Cases of cash snatching on the rise
From Kulwinder Sangha
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, April 17 — A sense of insecurity has gripped residents here as cases of snatching of cash continue with the police failing to nab the culprits.

There appears to be one or more gangs of scooter-borne persons who strike at “soft” targets like women or old persons going to or coming from banks with cash. Recently, the snatchers have become more bolder and overpowered and injured a younger person, a shopkeeper, depriving him of his day’s earnings.

The modus operandi of the criminals is to keep an eye on bank customers coming to withdraw or deposit money, follow them and snatch the amount at the “convenient” time and spot. At least two of the victims said the snatchers were on a grey scooter, had cut hair and appeared to be in their early twenties.

The victims are agitated at the inaction of the police in these cases. “Where is the security if people are looted in broad daylight?” they ask in anger.

Mr Raj Kumar of Sham Traders in the Phase I market here said that on April 12 he closed his shop around 8.30 p.m. and left for his home nearby. As he alighted from his car in front of his house with a briefcase containing cash to open the gate, he was overpowered from behind. One person put his hand on the victim’s mouth while another snatched the briefcase. A third person sat on a scooter with its engine on. There was a scuffle for a while but ultimately the snatchers fled with the cash.

Mr Raj Kumar said there was Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 in the briefcase. He sustained fracture on a finger during the scuffle.

“On normal days I usually have more cash with me. How will I go home alone now. There is no security,” he said angrily.

Col Dalip Singh (retd) of Phase III B1 said he was standing at the counter in Punjab and Sind Bank in Phase V on April 6 with Rs 45,000 in his hand when a youth snatched the amount and fled. There was no bank security guard at that time. Col Dalip Singh gave chase but the culprit fled with his accomplice on a grey scooter.

He criticised the police for failing to react promptly in such cases. The police should be a “thinking lot” rather than being mechanical in their ways. It should be able to pass messages across quickly to nab criminals. Armed robbery inside a bank does happen but snatching of cash was unusual.

An official of this bank told The Tribune on condition of anonymity that there was only one security guard and he must have been elsewhere on the premises. When this correspondent visited the bank on April 12 around mid-day no bank guard was seen. It was learnt that the bank guard had taken five days’ leave. The bank authorities had written to the police on April 10 to provide security but nobody had turned up.

Mrs Ajit Kaur, an elderly person of Phase II, had gone to Punjab National Bank on March 22 to withdraw money. She was to buy a plane ticket for the USA where she was to meet her daughter. She withdrew Rs 27,000 from the bank and put the amount in her purse which already had Rs 10,000 in it.

Mrs Ajit Kaur said she hired a rickshaw to go home. On the way two scooter-borne youths stopped the rickshaw-puller on the pretext of enquiring about an address. The pillion rider then snatched the purse and the two culprits fled.

Mrs Ajit Kaur said the police came to her home but nothing further had happened. She felt helpless and insecure.

Mrs Urmila Sharma of Phase IV said Rs 10,000 was snatched from her on March 6. She had withdrawn the amount from the State Bank of India in Phase I and was walking home around 11.45 a.m. She had just entered Phase IV when two scooter-borne youths stopped her on the pretext of speaking to her and then snatched her purse. She said the culprits were on a grey scooter.

She said the police had come to her home to enquire about the incident and that was the end of it.

In secure hands of SPCA
By Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 17 — Some kind-hearted animal lovers and officials at the Society for Prevention of Crime against Animals (SPCA) hospital near Daddu Majra are acting as foster parents for “Gauri” and her two- month-old companion, for whom the place has virtually become “second home”, since last about two months when these “undernourished” calves were admitted here in a miserable condition.

Interestingly due to extraordinary care, attention, and their mixing with dogs in a shelter for dogs, the calves, particularly an active Gauri, has developed sharp reflexes, which even match those of the canines in the shed, where they have been putting up since their entry to the hospital.

“I think by living among dogs they have started behaving like canines as on seeing a visitor they greet him or her by hopping around, wagging their tails and by licking their hands,” said Ms Nandini Kakkar, an animal lover and a regular visitor to the hospital.

Gauri, a female calf with a glossy brown coat was brought to the hospital by two gentlemen, moments after her birth on a roadside on February 17, while the very next day the other calf was admitted to the hospital after her mother, a stray cow had died after giving birth to it on a roadside in Panchkula.

“The day they were brought to the hospital we were sceptical whether they would live for more than two days due to poor health,” said Mr Bhalinder, a caretaker.

Another interesting aspect about the two animals is that they have been getting only milk as food, they have yet to start feeding on green fodder, and all they take is milk, and that too, through baby feeders.

“It’s really a matter of bliss to see these calves, standing in a row with child-like innocence getting milk. I get satisfaction when I feed them milk with a bottle,” said Ms Kakkar.

Dr Y.P.S. Mehta, in charge of the hospital, informed that to prevent malnourishment, each calf was being fed 6 litres of milk every day. “Though, they have been reluctant so far, Gauri has started nibbling blades of grass, and I hope they will start feeding on green fodder within a month,” he said. In spite of a facility of a separate animal shelter, the calves have been put in the dogs’ shed to provide them more medical care.

Dr Mehta said the biggest problem was that as both did not have the opportunity to get their mother’s milk, which is essential for every infant as it acts as a natural deterrent against diseases, they could easily get diseases like diarrhoea. “We have to take extra care and we spend about Rs 1000 per month on their food and medicines alone,” said Dr Mehta. In addition to the hospital staff, the care of the two calves was being taken by about 7-8 animal lovers, who pay a visit to them on a regular basis. He maintained that in spite of some initial health-related problems, the calves have been maintaining “perfect” health, which is evident from the weight of the calves — about 35 kg each.

Regarding the future of the two animals, Mr Jasbir Ralhan, President of the society, said they were looking for some genuine people who could adopt the two.

Manauli getting dirty water supply
From Our Correspondent

MANAULI (SAS NAGAR), April 17 — Residents of Manauli, Chilla, Pappri and several other villages are demanding extension of the Rural Water Supply Scheme to their villages. They say that they have to drink the water contaminated by the untreated sewerage released by Chandigarh and SAS Nagar.

According to Mrs Surinder Kaur, Sarpanch of the Manauli Panchayat, in the absence of an underground water supply system, villagers have no option but to use the 'contaminated' water. The handpump and tubewell water was also dirty because of the presence of a sewer outlet in the area. She added that the handpump water was so dirty that even the utensils turned pale when it was stored in these.

She said that the village could not have a piped water supply as a suitable place to construct a water tank was not found. Officials refused to raise the tank on the shamlat land because the suggested place was near the sewer. Even after several tests, water was found to be unfit, she added. Nothing had been done to improve the situation despite the authorities being aware of the situation, said she.

More than 15 villages near Industrial Area, SAS Nagar are affected by the contaminated water. It has also affected animals in the area.

Mr Bachhiter Singh, a resident of Pappri village, said that farmers in the area had various skin diseases caused by the 'black water'. This is because the sewer water is used for agricultural purposes. Irritation in legs is common among farmers, as these are exposed to water while working in the fields.

Brick-kilns harm crop production
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, April 17 — The indiscriminate use of agricultural land by the brick-kiln industry can adversely affect crop production.

Most of the kilns are situated near fields.The soil used by kiln owners to manufacture bricks mainly comes from agricultural land.

The upper layer of the soil is the most fertile and has the properties to absorb water and give more crop output, says Dr R.K. Aggarwal, Head of the Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute.

Once kiln owners start digging upper layers, productivity declines. It severely affects production by more than 25 per cent.Ultimately, the indiscriminate digging makes land unfit for agriculture, warns Dr Aggarwal.

He suggests that fly ash, a waste product from thermal power plants running on coal, should be used in making bricks as it has been successfully tested in several institutes. “ As disposing of fly ash is a major problem, it is better to use it for making bricks,” he adds.

But kiln owners differ with Dr Aggarwal, saying that they are acting as per laws. While accepting that they are using fertile land meant for agricultural purposes, they add that this is done with the consent of the farmers. This is particularly true in case of small farmers, who need cash and verbal contracts are entered into with them.

A kiln owner says, “ It is not profitable to transport fly ash from power plants as it is a very time-consuming and costly affair. This will lead to an increase in the price of bricks, which will not be consumer -friendly. “

Another person, who has been in this business for the past 20 years, says that there are too many restrictions from the Punjab Pollution Control Board and following such steps will affect their business adversely.