Eight kidnappers arrested
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh June 30 — In a swift action, the police has arrested eight abductors of a city resident from near the Mullanpur barrier today.

According to the police sources, Mr Amit Sharma, a resident of Sector 41, complained that Ranjit Bajaj, son of a Punjab IAS officer, was beaten up by a group of youths near Hot Millions, a popular fast food outlet in Sector 17, and subsequently abducted. After pushing their victim in a black coloured jeep (PB-27-8844), they reportedly fled the scene.

Following this information, a message was flashed all over the city on wireless, and the accused were intercepted near the barrier. The vehicles in which they were travelling, the jeep, a Contessa car (CH-01-H-789) and a motorcycle (CH-01-S-3020), were also taken into custody.

The accused are Gurpinderjit Singh alias Gurpinder Singh, Karamjit Singh, Gurpal Singh, Gagandeep Singh, Guriqbal Singh, Mohit Sharma and Jaspreet Singh. A case under Sections 147, 149, 364, and 323 of the IPC has been registered at the Sector 17 police station.

Bootleggers arrested

In separate incidents, the police has arrested three persons for carrying liquor above the permissible limit. As many as 310 pouches and bottles were seized and cases under Section 61-1-14 of the Excise Act have been registered at police stations in Sectors 17, 19 and 39.

While Sanjay Kumar was arrested from Sector 17 with 190 pouches, Vijay Kumar and Jal Singh were arrested from Sector 20 and Maloya village, respectively, with 80 and 40 pouches of liquor, respectively.

Cheating alleged

Mr Jarnail Singh, a resident of Sector 42, complained to the police that he had been cheated in a deal to purchase a Tata Sumo vehicle (CH-01-W-2322), by J. S. Pabla, a resident of Langroa village near Nawanshahr. A case has been registered under Section 406, of the IPC at Sector 36 police station.

One assaulted

Mr Naib Singh, a resident of Maloya village, reported to the police that he was assaulted by Jaspal Singh, Mohinder Singh and Ram Pal, all residents of Daddu Majra. A case under under Sections 325 and 324 of the IPC has been registered at the Sector 39 police station.

Gambler caught

The police has arrested Mani Ram, a resident of Sector 44, for gambling (dara satta) at a public place in Sector 34. A case under Section 13-A-3-67 of the Gambling Act has been registered at the Sector 34 police station.

Residential premises

The house where Narain Singh died yesterday belongs to Col Balwinder Singh. It is a residential premises and not a guest house as reported on Wednesday.

PANCHKULA

Three injured

Three car-borne persons received minor injuries when their vehicle was involved in an accident between a bus and a truck near Mallah Road in Pinjore near here this evening.

According to the police, the accident took place due to negligent driving by the truck driver. A case has been registered against him by the Pinjore police.

One killed

Manoj, a resident of Bihar, died after falling from a roof in the Mansa Devi complex here on Tuesday. The local police has initiated inquest proceedings in the case under Section 174 of the CrPC.

Gambler arrested

Magat Mohan, a resident of Kalka, has been arrested by the Kalka police for allegedly gambling at a public place. He has been booked under the Gambling Act.

NSD students to stage 'Yerma'
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARHJune 30 — For theatre lovers of the city, both 'Yerma' and 'Lorca' are familiar names, with Neelam Mann Singh's company having staged Spanish playwright Federico Garcia Lorca's tragedy 'Yerma' here many times.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Lorca, a set of students from the National School of Drama, New Delhi, in collaboration with the Yavanika theatre group, Chandigarh, will stage a three-day production of 'Yerma', starting from tomorrow, at Tagore Theatre.Lorca, who is remembered for the beauty that he brought into modern drama with his buoyant theatricality, has always dealt with persons seized by elemental passions which conflict with custom, reason or some other restraining force. Nature seems to win a tragic victory in each case.

In his play 'Yerma', which is about the poetic tragedy of a woman obsessed with a frustrated passion for maternity and driven to murder her husband, it is the maternal impulse which becomes obsessive.The trilogy of rural tragedies, penned by this Spanish playwright, 'Blood Wedding', 'Yerma' and 'The House of Bernarda Alba' have always been extremely popular.Interestingly, the young group of actors from NSD have tried to interpret 'Yerma' in a manner that seems to conform to their own set of norms and values, and in a contemporary set-up.

Instead of treating it purely as a feminist play, 'Yerma' by these students has been interpreted more as a relationship between a man and a woman. The play is directed by Suveeran, final-year student of the NSD and has been scripted by Sewak Nayyar, of the Yavanika theatre group.

City to have war memorial
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH June 30 — The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) today decided to raise a war memorial to those defence personnel who sacrificed their lives while defending the frontiers of the country.

A resolution to this effect was passed at a meeting of the corporation here. The site for the memorial would be decided in consultation with the Chandigarh Administration.

Moving the resolution on behalf of Air Marshal R.S. Bedi (retd), who was absent, Mr R.L. Arora (ruling group) suggested that the memorial should be set up at Shantikunj or any other place after having discussions with the Administration. Mr O.P. Goyal (ruling group) wanted the memorial to come up in the area which was not yet fully developed.

Earlier, Mr Mohinder Singh and Mr Des Raj Tandon of the Akali-BJP alliance questioned how Mr Arora could move the resolution on behalf of Air Marshal Bedi. Mr Mohinder Singh resented the delay in renaming three parks as part of the 300 years of the birth of the Khalsa. The resolution was passed after the Secretary, Dr Amar Pal Singh, ruled that another member could move the resolution after a written request from the absentee member.

Paying tributes to the Kargil martyrs, members expressed solidarity with the troops fighting a bloody battle with the Pakistan-backed intruders in the Kargil and Dras sub-sectors of Jammu and Kashmir. A two-minute silence was observed to pay homage to the martyrs.

Major-Gen Rajinder Nath (retd), while saying that this was one of the most difficult battles the Indian Army was fighting, expressed the hope that ultimately ''we will emerge victorious''.

Mr Gian Chand Gupta (BJP) wanted the people to forget political differences and stand by the soldiers like a rock. Major-Gen Gurdial Singh (retd) rued that it was only during the wars that the soldiers were remembered. Mrs Saudamini Bambah (nominated) wanted a quota for the dependents of the Kargil martyrs in various vacancies in the civic body.

Mr Prem Sagar Jain said there was no dearth of brave soldiers in the country willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the country. Pakistan had been isolated in the international comity of nations, he added.

After the tea break, Mr Gupta strongly protested against the non-inclusion of his agenda item on the scrapping of the revised fourth phase of the Kajauli waterworks by the Central Government. Though the agenda had been sent a month back, yet no reason had been given for its non-inclusion, he alleged.

In the meantime, the news of a powerful bomb blast in Sector 34 reached the House. As the journalists started trooping out of the Assembly Hall and the Commissioner, Mr S.K. Gathwal, went out to alert the fire brigade, the Mayor, Mr Kewal Krishan Addiwal, adjourned the meeting.

The next meeting will he held on July 2.

Prices of vegetables stable
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH June 30 — Barring a few, the prices of most of the commonly used vegetables have remained stable during the past two days.

During a survey of the local market today, it was found that a kg of cauliflower, priced at Rs 14 two days back, was available at Rs 16 in different parts of the city. Its wholesale price increased from Rs 60 to Rs 70 per 5 kg on account of lesser arrivals from parts of Himachal Pradesh.

The same was the case with cabbage, as its price increased from Rs 6-8 to Rs 10 a kg in retail and from Rs 30 to Rs 35 per 5 kg.

Similarly, a kg of peas became costly by Rs 10 as their price increased from Rs 40 to Rs 50 in the retail market and from Rs 175 to Rs 225 per 5 kg.

The price of beans also increased from Rs 20 to Rs 24 a kg in retail and Rs 80 to Rs 100 per 5 kg in the wholesale market.

The rain had its adverse effect on the arrival of squashgourd. Its price increased from Rs 12 to Rs 16 a kg in retail and Rs 50 to Rs 60 in the wholesale market. So was the case with lady's finger as its price increased from Rs 8 to Rs 12 a kg. The wholesale price of the vegetable increased from Rs 30 to Rs 50 per 5 kg.

There was no change in the price of a majority of vegetables. A kg of capsicum was still available at Rs 16 in retail and Rs 60 per 5 kg in the wholesale market. Similarly, bittergourd was priced at Rs 16 a kg in retail and Rs 60 per 5 kg in the wholesale market.

There was no change in the price of ''tori'' as it could be purchased at Rs 16 a kg. Carrot was stable at Rs 24 a kg in retail and Rs 100 per 5 kg in the wholesale market.

Similarly, potato, onion and gourd were stable at Rs 5, Rs 8 and Rs 10 a kg, respectively, in different parts of the city. Tomato was available at the old price of Rs 12 a kg, while the price of ginger came down from Rs 80 to Rs 60 a kg.

TT titles for Anoop, Sikha
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH June 30— Anoop KC and Sikha Sharma emerged winners in the men's and women's sections, respectively, in the Chandigarh Ranking Table Tennis Tournament which concluded at the Sector 23 TT Hall this evening.

Anoop KC downed Tarun Akku 21-17, 18-21, 21-14, 24-22 in the men's event while Ahikha outplayed Barkha KC 21-17, 21-13, 21-13 to claim the women's crown.

Earlier, Manu KC Of Government Model Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, bagged the junior girls singles title after facing a tough fight from Nadia Saini. Manu won at 19-21, 21-17, 21-14, 21-14. The boys singles title went in favour of Harpreet Singh of Bhawan Vidyalaya who too had to exert hard in beating Rahul Sharma at 17-21, 21-14, 20-22, 21-10, 21-13.

The following are the results:

Men singles (Pre-quarterfinals): Harish Kumar b Sajal Kaushal 21-12, 21-16; Amit Aggarwal b Gaurav Bhatia 12-21, 21-19, 22-20; Tarun Akku b N.Barua 21-14, 21-19; Anoop KC b Gursimar Singh 21-19, 21-16; Harpreet Singh b Jasmeet Singh 21-19, 21- 14; Mandeep Singh b Inderpreet 21-15, 21-10; Sumit Grover b Rahul Sharma 21-19, 19-21, 21-19.

Quarter-finals: Anoop KC b Amit Aggarwal 21-13, 19-21, 21-14, 21-17; Tarun Akku b Harpreet Singh 21-16, 21-10, 14-21, 21-18; Harish Kumar b Mandeep Walia 21-19, 21-16, 16-21, 13-21, 21-16; Varun Kassal b Sumit Grover 11-21, 21-19, 21-19, 21-19.

Semi-finals;Tarun Akku b Harish Kumar 21-19, 18-21, 21-17, 21-18; Anoop KC b Varun Kassal 21-16, 21-14, 21-16.

Women singles preliminary rounds: Ruchi Gautam b Arshdeep 16-21, 21-17, 21-11; Amarpreet b Komal 21-17, 21-18; Arshdeep b Anchal 21-8, 21-10; Smitha Kapoor b Nadia Saini 16-21, 21-18, 23-21; R. Gupta b Megha Kassal 21-11, 21-14; Anuradha Bansal b Taranpreet 21-16, 21-15; Komal b Sandhya 21-10, 17-21, 21-15; Manu KC b Ramanpreet 21-15, 21-14.

Quarter-finals: Shikha Sharma b Manu KC 21-16, 21-12; Ruchika Gupta b Ruchi Gautam 20-22, 22-20, 21-19; Anuradha Bansal b Smitha Kapoor 21-18, 20-22, 21-14.

Semi-finals: Shikha Sharma b Anuradha Bansal 21-16, 21-14, 21-16; Barkha KC b Ruchika Gupta 21-15, 21-17, 21-16.

Mr J.P.S. Sidhu, Joint Director, Sports, Chandigarh Administration, gave away the prizes.

UT chess

The Chandigarh Chess Association will conduct the 10th UT Chess championship from July 8 to 11 at the Chess centre, basement ( Block A), Hockey Stadium,Sector 42, Chandigarh. The tournament is being organised to serve as a basis for the selection of Chandigarh team consisting of four members, who will represent UT in the forthcoming National Chess 'B' Championship at Mumbai from August 17 to 31 this year.

Entries close with Mr Baijnath Prasad, 1161-B, Sector 41- B, Chandigarh.

Ball badminton

Mukesh with 13 points and Amit Chowdhry having 11 points head their respective pools in the boys section on the third day of the Chandigarh Open Invitational Ranking Ball Badminton Tournament being played here at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, today.

In Pool B of the girls section, Sonika gained 10 points and headed the pool , while Shweta already leads Pool A with nine points.

The following are the results:

Boys Pool - B: Divya Roop b Ajit Singh 15-6,15-9; Gurwinder Bajwa b Gurinder Gill 15-11,15-7; Lakhbir Singh b Sonu Choudhry 15-11,15-10; Gurinder Gill b Ajit Singh 15-4,15-9; Sonu Choudhry b Divya Roop 15-5,15-4; Gurinder Gill b Vikrant 15-10,15-5; Sonu Choudhry b Gurwinder Bajwa 15-14,15-13; Lakhbir Singh b Divya Roop 15-4, 15-7; Gurwinder Bajwa b Divya Roop 15-8, 15-9; Amit b Ajit Singh 15-8, 15-5; Vikrant b Amit 15-14, 15-8.

Pool B: Arun b Amit Bhalla 15-9, 15-8; Mukesh drew with Arun 15-13, 13-15; Vishal b Harsimran 15-10, 15-5; : Amit b Maninder 15-8, 15-7.

Girls Pool A: Kanchana b Monika Dhiman 15-12, 15-11; Kanchana b Jagdeep Kaur 15-8, 15-9; Kanchana b Shefali 15-11, 15-13.

Pool B: Sonika b Monu 15-4, 15-5; Shikha Sharma drew Rajinder Kaur 13-15, 15-7; Sonika b Gurjit Kaur 15-4, 15-8 ; Monika Panjla drew with Monu 14-15, 15-7; Sonika b Rajinder Kaur 15-6, 15-6; Gurjit Kaur b Monu 15-2, 15-3; Sonika b Shikha 15-6, 15-5; Shikha b Monu 15-9, 15-4 ; Sonika b Monika Panjla 15-13, 15-14.