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45°C
Chandigarh, June 9 The weatherman said the heat wave was in no mood to relent and the maximum temperature was likely to rise further. The previous highest of 43.6°C was recorded yesterday. In fact, the day temperature has been steadily on the rise for the past five days, recording the maximum jump of 1.7 degrees between yesterday and today. The minimum (night) temperature was 30°C, again a high for this part of the season. Significantly, Chandigarh’s maximum temperature was higher than even Delhi’s which reeled under oppressive heat as mid-day temperature climbed to 44.9°C. Yesterday, the maximum temperature in Delhi had reached 48°C. Chandigarh’s maximum temperature was higher than Jaipur and Jaisalmer, which recorded 44.9°C and 44.8°C.
How to keep heatstrokes at bay
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Power cuts throw life out of gear
Panchkula, June 9 The long cuts in domestic as well as commercial power supply have virtually thrown the city out of gear over the past one week. The worst hit are Sectors 10, 11, 12, 12 A, 15, 16, 17, though sectors from old Panchkula (Sector 1 to 8) also get their share of cuts every day. The phone lines of the electricity department seem to be flooded with complaints about power failure. A Suvidha Centre of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) in Industrial Area has recorded the highest number of complaints ever. “Ever since June began, we have not had a moment’s rest with all four phones ringing continuously. We get a record 250 calls a day of individual complaints pertaining to sparking or partial phase switch offs. For every power cut, we get hundreds of calls every hour and it only gets worse as the day advances,” an employee says. Officials of the department, however, attribute the frequent power cuts to overloading of transformers. “We had to get an additional transformer installed in Sector 3
this season, which has not happened so far. If we had got the additional feeder, we could
have shifted the load of a few feeders to this transformer. However, now, we are forced to switch off feeders by rotation. This is responsible for the unscheduled cuts and inconvenience to the public. We are trying to identify other options at our disposal,” an officer maitained. Meanwhile, with schools closed for the summer vacation and children at home, the power cuts have become more irksome. “Our children keep cribbing because they can’t go outside and there is no relief inside the house. Then, in such heat, it is practically impossible to expect them to study and finish their homework,” remarks Kavita Saini, a resident of Sector 12-A, adding that they had seven cuts that day. The power cuts have even affected the daily water supply over the past week. “While
people residing on the first floor were already forced to come downstairs and get their daily requirement of water, the power cuts have only added to their woes. Now, the problem of low water pressure is even being felt on the ground floor,” explains Hapreet Kaur, a resident of
Sector 15. For now, power cuts are here to stay and no relief seems in sight with the load likely to rise
further as the temperature continues its upward climb.
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NGOs to move rights body
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 9 A lawyer at Punjab and Haryana High Court, Madhu Singh, said she would submit a petition to the Punjab State Human Rights Commission against erring policemen on Monday. The policemen accompanying the child, admitted to the PGI for congenital heart disease, had kept him shackled since June 6 when he had been brought here from a juvenile home in Faridkot. The child, who has a hole in the heart, might need surgery, said doctors on duty. The child got ill when he was at the juvenile home. “I was sent to the juvenile home seven months ago when a boy died after my bat hit him during a cricket match,” said the child. The child was referred to the Guru Nanak Hospital at Amritsar by a hospital at Faridkot, before being brought to the PGI shackled. However, doctors complained to PGI director Dr K.K. Talwar against the binding of the boy in chains. The boy was freed from the chains by the policemen accompanying him only after this. This is not the first time when PGI doctors have faced a similar situation. A few days ago, a prisoner was brought here with guards wielding guns. Madhu said it was a case of blatant violation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, as children could not be treated on a par with other criminals under the Act. “The victim has the right to claim compensation against the agony he underwent and the amount is supposed to be deducted from the salary of the guilty officials,” said the lawyer who is a member of Chandigarh Child Welfare Committee. Similarly, Veena Sharma, head of the local chapter of the Human Rights Law Network, New Delhi, said the offence was punishable under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 and she would take up the matter with appropriate authorities. Describing the incident as a gross human rights violation of a juvenile, Veena Sharma said before chaining any undertrial, the police needed to take permission from the court. In charge of the juvenile home, Faridkot, Harpal Singh said the policemen were provided by the SSP, Faridkot office, and so he was the appropriate authority to comment on the incident. However, the matter had been brought to the notice of Faridkot deputy commissioner, he added. Faridkot SSP L.K. Yadav could not be contacted.
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That Shiamak bond...
Chandigarh, June 9 “It’s about striking bonds and finding peace,” they say, taking a break from their schedule to talk to TNS. A regular feature since four years, Shiamak’s dance classes inspire hopes of an alternative career among young dancers. His instructors, here for the summer funk workshop, agree: “There is acceptability and love in this profession, something that was missing a while ago. Our parents, who would have earlier balked at us for opting for a career in dance, are now comfortable, not because it pays well, but because it keeps us happy.” It’s this attitude which the threesome is instilling in their students, who train in various forms of dance during the 14-day workshop. The sessions are packed with salsa, hip hop, afro jazz, fusion and rock ‘n’ roll. “It’s about creating a feel that can engage everyone. The magical quality of dance was tangible when we instructed jawans at Chandi Mandir recently. For the first five minutes, they were shy and inhibited. But in 15 minutes, they were free as air, flowing with the rhythm. That’s what dance does - liberates you,” said Sunny. The workshop was conducted with the Durga Das Foundation. From jawans to children, the summer funk attracts everyone. But children far outnumber adults. “Perhaps they are seeking outlets for stress. We have people as old as 50 and special care is taken to devise steps they can emulate. Their number has been increasing. Back home in Mumbai, we have an 80-year-old student. We even have some coming in their wheelchairs.” Kamal said, Naveen in complete agreement. “Dance allows you to forget who you are. Ego boundaries dissolve and positive energy grips the room, making performances lively,” he said, adding how children “tend to idolise instructors”. Sunny was surprised when some started sporting bandanas like him. “Their love is special. That’s what makes us stay on and give our best,” he said, adding how the session started with Shiamak’s mantra of a brief prayer before vigorous dance movements. Most children found it lax at first but soon they understood the power of prayer. This summer batch has 500 participants who will present 16 dance sequences when the show concludes at Inderdhanush Auditorium, Panchkula, on June 12. The best part of the show will be the bright costumes which participants design on their own, and well within Shiamak’s prescribed cost limits, which never exceed Rs 500 a costume. For the big day, Shiamak Davar will be present to see how his instructors weave magic.
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Property Restoration
Chandigarh, June 9 The judge also announced that the disputed properties would not be restored to their original allottees at old rates. Earlier, Justice R.S. Randhawa had taken a suo motu notice of a news item relating to the matter and prepared a note, suggesting that it should be put up in the judicial file. Justice Uma Nath yesterday castigated the two officers and asked as to why investigation should not be handed over to the CBI. The news item had brought to the fore the fact that the UT adviser and the estate officer were at loggerheads over the issue of restoration of various commercial and residential properties in the city. The said properties were allotted in an open auction or otherwise a decade ago. The adviser had asked the estate officer to restore the allotment of 32 properties, whose current value runs in crores, for a comparatively insignificant sum. Rao, the estate officer who is also the deputy commissioner, refused to restore the allotments. The adviser overruled Rao and ordered the allotment at old rates. A probe has also been ordered into alleged irregularities committed by the estate office.
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Woman found dead
Rajpura, June 9
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Finally, Beant trial end in sight
Chandigarh, June 9 Eleven years after the trial started, the defence has concluded its arguments, paving the way for the additional district and sessions judge-cum-CBI special judge to pronounce the orders after hearing the rebuttal arguments of the CBI. “We expect that the trial court will announce its verdict within a month or so, putting an end to one of the longest political trails in the country,” said A.S. Chahal, a defence lawyer. The proceedings of the case, being conducted in the high-security Burial jail, were resumed in March 2007 after a gap of about four months. Alleging inordinate delay in the holding of the day-to-day trial, the defence lawyers representing seven of the accused approached the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in March 2007. One of the defence lawyers, S.S. Bawa, said while they had sought summoning of a document from the home ministry through an under secretary, M.S. Kalaria, the latter stated before the trial court that the document (pertaining to the an observation of the then home minister regarding the blasts which killed the CM) was a privileged one. On the judge asking the home minister to file an affidavit, the prosecution went to the high court and the matter was stayed. However, the trial court observed that the defence evidence could be taken up after the decision of the matter pending before the high court. Awaiting the outcome of the high court case, the case was adjourned. The trial court, however, resumed the proceedings in March 2007. In its plea before the high court, the defence lawyer stated that the proceedings were delayed as the prosecution insisted that the total evidence on the file should be provided to each of the accused. The plea of the defence that there was no need to provide the entire evidence on the file to each accused irrespective of the fact whether the circumstances were against them or not was not heard. The defence has stated that most of the accused have no direct role in the August 31, 1995, blast at the Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat, which killed the former Chief Minister. A number of accused were only arrested for criminal conspiracy, it has been stated. While the CBI had put up around 250 witnesses, the defence had put up around 35 witnesses. At present the court is hearing the trial against seven of the accused - Balwant Singh, Jagtar Singh Hawara, Nasib Singh, Navjot, Lakhwinder, Gurmeet and Shamsher Singh. While Balwant Singh had pleaded guilty, the other have pleaded not guilty. The assassination trial against Jagtar Singh Tara and Paramjit Singh Bheora is being held separately.
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Biker taken for a ride Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 9 He alleged that the police had told him that his motorcycle was found abandoned in Sector 46 and he would get it through court. Despite the fact, he had paid numerous visits to the Sector 34 police station during the past three weeks the cops did not give him proper information about his motorcycle. Finally, the police today registered a case of theft. Narrating the incident to the mediapersons, Gurbakshish Singh of Nabha in Patiala district said he had come to participate in candle march in Sector 46 gurdwara on May 19. He left his Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle (PB-11AD-9559) near the gurdwara. When he came back he could not found his motorcycle. Gurbakshish alleged that he went to the Sector 34 police station to report the matter. The police told him that the motorcycle was found unlocked and he would get it released on SDM’s order. Later, the police changed its stand and told him that his motorcycle was stolen. The additional SHO of the Sector 34 police station said he was not aware of the background of the matter. The complainant met him today and got the case registered.
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Revealed - the brutal reality of Nandigram Chandigarh, June 9 In Chandigarh on the eve of an event organized to discuss the findings, Nafisa Hussain, member of the seven-member fact finding committee on Nandigram, shared distressing facts that came to light. “Tens of women were raped and burnt alive to destroy evidence. Included among the victims is a five-year-old girl, whose statement we have. We have interviews with the families of two rape victims, who were sexually assaulted and then set on fire. We also have the statements of other victims, who have identified the accused. The police have, however, not yet acted on complaints,” said Hussain, a former member, National Commission for Women (NCW) who along with academician Swarna Rawal, spent three days in the affected villages to get to the bottom of human tragedy that unfolded at Nandigram. Another startling finding of the committee pertains to thousands of missing farmers, believed to have been brutalized during the ongoing tussle between farmers and CPM workers. Hussain said, “Several farmers who left the village to save their lives never came back. They did not feel safe to return. Thousands of others simply went missing. They have not yet been traced. The entire criminal justice system collapsed in Nandigram in a way that residents still feel skeptical to talk to anyone from outside. When we went with a sympathetic heart, they would not let us return. It is clear - they feel abandoned.” Some farmers committed suicide in the area when the situation was still uncontrollable. Not to forget the police firing that killed 14 people. “That was the official figure. Actually thousands were killed and no one did anything about it. Our report has recommended psychological counseling for the traumatised population of Nandigram. It has also called for a high-level independent probe into the travesty of justice. Local police have failed the people. We want immediate action against perpetrators of crimes against women and children of the area,” Hussain said. The committee members visited Nandigram from May 16 to 20 and will submit its report to the President of India shortly. The members included Ram Krishna, former chief justice, Jammu and Kashmir High Court, S.N. Soni, former judge of the Gujarat High Court, P.C. Dogra, former DGP, Punjab and Gurcharan Singh Gill, additional advocate general, Rajasthan. A discussion on the meeting will take place at Government Museum auditorium, Sector 10 from 10 am tomorrow.
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Club takes to begging for elderly
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 9 In an abrupt decision, the Chandigarh administration’s social welfare department had withheld the grant-in-aid to the home, making its functioning impossible. The decision is affecting the health of 30 inmates of the home. Miffed at the move, which has prevented the management from getting over Rs 2 lakh meant for the home, club members assembled in front of the Neelam cinema in Sector 17 and begged the passersby for alms. “This is being done to shame the administration into releasing the grant. This is not the right way to make us leave the management for someone else. Let the court decide on the matter. We have the responsibility to support old inmates. That’s what director social welfare office ought to do. It’s strange that she has withheld the funds,” said Sanjeev Gupta, public relations officer of the club. Carrying posters made out of Chandigarh Tribune report on the issue, over 20 club members sought donations.
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Traffic cop accused of misconduct
Chandigarh, June 9 Khurana said he was stopped at a checkpoint on the road separating Sector 15 and 24 last evening. As his documents were in order, the police officer let him go.Gurnam Singh standing close by requested him to drop him at Sector 40. When Khurana refused he threatened him using bad language. However, Gurnam refused the allegation.
— TNS
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Tender apology, Cong asks Jain
Chandigarh, June 9 They opined that Jain seemed to have no idea about the utilisation of MPLAD funds. Last year, he had topped in his MPLAD expenditure all over the country. When the Chandigarh administration had given a clean chit to the DC R.K. Rao, Jain should apologise to the public for misleading them, they further said. The meeting was attended by Subhash Chawla, Pawan Sharma, Devinder Singh Babla, Anu Chatrath, Kamlesh, Lalit Joshi, H.S. Lucky, J.N. Shastri, K.S. Panchi and Subhash Kataria. — TNS
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BJP expels Garg
Panchkula, June 9 Sehgal, further, appealed to the workers to work together to strengthen the party and maintain discipline.
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SSC issues call letters
Chandigarh, June 9
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Stagnant water
I want to bring to the notice of the authorities concerned that water is flowing from a nearby water outlet under the railway bridge in the Industrial Area, Phase I, Chandigarh, for a considerable time. It is causing a lot of inconvenience to the passersby, besides being the breeding ground for mosquitoes. Vehicles pass through water splashing it all around. The stagnant water has dirt and filth all over. This needs immediate attention. Narendra Kumar, Chandigarh Readers are invited to write to us. Send your mail, in not more than 200 words, at news@tribuneindia.com or, write in, at: Letters, Chandigarh Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh – 160 030
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Snatchings continue unabated
Chandigarh, June 9 In another incident, Poonam Sharma of Sector 51 reported to the police that two unidentified persons riding a black motorcycle snatched her gold chain and gold bracelet from Burail village on Friday. K. Gopinathan of Sector 31-D reported to the police that two unidentified persons riding a Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle snatched a gold chain of his wife Mera Gopi from near Shiv Mandir in Sector 31 on Friday evening. Separate cases have been registered in this connection. Smack seized
The special crime investigation cell of the Chandigarh police arrested Anil Kumar of Dadu Majra Colony from the same locality on Friday on a charge of carrying 12 gm of smack. A case under section 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act has been registered.
Bikes stolen
Rajinder Kumar of Sector 26 reported to the police that his Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle (CH-03-V-4916) was stolen from his residence on Thursday night. In another incident, Gurjit Singh of Sector 23 lodged a complaint with the police alleging that his motorcycle (PB-21-B-3058) was stolen from his residence on June 6. Cases have been registered in this regard.
Thief held
The local police arrested Rajesh Kumar, who lives at rickshaw stand, ISBT, Sector 17, from near the Sectors 24, 25, 37 and 38 rotary early this morning with two boxes of stolen electric switches and meters. A case has been registered in this connection.
Assault
Inder Singh of Bapu Dham Colony, Sector 26, filed a complaint with the police alleging that Inder Singh and Titu assaulted him near his residence on June 6 at around 10.15 pm and fled. A case has been registered at the Sector 26 police station.
Purse stolen
Surinder Nath Sharma of Sector 46-D reported to the police alleging that his purse containing Rs 2,500 and some documents was stolen from his house after breaking a grill on Friday night.
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5 nailed in crackdown on power theft
Mohali, June 9 Five persons from houses in Phase IV were allegedly caught stealing power during a raid conducted early in the morning here today. While three of them had used magnets to stop the meter from recording the units of power consumed, two of them had bypassed the meter for getting power to run air conditioners. The raiding team was headed by D.S. Nagi, SDO, who was accompanied by seven JEs. Sources said Mahatam Singh, Thakur Das Verma and Midha were allegedly caught indulging in power theft by using magnets while Harbans Singh and a resident of house number 73 had allegedly indulged in power theft by bypassing the meter. The power phase on which air conditioners were being run was linked directly to the outgoing supply. Heavy fines are being imposed on them by the power board. Complaints against them are also being made to the police. The sources further revealed that when a consumer used a magnet to stop the meter from recording power consumption, it generally created scratches on the glass covering of the meter and this raised suspicions of power theft. But people were coming out with foolproof methods to overcome the drawback. In today’s raid, the PSEB officials found that one person had wrapped the magnet in a cloth so that it did not result in any sort of scratches on the glass covering. The raiding team clicked a photograph of this violation. Last week, a resident of Phase II, Rajinder Singh, was caught using a magnet to steal power. He was imposed a fine of Rs 22,000 and a police compliant was also made against him. Power theft by using kundi connections was also detected during a raid in Madanpur village and four persons were caught by the raiding team. The special campaign, which started last week on the directions of H.S. Boparai, senior executive engineer, was in progress in various parts of the towns. Special raids are being conducted early in the morning and in the evenings to check power theft.
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Man robbed at knifepoint, 7 held
Mohali, June 9 According to the police, Pawan Kumar had
complained that he was deprived of a chain , a kara and two rings by persons who posed themselves as
babas. He said that these so-called babas had come to his house about two months ago and took 21 kg of desi ghee from him. Today they again approached him and asked him to donate
generously. When Pawan Kumar refused saying that he could not do it every now and then he was deprived of his
gold ornaments at knifepoint. Police tried to lay A case has been registered in this regard.
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3 hurt in mishaps
Chandigarh, June 9 In the first case, a truck (HR-55-A-4742) coming from Panchkula hit a Maruti car (HR-03-F-3753) from the rear. The car overturned and was badly damaged. The woman escaped with minor injuries. No case was registered. In the second incident, a car sped away after hitting a motorcycle near Maharashtra Bhawan, Sector 19-D, on Friday. The motorcyclists Saurav Sharma and Parveen Kumar suffered injuries.
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Youth held with three stolen cars
Chandigarh, June 9 Giving details, inspector Rajesh Shukla said following a tip-off, a police team intercepted a Maruti car (CH-01-N-2906) at a naka in Burail today. The car driver, 22-year-old Ashu, was questioned following which he admitted to having stolen the car. Ashu, a drug-addict, was earlier also booked by the UT police in at least five cases of vehicle thefts. During preliminary interrogation, he disclosed that he had stolen two more Maruti cars (JK-02-J-7677) and (CHK-1285) from Sector 45, which were recovered later. The police also recovered seven car stereos from him. About his modus operandi, the police said he used a duplicate key to open car locks. He stole the car stereos by removing a small triangular glass on the windowpanes and then unlocked the car. The police said more cases of thefts were likely to be solved following his sustained interrogation.
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Two dupe women of jewellery
Chandigarh, June 9 The police said Preeti Jain of Sector 32 reported to the police that two teenage boys came to her residence around 11 am. Claiming that they had certain chemicals to clean metals, they gave a demonstration and cleaned a silver utensil with some chemical. Convinced, the women asked them to clean their ornaments and gave them a gold ring, a diamond ring, a gold chain and a locket. The two asked them to bring a pressure cooker and turmeric. They filled the cooker with water after mixing turmeric and asked the women to put the ornaments in the cooker and open it after 20 minutes. They left the house saying that they would return after 20 minutes to take the money for their services. When the women opened the pressure cooker after the stipulated period, they found their valuables missing. The women said one was aged around 15 while the other was around 17 years old. The police has registered a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy.
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Decomposed body found
Chandigarh, June 9 The police said no visible injury marks were found on the body. The deceased wore grey trousers and white vest. The body has been shifted to the GMSH, Sector 16. A case under Section 174 of the CrPC has been registered.
— TNS
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