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3 of Kharar family die in mishap Mohali, December 5 The family of eight, which included four children, were crammed in a Maruti 800 and were travelling from Takhipur village, Kharar, to Ladwa in Haryana to attend a wedding when their car was hit head-on by a school bus. While the head of the family, Gursevak Singh, who was driving the vehicle died on the spot, his mother-in-law Surjit Kaur and her grandson Sukhdeep Singh were declared brought dead by doctors at Ambala Civil Hospital. Those injured include Jagdeep Kaur, 12-year-old daughter of Gursevak Singh, and his 11-year-old son Gurkanwal Singh. While Singh is still in Ambala Civil Hospital, Jagdeep Kaur is battling for
life at the PGI emergency with a serious head injury. Gursevak Singh’s wife Sukhwant Kaur too has been brought to the PGI in an unconscious state. Her condition is said to be critical. Gurmeet Kaur, another traveller in the car, is in Ambala and is said to be out of danger but her 18-year-old son, Vikramjit, has been brought to the PGI in a serious condition. According to sources Gursevak Singh, who was in his mid-thirties, worked as a bus conductor with the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking at Depot Number 3. He had been on leave for the past two months. According to those accompanying the injured from Ambala, the family had left in the afternoon to attend a wedding scheduled for tomorrow at the Ladwa Dera. A bus belonging to the Spring Filed School, Ambala, was returning to the school after dropping children at their homes when the accident took place. The bus driver, however, managed to flee leaving the bus. The police has registered a case against the driver. |
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Punjab farmers allowed to take part in Apni Mandi Panchkula, December 5 After the administration had banned the vendors and farmers from Punjab to participate in the Apni Mandi here, yesterday’s mandi in Sector 4 was a failure. The vendors and farmers from the neighbouring state were allowed by the Market Committee to participate in the mandi today, though they were not issued any entry slips. Since the Chief Minister had earlier issued directions against the vendors and Punjab farmers not being allowed in Apni Mandis here, these were allowed to sell their wares in the mandi after the Market Committee had made a noting of all these vendors. As and when they are allowed to participate in the mandis by the Chief Minister, they will be charged entry fees. Of the 350 vendors and farmers from the neighbouring areas of Punjab, only about 200 came here today. Officials of Market Committee said with the vendors and Punjab farmers not being allowed, there were very few farmers (about 50 farmers from Haryana) left to operate the Apni Mandi. In addition, their yearly income of Rs 22 lakh would also fall down to Rs 4 lakh, if these vendors were not allowed to participate in Apni Mandis. However, the officials remained adamant that all those participating in the Apni Mandi, including the vendors and Punjab farmers, would now be issued identity cards. They also said each person operating in the mandi would now have to display a rate list of the items that he was selling. |
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Green belt misuse on
Chandigarh, December 5 A notice in the green belt specifying the restrictions on using the green belt was flouted. Vehicles were parked in the green belt and a large area was used by a Mohali-based businessman to pitch a tent. Sources in the Municipal Corporation said no permission could be given to use a green belt developed by the horticulture wing. Some flower beds had also been developed in the green belt. The Municipal Corporation had lodged a complaint with the Chandigarh police against the occupant of a house in Sector 11 for damaging government property. The occupant of the house allegedly damaged the mild steel railing at the rear of his house to allow truckloads of construction material. The Mayor, Mr Subhash Chawla, said he would have to inquire whether any permission had been given to the Sector 44 resident to hold the function. He felt that the responsibility of holding functions in green belts or public land should be put on the owners of the tent houses.  |
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Gang of thieves busted Chandigarh, December 5 The police today arrested Dhan Singh and Raju, residents of Industrial Area and Hallomajra village, respectively. They were arrested following the arrest of Dharminder, Raj Kumar and Vinod Kumar, all residents of Ram Darbar, and Vinod Kumar of Delhi, who were arrested on December 2. The interrogation of the six had lead to the recovery of stolen things, including tractor parts, said the police. |
Issuance of, corrections in voter I-cards on Dec 6, 7 Chandigarh, December 5 In case of mistakes, including incorrect spellings, or wrong address or name, the residents can also get the corrections made in the cards on these days. The centres, about 200 in number, will function from 9 am to 6 pm on both days. The cards are necessary for the residents to exercise their franchise. No resident without identity card will be allowed to cast his or her vote as per the instructions issued recently in this regard. The decision to issue identity cards on Saturday and Sunday is significant as, according to an estimate, there are about 5.03 lakh eligible voters in the Chandigarh Parliamentary constituency. About 58 per cent of them have voter identity cards. Sources in the Administration add that the aim is to ensure the possession of identity cards by all residents before the next Lok Sabha elections. They claim that steps are being taken by the authorities here as the constituency has recently been selected under a pilot project. They further confirm that a large number of residents, particularly executives and other private company employees, are presently finding it difficult to get the cards issued on working days. In case you do not have a voter identity card till now, you will be required to drive down to government schools or offices where the Administration has set up its centres. The forms, free of cost, are readily available. As per a letter earlier issued to the Chandigarh Administration by the Election Commission, the authorities have been asked to issue a 15-day notice to the residents without cards. In case of default, the names will be deleted from the voters’ list. Giving details of the procedure, sources reveal that the Administration will first write to the eligible voters without cards. They will be proceeded against in case of default. The action will be taken under the provisions of the People’s Representation Act. In case of cancellation of vote, a resident will be forced to apply afresh for getting his name included in the electoral rolls to be updated by the Administration in January 2004. The rolls will be updated at six different centres to be set up in different sectors. “The summary revision of rolls is on since November 17 and will continue till December 8”, sources add. |
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Police gets tough with private hospitals Panchkula, December 5 In two recent accident cases, the police was not informed by the authorities of the private hospital. Even in the case of Mr Manmohan Munjal, who was injured in an accident involving stray cattle on December 1, the police was not informed. Though Mr Munjal succumbed to his injuries at the hospital on the night of December 3, the police was informed of the death last morning only. When the police pulled up the hospital authorities, they were told that since the victim was unconscious, they had not informed it. It was then that the police initiated inquest proceedings and handed over the body to the family. Similarly, in the case of Heena, a girl from Ludhiana, who was brought to a private hospital here from Chandigarh after she had suffered an asthmatic attack, the hospital authorities failed to inform the police when the girl died. Her friends had thrown away her body near bushes in Sector 21, and then informed the Chandigarh Police, which took away the body without informing the local police. The DSP Headquarters, Mr Deshbandhu, said they had urged upon the hospital and nursing home authorities to inform the police, but this was not being adhered to. He said the police would now take action against all doctors and hospitals, if the police information proformas were not sent immediately to the nearest police post. |
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SP warns Phase VIII SHO Mohali, December 5 The incident happened yesterday when Mr Amarinder Sing, a property dealer in Phase VII, was visited by a constable along with a financier from Phase VIII police station and asked to hand over his car to the financier. “I had recently bought this car and had paid the total amount. However, the previous owner of the car had got it financed and had not paid the financier who came to get his car using the police. When I objected I was manhandled by the constable and another person. But later I came to know that the another person was an SI from Nawanshahar.” he said. The car was taken away from Amarinder Singh and he contacted the SP Mr Vijay Pratap Singh, who called both the parties and solved the matter. The constable, Mr Pavitter Singh reportedly gave a statement to the SP stating that he was doing all this on the orders of the SHO, Mr Gurcharan Singh. |
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Sinking of tubewell on disputed land begins Zirakpur, December 5 Issuing notice of motion on a complaint filed by the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat, Mr Justice V.M. Jain of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, on October 31, had directed the board to continue sinking of the tubewell. The Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat had filed a petition before the court saying that Satinder Singh Dhaliwal of Chandigarh had been trying to grab the piece of prime land. The petition also states that Mr Dhaliwal has got stay orders from a sessions court against a Punjab Government ruling which later was set aside by the High Court. The civic body had stated that the piece of land had been earmarked for sinking of the tubewell for the general public and the Nagar Panchayat had already allocated funds for the project. A decision in this connection had been taken by the House of the civic body through a resolution. Mr Narinder Sharma, president of the civic body, said the sinking of tubewell was being done by the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board following the High Court orders. He said on the directions of the Deputy Commissioner, Patiala, the SSP Patiala, had also directed the DSP, Dera Bassi, to take preventive measures to avoid any untoward incident at the site till the sinking of the tubewell was completed. The land dispute had come to fore after the Nagar Panchayat authorities, on September 9, removed some unauthorised structures from a piece of shamlat land and levelled the site for the sinking of the tubewell. Following removal of the structures, Mr Dhaliwal, who stakes his claim on the land, had allegedly attacked Mr Sharma with the connivance of the police at his home late at the night of September 9. A shootout between villagers and attackers also took place. For accompanying the assailants, a Sub-Inspector (SI) of the Dera Bassi police station, Rattan Lal had been suspended by the SSP, Patiala. |
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Prayer in Uday Singh’s memory Chandigarh, December 5 But for his parents attending the prayer session, things were not that easy. His father, Lt-Col Preet Mohinder Singh (retd), spoke on the occasion, but in a voice punctuated with emotions, while the inconsolable mother was full of tears. The grandmother broke down. Some students present at the meeting had not noticed Uday Singh when he was at the school. Some other had never heard his name till the newspapers flashed the news on the front page about his death on December 1. After all, 21-year-old Uday Singh was just one of the many handsome students in 2000 before becoming a war hero. A soldier in the US army, Uday Singh’s journey ended on December 1 on way to hospital after being shot by a snipper. His father was informed about the tragedy by US Embassy officials on December 2. A gunner in an armour regiment, the 6-footer had been promoted to the rank of a specialist from a private. Most of the students who remembered Uday Singh recalled his cheerful nature, winning smile, down-to-earth attitude and distinctive hairstyle. The teachers agreed with the students. Describing him as a promising student, they said Uday Singh used to stand out in the crowd because of his erect posture as if he was standing in attention. Appreciating his manners and behaviour, they added that Uday Singh was ever willing to apologise even for the smallest mistakes. Unlike some students, he would not simply apologise, but feel sorry. The students stood with hands folded in front of Uday Singh’s photograph as his qualities were highlighted by the speakers, including school Principal Harold Carver. Mr Carver said in a voice choked with emotion that Uday Singh was honest and down-to-earth. Above all, he was focused, knew what he wanted to do in life and was clear about his objectives. Mr Carver added that Uday Singh was an example for all Stephanians to follow in future. “Even though he passed out from the school in 2000, his memories are still fresh in my heart,” the Principal added. Father Mark from Amritsar, along with Father Thomas, Father Thaddeus, Father Robert and Father Solomon from the Diocese of Shimla-Chandigarh, were present during the meeting. It was also attended by Uday Singh’s parents, grandmother, two aunts, sister and cousin and representative of US army Steven
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Fund-raising drive launched to mark Flag Day Chandigarh, December 5 The ambulance would be used by the Command Hospital for ferrying ex-servicemen patients from Chandigarh to the Command Hospital. A fund-raising campaign to commemorate the Armed Forces Flag Day was also formally launched by the Administrator by contributing money towards the cause. This year, the pinning of flags was carried out today as December 6 and 7 are closed days. The Administrator called upon the people to contribute liberally towards this fund. Justice Verma said the fund was utilised for providing financial assistance to the families of aged and ailing ex-servicemen, their widows and dependents. He said the Punjab Government had already announced a package for the families of martyrs from January, 1999, under which ex gratia for disabled (75 per cent to 100 per cent disability) had been increased to Rs 2 lakh. Last year Rs 1.57 crore had been released as ex gratia to 172 beneficiaries. He said a sum of Rs 12.10 crore had already been released to the dependents of 308 Kargil martyrs. A decision had been taken by the government to provide ex gratia to the martyrs of Operation Prakram, which was not available earlier. Even battle casualties, resulting from mine blasts, would entitle soldiers to get ex gratia under the new policy. He said the government had already provided jobs to the dependents of martyrs. Speaking about the efforts made in Chandigarh, the Administrator said the Zila Sainik Welfare Office awarded scholarships to wards of ex-servicemen, their widows and organised computer courses for ex-servicemen, their widows and their dependants. It provided financial assistance of Rs 800 per month to the World War veterans and their widows, and additional pension of Rs 200 per month to the widows of personnel up to the rank of Subedar Major and its equivalent rank of other two forces whose husband of died on duty. In addition, after the death of the ex-serviceman, the office was also giving Rs 1000 as funeral allowance. |
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Sambhar crushed to death Panchkula, December 5 The dead animal was spotted by jawans in the morning . The dead animal was taken to the Veterinary Hospital at Pinjore and a post-mortem was conducted by Dr Anil Kumar. Meanwhile, the Wildlife Department has arrested two persons on charges of poaching at Naggal village near here. |
Two scooters stolen Chandigarh, December 5 Meanwhile, Dr Y. Chawla of the Department of Hepatology, PGI, reported to the police that a transducer, a part of ultra sound machine, was stolen from the department yesterday. Three cases have been registered at different police stations.
Liquor seized The police has arrested three persons and claimed to recover 394 pouches and 23 bottles of liquor from them. They have been booked under various sections of the Excise Act. |
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