devotees visit the shrine each day during the Navratras. On the first , second and last Navratra as well as the one falling on a weekend, the rush of devotees increases manifold. The District Magistrate, Ms Jyoti Arora, has appointed seven duty magistrates in order to maintain law and order. They are — Mr D.P.S. Budhwar, Mr P.C. Sharma, Mr Vatsal Vashishth, Mr K.K. Sharma, Mr O.P. Sihag, Mr Raj Pal Sharma and Ms Vandana Disodia. Mr M.S. Yadav, Subdivisional Magistrate, Panchkula, will be the overall in charge at the temple complex during the fair. |
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Campaign launched against foeticide Chandigarh, October 16 The chief guest, Ms Neeru Nanda, Adviser to the UT Administrator, while speaking on the occasion, stressed that positive thinking must be spread among the public to fight against female foeticide. She asked the girls present in the audience to demonstrate peacefully in front of those diagnostic centres in the city where female foeticide was being carried out. Ms Nanda said an action plan should be formulated to check menace of the female foeticide by involving religious institutions. Ms Harjinder Kaur, Mayor, while speaking at the occasion, said women have been accorded high status in religious scriptures and that the women should not be humiliated. The Mayor denounced modelling and fashion shows and asked the girls to become ideal mothers. Others present on the occasion included Ms Madhvi Kataria, Director Social Welfare, UT, Ms P.S. Sangha, Principal of the Guru Gobind Singh College for Men, Sector 26, and Ms Prabhjot Kaur. |
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Employees stage dharna Chandigarh, October 16 The agitators were demanding the release of bonus for the past four years and granting of dearness allowance to daily wagers on the basis of the Supreme Court order. The committee members also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. A large number of employees of the offices of UT, Punjab and other semi-government offices took part in the dharna. Addressing the gathering, various leaders, asked the government to stop privatisation of electricity and transport departments and other public sector units. They also demanded that daily wagers who had completed 240 days of service should be regularised. |
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Muslims urged to
keep off Osama Chandigarh, October16 Attired in saffron, the swami told mediapersons that there was no religion in the world which preached violence or hatred for any community. Every religion taught its followers to love the mankind, he added. He castigated the reported utterances of Osama bin Laden asking all Muslim countries to join hands to fight against the USA. In his early 50s, the swami regretted that the USA had not made its stand on terrorism clear. What did the USA do when terrorist from Pakistan and Afghanistan were killing innocent Indians and Army jawans in Kargil, he asked. India had repeatedly requested the USA to declare Pakistan a terrorist state, but it did not do anything, he said. It spoke against terrorists only when Afghan militants destroyed the WTC and hit the Pentagon, killing thousands, he stated. He said it was the U.S.A which had promoted Osama bin Laden and made him a dreaded militant. |
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Traders meet Commissioner Chandigarh, October 16 The members asked the authorities to allow them put up stalls for one day on Dusehra and for four days on the occasion of Divali in front of their shops. They also demanded that the charges for the stalls should be minimum and restrictions be imposed on putting up of stalls by other persons as it hampered the business of the shopkeepers. The members said paid parking should be avoided till the new body took charge of the MC affairs. |
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World Food Day Panchkula, October 16 Participants were categorised into two groups — students from classes VI to VIII and IX to XII. In the first group, Prabal Goyal of Manav Mangal School stood first, Rohit Saini of Satluj Public School second and Sheela of Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 15, third. In the second group, Mr Jagdeep Singh of Satluj Public School, Sangeeta of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 15, and Virender Singh of Haryana Model School won the first, second and third positions, respectively. Chetan and Shruti of DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 15, stood first and second, respectively. |
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No consensus on canteen issue Chandigarh, October 16 The action of the UT Administration to remove the kiosk canteen from the court premises also turned fruitless as the canteen became operational again today. |
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IAF’s aerobatic display today Chandigarh, October 16 |
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Air Marshal inspects depot Chandigarh, October 16 |
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Book
released Chandigarh, October 16 |
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Body found Chandigarh, October 16 |
Woman killed by CTU bus Chandigarh, October 16 The driver fled from the spot. The police has registered a case against him at Sector 39 police station. CYCLIST KILLED: A cyclist, Surinder Singh, was killed on the spot on Tuesday night when he was hit by a truck near Sector 19-27 intersection. The truck driver fled the scene along with the vehicle. The police has registered a case. ARRESTED: The police has arrested a resident of Janta Colony, Naya Gaon, for intruding into the house of Varinder Tomar at the PGI last night. A case has been registered and the police is investigating the case. NABBED: A resident of Mani Majra, Kalu Ram was reportedly nabbed by a Sector 31 resident, while the former was trying to steal the spare wheel of the complainant’s scooter, parked outside his house. The accused has been arrested and investigations into the matter are on. COMPLAINT: A Sector 21 resident, Vidya Tripathi, has complained to the police that a person residing on the first floor of her house trespassed into her residence and assaulted her. A case has been registered. STOLEN: Manoj Garg, resident of New Hostel, Government College for Men, Sector 11, has complained that his scooter (PB-05-G-2509) has been stolen from the hostel parking lot. The police has registered a case. CAR STOLEN: A white Maruti car (CH-01-V-5563) belonging to Mr Ajay Sharma was stolen from his residence in Sector 46 on Tuesday. KHARAR LIQUOR SEIZED: The local police today arrested Raj Pal of Cholta Khurd and seized 12 bottles of liquor meant for sale in Chandigarh only from him. A case has been registered under the Excise Act. |
Beer launched Chandigarh, October 16 Expressing SAB’s commitment to the Indian market, Mr Vinod Giri, head of sales and marketing of SAB India, said,” SAB wants to develop a quality portfolio of local as well as international brands throughout regional markets in India. SAB believes in creating brands that will suit the Indian palette, attitude and style and “Three Lions” has been the result of this customer focus.  |
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