Police busts prostitution ring
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 21 — The police has busted a prostitution ring with the arrest of a city resident and two other women. According to police sources, Nirmala alias Aunty alias Jhaini of Sector 41 reportedly acted as a madam and went along with girls, soliciting customers.

Acting on information, the police laid a trap and spotted the women roaming on a rickshaw in Sector 15 today. A decoy customer was sent to strike a deal with them.

Following the deal, the women were arrested. The money, signed by the raiding party, was recovered from Nirmala. The two girls accompanying her, 18-year-old Preeti from Patiala and 30-year-old Amandeep Kaur alias Renu, were also taken into custody.

Sources said the 55-year-old Nirmala played an active role in spotting potential customers and struck deals with them. She also arranged for rooms in various motels in the city and charged a hefty sum as fees from the girls. A case under Sections 4, 5, 7 and 8 of the Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act has been registered by Anoop Kumar, ASP, Central, at the Sector 17 police station.

Bigamy reported: Indu Sharma of Sector 42 reported to the police that her husband had committed bigamy. The complainant alleged that Puran Singh, her husband, had in connivance with members of his family, married Kanta without divorcing her.

The police has arrested Puran Singh, Sanjogita, Sushma and Kanta of Anju village in Mandi district. A case under Section 494\120-B of the IPC has been registered at the Sector 31 police station.

One arrested: The police has arrested Ashok Kumar of Phase II, Ram Darbar, for stealing a bicycle from the Sector 34 market. A case under sections 379 and 411 of the IPC has been registered against him on the complaint of Bhim Bahadur of Burail.

Camera recovered: The police has arrested Anil Kumar of Sector 24 for allegedly buying a stolen camera. The camera has been recovered while further investigations are on.

Three held: The police has arrested Mohammad Anwar, Surinder Kumar and Pramod Kumar of phase I, SAS Nagar, for assaulting Rajesh Kumar of Sector 45. A case under section 325\34 of the IPC has been registered at the Sector 36 police station.

Five nabbed: The police has arrested five persons under various sections of the Cr PC and the Police Act, for roaming under mysterious circumstances, under preventive custody and for creating nuisance at a public place under the influence of liquor.

Two injured: In seperate incidents, two pedestrians were hurt after being hit by vehicles.

Ajit Singh of Sector 20-A was hit by a Maruti car near Sector 20\21 traffic lights. He has been admitted to the PGi. His condition is stated to be serious.

An unknown pedestrian was hurt when he was hit by a Maruti van near the Sector 35\36 dividing road. He has been admitted to the PGI. His condition is stated to be serious.

Woman dead: A 60-year-old unknown woman died when she went to pay obeisance at the Sector 40 Sri Guru Arjan Dev Gurdwara at about 5.30 pm.

PANCHKULA

Fake notes: The local police has arrested a resident of Sector 2 for allegedly circulating fake currency notes of hundred rupee denomination.

The suspect virtually walked into the police net when he gave a currency note of one hundred rupee denomination to a vegetable seller for purchasing vegetables in Apni Mandi in Sector 16 on Tuesday. The unsuspecting vegetable seller returned the change.

After some time the suspect, Baban Zaidi, again returned to the same vegetable seller, asking for change in lieu of two hundred rupee notes. The seller got suspicious and informed the police. The police recovered at least five notes of one hundred rupee denomination from his possession.

Finance company penalised
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 21 — The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has penalised a finance company for not refunding the deposited amount on expiry of the maturity date.

Mrs Sunita, a resident of SAS Nagar, has in her complaint filed before the Forum stated that she had deposited a sum of Rs 1 lakh with M/s Hoffland Finance Ltd in the fixed deposit scheme on May 19, 1997, and in lieu of that two receipts of Rs 50,000 each were issued. She has further contended that to discharge their liability to repay the matured amount and interest, the company had issued post-dated cheques, which stood bounced on being presented to the bank. She filed the complaint when all her efforts to seek refund of the deposited amount failed.

A notice was issued to the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the company, but since he did not appear, the Forum proceeded against him ex-parte. However, the manager of the company based at Chandigarh in his reply stated that he was working only as a manager and hence no liability could be fastened on him.

After perusal of the records, the Forum bench comprising its President, Dr H.C Modi, and members, Dr R.K Behl and Ms Shashi Kanta, held that the cheques issued by the company with regard to re-payment of maturity amount stood dishonoured with the remark `` returned due to insufficient funds.'' Holding the company guilty of deficiency in services, they directed the company to pay an amount of Rs 1,15,500 along with an interest of 12 per cent per annum from the respective dates of cheques/advance payments orders till its payment. A sum of Rs 1,000 was also awarded as costs to the complainant.

Order modified: The UT Disputes Redressal Commission, while modifying an order passed by District Forum-II, has directed Escorts Yamaha Motors Ltd, Faridabad, to replace the defective engine assembly of a motorcycle with a new one and pay Rs 10,000 as compensation to a consumer.

Earlier, in a complaint filed before the Forum, Mr Anil Kumar Vishwakarma, posted at Pune, had stated that he had purchased a motorcycle `Yamaha RXG' from the dealer, Classy Mobike, Sector 34. He said that the vehicle carried a warranty card of six months or the first 7,500 km, whichever occurs earlier. He alleged that the vehicle after running 1,800 km gave a knocking sound. The piston kit of the vehicle which was found defective was replaced by the dealer on July 1, 1997. However, when the piston gave the same knocking sound it was replaced the second time on September 8, 1997. But the same problem once again arose four days later on September 12, 1997, and the kit had to be replaced. Hence, the piston kit was replaced thrice within a short period of five months. He filed this complaint to demand replacement of the vehicle along with costs during the warranty period.

In the appeal, the manufacturer, Escorts Yamaha Motors, maintained that there was no provision in the warranty card for the replacement of the complete vehicle. Only defective parts could be replaced.

The Commission bench comprising its President, Mr Justice J.B Garg, and members, Col. P.K Vasudeva ( retd) and Mrs Devinderjit Dhatt, after hearing both parties observed that the engine of the vehicle suffered from serious defects, as it necessitated the replacement of the piston kit thrice within a short period of five months.

The Commission directed the manufacturer to replace the engine assembly of the motorcycle at the place of posting of the consumer or a nearby station. However, if they failed to replace the engine assembly within a period of two months, the manufacturer would be liable to pay a sum of Rs 15,000 together with interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum. They further directed the company to pay a sum of Rs 10,000 on account of mental harassment and agony suffered by the consumer. The dealer, Classy Mobike Pvt Ltd, who was only the local distributor was absolved.

Defective suits: While upholding the order of District Forum-II regarding the sale of defective silk suits, the UT Disputes Redressal Commission has enhanced the cost of compensation from Rs 250 to Rs 500.

In her complaint filed before the Forum, Mrs Sunita Khullar, a resident of Sector 44, had stated that she had bought two silk suits from M/s Bangalore Silk Sarees, Sector 17, for Rs 650 and Rs 610, respectively, on February 27, 1997.

She further averred that although the material of the suit priced at Rs 650 was found defective, the shopkeeper allegedly refused to make good the loss either by replacing the defective material or by repaying the costs of material and stitching charges..

Since no one appeared on behalf of the shopkeeper to rebut the allegations, the case was proceeded against ex-parte. The Forum had in its order directed the shopkeeper to pay Rs 650 towards the costs of the suit and 50 per cent of the stitching charges amounting to Rs 175 in addition to Rs 250 as costs.

The Commission bench, comprising its President, Mr Justice J.B Garg, and members, Col P.K Vasudeva ( retd) and Mrs Devinderjit Dhatt, after going through the records and evidence produced by the parties directed the shopkeeper to pay the full cost of the suit material and stitching charges amounting to Rs 650 and Rs 350, respectively, besides costs of Rs 500.

Prices of most fruits go up
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 21 — A number of commonly used fruits have become costly in the local market during the past four days.

During a survey of the market today it was found that a kg of cherry, priced at Rs 80 two days back, could be purchased at Rs 100. The wholesale price of the fruit increased from Rs 60 to Rs 80 a kg. Peach, another Himachal delicacy, became costly as a kg of the fruit priced at Rs 40 two days ago, could be bought at Rs 50. The wholesale price increased from Rs 200 to Rs 250 per 8-kg pack. The hike was attributed to the decreased arrivals from the hill state as the season for these crops was almost over.

Another fruit which became costly was ''jamun''. A kg of the fruit, priced at Rs 50 just two days ago, was available at Rs 60. In the wholesale market the price went up from Rs 40 to Rs 50 a kg. According to traders, the hike was due to lesser arrival of the fruit from the surrounding areas and parts of Punjab and Haryana.

Similarly, grapes also became costly. A kg of the fruit, priced at Rs 80 two days ago, could be had at Rs 100. Its wholesale price increased from Rs 120 to Rs 150 per 2-kg pack. The traders said the hike was temporary and was due to supplies being hit owing to heavy rains in the region.

The price of pomegranate also increased from Rs 40 to Rs 50 in retail and Rs 130 to Rs 150 per 5-kg pack in the wholesale market.

The prices of a number of fruits remained stable during this period. A kg of the good quality ''dasehri'' variety of mango could still be purchased at between Rs 20 and Rs 25 in retail while its price in the wholesale market was Rs 130 per 7-kg pack. ''Chausa'' could be bought at Rs 30 a kg, while a kg of ''langra'' could be purchased at Rs 25.

A kg of the royal variety of apple could be had at Rs 40, while plum was priced at Rs 40. The same was the case with banana as a dozen of it could be had at Rs 20. The price of ''mausambi'' remained stable at Rs 70 a dozen in retail and Rs 180 per three dozens.

Carrom tourney from August 14
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, July 21 — The Chandigarh Carrom Association will hold the ninth Chandigarh State Carrom Championship at St Stephen's School, Sector 45 from August 14 to 19, according to Mr Mahesh Sekhri, Secretary of the association.

During the six-day championship, 13 events will be organised. These are: men's singles, men's doubles, boys' singles (junior), boys' doubles (junior), boys' singles (sub-junior), boys' doubles (sub-junior), men's veterans singles, women's singles, women's doubles, girls' singles (junior), girls doubles (junior), girls singles (sub-junior), girls doubles (sub-junior). Men's veterans singles event will be introduced for the first time in the tournament.

The championship is open to players registered with the association. New players can also participate after registering themselves with the organisation.

Participants must be below the age of 18 14, respectively in the sub-junior and junior sections. However, participants should be above the age of 45 in men's veterans singles event.

Entries close on August 4 with Mr K.S. Patwal, Assistant General Secretary of the association, at 639-B, Sector 32-A, Chandigarh (phone-665949).

Chattwinder wins

Chattwinder Singh of Chandigarh who is the third seed in the All-India Sub-Junior and Mini Tennis Tournament now in progress at Secunderabad, today sailed into the second round of the boys' singles under-16 section, as per reports reaching here.

Other city players, Neha Singh and Tushar Liberhan, however, today lost their matches in the under-14 (girls) and under-16 (boys) sections, respectively.

Chattwinder defeated Rohan Kranti of Andhra Pradesh, 6-4,6-2 to move into the next round.

Neha Singh who had got a direct entry in the under-14 section, had yesterday beaten Nidhi Shah of Maharashtra, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. But today, she went down fighting to Kartika Bhatt, 2-6, 2-6, in the second round.

In boys' under-16, top seed Jacob Mathews of Tamil nadu made a short work of Tushar Liberhan of Chandigarh, 6-4, 6-2.