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Cops just not interested in tracing mobile phone thieves
Chandigarh, June 27 If the allegations of complainants are to be believed, it is either connivance or lackadaisical attitude on the part of the cops as they simply sit over the cases, encouraging the miscreants involved in stealing and snatching mobile phones. It is not only the investigations which are rather slow. The cops apparently prefer to discou0rage the victim also when they approach for registration of criminal cases, sources in the police admit. Take the case of Mr Aayush Chopra of Phase IX, Mohali, who got a case of mobile theft registered only after his plight was highlighted in these columns. The police had initially lodged a DDR on his complaint. The theft took place on April 7. Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Mr Chopra alleged: “I have gathered some information from my own sources and gave it to officials but nothing has come out as yet. I have given details of several mobile and landline numbers that the miscreant was calling but the police failed to identify the man. One of the numbers belongs to a liquor vend in Ropar and another to a Phase 7-based computer institute”. Mr Chopra further added that the miscreant had also managed to get one month rent of the mobile phone connection waived off from the regional office of the telecom company in Sector 35 on April 29, clearly indicating that he also had links in the company as the benefits are offered to the subscribers only. “Now that the connection has been changed, the miscreant might have taken a new connection and when he put it in my phone, its IEMI number will automatically get detected by the telecom company”. Narrating his experience of the Chandigarh Police’s functioning, Mr Chetan Kumar of Sector 11-D alleged that on November 25 last year, his mobile phone fell from his pocket at a Sector 9 petrol pump. Soon after realising that he had lost his phone he went back and saw a scooterist picking up the phone. Before he could raise an alarm the man sped away, however, Mr Kumar managed to note down his number. He called the police and gave them the number of the scooter and other details about his phone. “Instead of launching a search operation the cops started delivering me sermons that I should have kept the phone in safe custody”. Mr Chetan Kumar, a IInd year student of law in Panjab University, further alleged; “Leave aside the investigations, the cops have not lodged an FIR in this matter till date and my repeated appeals have fallen on deaf ears. They told me that a DDR was lodged but have not given me a copy of it. I somehow gathered the information and traced an address with the help of the registration number of the scooter and took the police along with me. But the people there told us that the man had left the place long ago and the police did not make efforts to proceed further”. In an attempt to discourage Burail resident Abrar Ahmed, the police initially refused to register a case regarding the snatching of his mobile. Even after he approached the IGP, the cops registered a case of just theft under Section 379, and not snatching under Section 356 (criminal force in attempt to theft) and 379 (theft). International Mobile Equipment Identity or IMEI number of the particular identification number is given to every mobile instrument by the manufacturer. This number can be easily seen by punching a few numbers or on the mobile phone or from the documentation that comes along with the new mobile phone. This number can help in differentiating one mobile from another identical one. Besides the IMEI number is also recorded on the service provider’s system. In most developed countries, service providers block phone usage by blocking the service to all phones reported stolen or lost. The police can also trace the thief by locating the cell tower location, identifying the area of use of the stolen phone as the IMEI number always appears along with the call details on the system of the service provider. Those who are unaware about their mobile phone IMEI number can view it by punching in *#06#
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Water scarcity in Zirakpur
Zirakpur, June 27 The residents alleged that in certain houses the situation was worse with the result that no drop of water was received putting the residents to a lot inconvenience. In fact, the water table was so low that the water motors were of no help, alleged a resident. Residents alleged that repeated representations to the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat and the Water and Sewerage Department had failed to improve the things. In fact, the water shortage was an annual affair and the authorities concerned seemed to be least bothered.
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Fashion Park ties up with French firm, Bollywood
Chandigarh, June 27 In fact with its promise of making Mohali the fashion capital of India, the park management named Ms Shweta Nair, a top model and Miss India Earth 2003, as the Fashion Icon of FTP. “The FTP is in the process of formalising its linkages and networking with key institutions in India and abroad in the area of fashion and textiles. It is our endeavour to bring on board the best brains and personalities in the area of fashion, lifestyle and textiles to link the traditional skills of the people of this region with contemporary demands”, Mr JS Kochar, CEO of the FTP, said here today. The president of the ESMOD International Fashion School, Mr Francois Lavergne, termed the tie-up as a strategic alliance to mobilise collective endeavour, time management, participation and commitment. Extending support to the new initiatives of the FTP, a noted film producer, Mr Pravesh Sippy, informed that apart from Shweta Nair, a few big names from the film industry would endorse the technology park soon.It may be recalled that the Mr Sippy, along with Greenfield Ventures Group, promoters of the FTP, has already been shortlisted by the Chandigarh Administration for the development of the multimedia-cum-film city here. The FTP initiative in preserving and and upgrading the traditional craft skills of rural women was really laudable, Ms Shweta Nair asserted. Mr Gursharan Batra, Managing Director of the Greenfield Ventures Group, and Mr Sumesh Chawala, Managing Director of the FTP, hoped that the technology park’s alliances with national and international organisations and Bollywood would boost fashion industry in the region. Besides, it would give a fillip to the economic activity in the region, Mr HS Mann, FTP chairman, added.
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Fashion park Mann’s dream
Chandigarh, June 27 The Rs 230-crore state-of-the-art technology park in Sector 91 would fulfil the childhood dream of the soft-spoken man who wanted to do something different. “I always wanted to be a big shot in the business world and the FTP is my dream project,” Mr Mann said here today. Born in Paniali Khurd of Hoshiarpur district, Mr Mann emigrated to Australia in 1971. In 1985, he returned to India to venture into the real estate business. He said about 70 per cent of items associated with fashion were used in our day to day life.The business school of fashion of the FTP would deal with product development, design nurturing and design forecasting, research and gathering of information on the related aspects of the fashion industry.
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CHB shortlists two firms for housing project
Chandigarh, June 27 The BCC Developers and Promoters Limited, a New Delhi-based company, has been selected for the two bedroom(1150 square feet) project and the group has started the work on ground. Hans Raj Kohli and Sons, a local firm, has been selected for the one bedroom(650 square feet) project. A formal clearance of the company’s names will given following the Board of Directors meeting of the CHB, reliable sources said. The four-storeyed project envisages 256 one bedroom and as may as 208 two bedroom projects. The CHB had received as many as 2182 applications for the two bedroom and a total of 2536 for the one bedroom flats. The process of draw of lots was completed in April, earlier this year. The ground floor of the two bedroom flat is priced at Rs 31.5 lakh while the rest of the storeys will vary between Rs 24 and Rs 26 lakh. The one ground floor of the one bedroom flat is priced at Rs 15.90 lakh while the remaining floors will vary between Rs 11.90 and Rs 12.90 lakh. Following the laying of the foundation stone ceremony by Gen (retd) S.F. Rodrigues, the Governor of Punjab and the UT Administrator, in October, 2005, the CHB had floated a tender which did not evoke any substantial response. No big builders applied and others were thought to be smaller to handle the prosect. “The country is flooded with major projects in the real estate which is one of the reasons for the poor response to the project initially. The list of applicants did not match the requirements of the standards expected by the CHB which led to revising the project tenders”, a senior official said. The CHB redrafted the tender with slight alterations and split it in two different sets, one for the one bedroom and another for two bedroom categories. The initial delay was a little elongated with Mr S.N. Sahai, chairman, and Mr Amar Nath, Chief Executive Officer, going away to other states for more than amount on election duty. Confirming the developments, Mr Sahai said: “The project was being handed over to a private party for the first time. People were paying higher. So we wanted to ensure engaging a quality construction company. Work has already started on the ground and the project will be completed by December, 2007”.
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Where gays can live with gay abandon Chandigarh, June 28 Coming out in the open for the first time, these men, majority of whom are “passive” gays, resent the attitude of normal people towards them. “From our own parents to almost everyone around us, we are objects of ridicule. We are forced to behave normally but we can’t. That we are trapped in these bodies is not our fault. Over the years, we have accepted our fate,” said Rakesh alias Bindiya. Almost all of them have given themselves female names. When they are together, they address themselves like women. On occasions, they dress like women. “Some of us have become very adept as beauticians. But we dare not visit a beauty parlour. One of us has, however, opened a beauty parlour in the city for normal clients,” said Hardeep alias Rani. Most of these men who are in the 12-25 age-group live in their homes with their parents but feel “at home” only when they are together at the FPAI centre in the village. “We hate going out as we are made fun of by all those who see us. Since we have a feminine gait we are easily recognisable and, as a result, evoke all sorts of comments,” said Pankaj. Being hunted and “raped” is also a real danger for these men. “Just a few days ago, three of us were surrounded by over 30 men while we were coming back from a jagrata. The men demanded us to oblige them but we refused and ran away. We even contacted the police but no one took us seriously,” said Sonu. While most laugh at their state, they constitute one of the highest risk groups for AIDS. Ashwini, who works for the FPAI, said many of the 275 such men identified by the association in the area were HIV positive. “The situation is explosive as most of them have several sexual encounters a day and till our intervention, most of them were without any protection,” he added. Ashwini felt that encouraging them to work as part of the self-help group kept them busy and pre-occupied leaving little free time for such dangerous encounters. The men are divided into two groups — passive and active. “Some of those belonging to the passive group intend to get married to women while a majority of the ones in the active group are already married to women, making the HIV risk go up substantially,” he said. “A small percentage of them are also commercial sex workers and go every Saturday looking for clients. We have as part of the intervention convinced the ones who are HIV positive to stay away from sexual encounters. Also, we are slowly convincing the others, especially the “active” ones, to try to lead normal lives. “For the passive ones, the solution lies in making them economically independent and empower them as a group to avoid exploitation,” said Dr Avinish Jolly, In-charge, AIDS Helpline, Chandigarh, who had mooted the idea of a self-help group. While seven of them are now working full time designing jewellery, others who underwent training at a FPAI camp organised recently are joining in. “We are happy that we are together. Many of us wish that we were born as women. Now we intend to save enough money to undergo sex change surgeries and get married to men,” said Sonu who lived with a man for over three years like a couple before his partner “left” him for a woman.
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Non-surgical treatment for myopia available at PGI Chandigarh, June 27 According to Dr Arun K Jain, Additional Professor Cornea, Refractive Corneal and Lens Surgery Advanced eye Centre at the PGI, this treatment is now available at this institute where hundreds of people can alter the ways of nature. “Imagine waking up with clear vision and not having to wear glasses or contact lenses during the day! Imagine how much freedom it would give you to do things which you would like to do but don’t, because of your need to wear spectacles or contact lenses”, he says, adding that this modern technique uses FDA-approved gas permeable lenses to correct vision overnight. “On waking, you remove the lenses and you can then see clearly all day without prescription glasses or contact lenses”. Dr Jain said, “Traditional means of myopia correction are spectacles, contact lenses, surgical techniques like PRK, LASIK etc. Now we have accelerated orthokeratology, where reverse geometry contact lenses are used to flatten the cornea to decrease the focusing power of the eye and bring the focus on the retina. The contact lenses are worn during sleep for six to eight hours. Wearing the lenses during sleep does not compromises eye health, as these lenses are custom designed in the USA, from highly oxygen permeable material recommended for extended wear, so that cornea receives sufficient oxygen to remain healthy even while sleeping”. The technique is called ‘accelerated orthokerato-logy’ because most of the power of the spectacles is neutralised during first night wear of the special contact lenses. Depending upon the power to be corrected or eye response to the treatment, correcting contact lenses may be worn every night or as little as once per week. According to Dr Jain, this treatment for myopia gives freedom from contact lenses and spectacles during all waking hours. This, he says, is ideal for sportsmen and those working in dusty or dirty environment. He further says that in children or teenagers with early myopia where LASIK is contraindicated, this technique can prove very beneficial. Dr Jain, however, has a word of caution, “It is essential that one should discuss any issues related to one’s eye health or contact lens wear with eye care professional, because these lenses have to be prescribed by trained professionals and supervised aftercare is required”, he says.
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‘Heart line’ gives another Pak child gift of life Chandigarh, June 27 His life and those of 135 others have been saved over the past year or so due to a humanitarian endeavor of the Rotarians in the form of a “Heart Line” project to fund treatment of people in the developing world, who cannot afford expensive treatment in their home countries. So far nine children from Pakistan, one from Afghanistan, five from Uganda and six from Nepal, besides 115 from India have benefited from the programme since 1999. Dr T.S. Mahant. Executive Director — Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Surgery at Fortis, who performed the procedure funded by the Rotarians said had the child delayed the surgery by another few months, he would have been rendered inoperable. “It was a rare, intricate and difficult procedure but it saved the life of the Pakistani child who had a Ventricular Septum Defect (VSD) in his heart since birth”. “In very small babies, such as Junaid, severe heart failure can occur and immediate repair has to be undertaken to preserve life. Usually, such congenital defects are rectified within six months of the child’s birth. However, due to extreme poverty, Aijaj Ali Langah could not get medical attention for his son, till the Rotary intervened.” Dr Mahant said while discharging the child from hospital. Padam Shree Rajendra K. Saboo, world President of Rotary International, disclosed that the Rotary started this project in association with PGIMER and in March this year, the Rotary Club joined hands with Fortis Hospital for conducting surgeries on children below one years of age, and this was the fourth surgery conducted at Fortis by Dr T.S. Mahant. Talking about when a VSD should be done, Dr Mahant said, “In very small babies with severe heart failure immediate repair usually cannot be avoided. Beyond six months, the decision to close a VSD is based on measurement of Pulmonary Vascular Resistance — that is, the degree of damage to lung blood vessels. If the damage is less, closure is strongly recommended. If the damage is severe, repair of the VSD may actually be more harmful than not doing anything at all! These patients have crossed the boundary of ‘operability’.” For Junaid, the Rotarians in Pakistan provided the transportation arrangement from his village near Nawabshah in Karachi, Pakistan, while Rotary Club of Chandigarh has provided Rs 65,000 to meet the cost of various medical consummables and medicines, and Fortis Hospital has provided free medical services and hospitalisation. The objective of this Heartline programme is that no child should die for want of money in our this region, says Past Rotary International President Rajendra K.
Saboo.
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Narcotic bureau felicitates two
Chandigarh, June 27 Mr Srikant Jadav, Zonal Director, NCB, Chandigarh, said today that Rajneesh Sharma and Harbhajan Singh Bhatti had been awarded commendation certificates, along with a cash prize of Rs 5000 each, for helping the NCB sleuths in nabbing Lior Avi Ben Moyal, an Israeli national, who was caught by the NCB on February 10, 2005, along with a Czech national and a Kullu resident. The NCB seized 154.500 kg of “hashish” from their possession. Lior had escaped from the custody of the NCB after a few days and was nabbed by Rajneesh Sharma and Harbhajan Singh Bhatti from near the Panjab University a day after his escape.
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Protest by UT employees
Chandigarh, June 27 The demands include regularisation of daily wage workers: Central Government service conditions for UT employees; grant of bonus low-cost housing schemes; and immediate release of appointments on compassionate grounds. Addressing the gathering, Rakesh Kumar, convener of the coordination committee, said Pawan Kumar Bansal, Minister of State for Finance, should help in resolving the issues failing which the “rasta roko” agitation would be continued.
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Punjabi version of book on law released
Chandigarh, June 27 Mr Virk stated that with the review or revamping of these Acts, enacted by the Britishers, conviction rate could be increased and occurrence of crime could be effectively curbed to a larger extent. The review of new Punjab Police Act, which was under active consideration of the Punjab Government, was also a much needed step taken by the Punjab Police. While appreciating the work done by Dr Jaswinder Singh, to bring an important legal book in the mother tongue, DGP Punjab hoped that it would prove to be very useful for police officers assigned the job of investigating various cases in the field as well as for the litigants because they did not understand the niceties of English usage in these Acts. Describing this book a legal document, he said it would also enrich the mother tongue and disseminate legal knowledge amongst the Punjabis. Dr Jaswinder Singh, while thanking the DGP said major criminal Acts, which formed the basis of court procedures of our criminal justice system, namely Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, Indian Penal Code, 1980, and Indian Evidence Act, 1872, were exhaustively translated into native mother tongue with full consciousness. The book contains up-to-date amendments in the Acts up till 2006. The book would be highly useful to advocates, police officials, court officials as well as the law students.
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Adventure expedition by engineer regiment
Chandigarh, June 27 The expedition, comprising three officers, two JCOs and 21 other ranks was flagged-off for Beas Kund from Chandimandir on June 18. The team covered 750 km on motor cycles, bi-cycles and foot, passing through Pandoh, Palchan, Sundernagar, Kulu and Manali. A two-day free medical camp and an awareness programme for ex-servicemen as well as the public was also conducted by the team at Palchan. Team members also took part in white water rafting and rapelling at Palchan.
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Sainik board invites applications
Chandigarh, June 27 The wards or widows of ex-servicemen pursuing professional degree programmes in engineering, medicine, dental, veterinary, MBA, MCA, recognised by the respective government regulatory bodies including the AICTE and the UGC, who have joined the courses in the academic session 2006-2007 can apply for this scholarship scheme. A scholarship of Rs 1,250 and Rs 1,500 per month has been fixed for each boy and girl, respectively. The application can be received from Kendriya Sainik Board, West Block-IV, Wing-V, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-110066, by sending a demand draft of Rs 30 in favour of the Secretary, KSB, payable at Delhi or from the Director, Rajya Sainik Board, payable at their respective state capitals or cities. The application can be downloaded from the website http\\www.dgrindia.com. The last date of receipt of form is August 31.
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Book on pen friendship released
Chandigarh, June 27 The function was held at the Chandigarh Press Club yesterday. Mr Bal, head of Pathology Department, Government Medical College, Patiala, is also a flautist with two albums of instrumental music to his credit. Complimenting Dr Bal on his versatility, Jaspal Bhatti appreciated the resilience of the Polish girl.
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Painter electrocuted in police HQ
Chandigarh, June 27 Police said the mishap took place at around 6 pm and he was rushed to the PGI, where he was declared dead.
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Property tax survey okayed
Chandigarh, June 27 The committee approved the allotment of paid parking site adjoining to the District Courts Complex, Sector 17. A press note said certain other agenda items which got the approval were estimates for providing additional drainage in Kumhar Mohalla, Saini Mohalla and left out areas in Burail village, strengthening V-4 roads in Sectors 35, 23 and widening of old Ropar road.
TNS
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BJP forms panel for MC poll
Mohali, June 27 The committee has asked contenders for the elections to send them their applications. The last date for the receipt of these applications is July 2.
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A morning shock for shop owners
Mohali, June 28 Amanpreet Singh, who runs a medical transcription station here, stated that he had suffered a damage of worth Rs 1.5 lakh since many computers used in his office were plugged in when the voltage fluctuation took place. Air conditioners also got damaged due to the spark caused by the computers. Other shopkeepers pointed out that refrigerators used in departmental stores had also been damaged. They added that all attempts to contact electricity board officials were in vain.
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Man arrested for carrying cocaine
Chandigarh, June 27 The police said a team of the Crime Investigation Cell signalled a man to stop but he tried to dodge the police. He was, however, nabbed and identified as 33-year-old Furkaan Ahmed of Maloya village. His search led to the seizure of cocaine. Hailing from Uttar Pradesh,the accused said he had taken the contraband from his Delhi-based-brothers Sartaj and Irshad. He was working as a tailor in Palsora while his brothers run a grocery store in Delhi. He was produced before a local court today, which remanded him in two-day police remand. Sources said the police has informed the Delhi Police about the activities of Sartaj and Irshad. Girl rescued, man arrested
The police has arrested a Sector 21 resident and recovered a minor girl who he had reportedly kidnapped on June 21. The victim’s mother had alleged that the accused, in connivance with the girl’s father and some others persons had kidnapped her daughter. Sources in the Sector 11 police station said the victim’s mother was resident of Sector 15 and said in her complaint that Rajat Mukra of Sector 21 along with her husband Premjit Singh, Rajesh Mukra, Yashpal Malhotra and Surinder Kaur abducted her 17-year-old daughter from her house on June 21. The police arrested Rajat and found the girl last night. The police said the parents of the girl had been living separately for the past over four years.
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Sexual abuse case: cook held
Chandigarh, June 27 Giving details, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (East), Mr Vijay Pal Singh, said a case under Sections 377 and 34 of the IPC has been registered against cook Lal Chand and another unidentified person on a complaint filed by one of the hostel inmates. Efforts to identify the other accused were on. Sources in the police said Lal Chand had earlier disclosed the identity of the alleged accomplice as Ravi, a driver, claiming to be a relative of his. However, he was now making attempts to protect his identity. The inmates of the hostel had told the police that the unidentified man was known to Lal Chand. The action is a result of a report, “Inmates accuse” hostel cook of sexual abuse’ carried in these columns on June 27. The inmates of Amarjain Hostel had boycotted hostel mess after they allegedly caught red-handed the cook having unnatural sex within hostel premises on the intervening night of June 21 and June 22. The inmates alleged that despite the fact that they had informed the hostel superintendent about the incident and the authorities concerned, no action has been taken against the cook.
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4 murder cases solved
Panchkula, June 27 While addressing mediapersons in CIA staff police station in Sector 26, today, Mr Balbir Singh, Superintendent of Police (SP) claimed that Ramandeep Kaur’s murder case, Sapna murder case, Datta Ram murder case and Naresh murder case had been solved with the efforts of the CIA staff and the local police. Giving details of the cases, the SP said Ramandeep Kaur, a resident of Barnala, was strangled to death by her former fiancee and a Manila-based NRI Kuldeep Singh of the same village. Ramandeep Kaur had been staying as a paying guest in a Sector 22, Chandigarh, and was pursuing an English-speaking course. Father of Kuldeep Singh had come from Manila to Chandigarh with the offer of marriage with Ramandeep. Police said Amarjeet Kaur, mother of the deceased, disclosed that Kuldeep had joined them in Chandigarh. Since she had to return to Barnala, Kuldeep dropped her at the bus stand and accompanied Ramandeep to her guest house. Instead of taking her to guest house, Kuldeep took her to an isolated spot and strangled to death. Sapna murder case has been solved by arresting Deepak, a resident of Mauli Jagran in Chandigarh. The SP claimed that Deepak was arrested after police identified him from the calls made and received from Sapna’s mobile phone. Deepak first raped Sapna and hacked her to death with a glass bottle. They had some arguments over some issue before the incident. Deepak later dumped her body in forest area along the Panchkula-Morni road. The semi-naked body of Sapna, a resident of Mauli Jagran, was found in the forest area on June 18. Datta Ram murder case has also been solved with the arrest of Anil Kumar and his brother Suraj Kumar. The duo allegedly killed Datta Ram due to his illicit relations with their sister. Body of Datta Ram, a resident of Kalranwali village, was found in Ghatiwala village on April 14. The duo lured him on the pretext of showing a plot and later offered him hard drinks. They later hacked him to death. The police arrested Rakesh, alias Boby, for his alleged involvement in Naresh murder case. Rakesh along with his accomplice Gurinder Singh and Hanish had murdered Naresh Kumar. The SP claimed that Rakesh was a hardcore militant and was a Punjab police tout. The SP appreciated the efforts of police personnel and assured them that their names would be recommended for awards.
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