Tuesday, May 4, 1999
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N E W S Tuesday, May 4, 1999 |
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VIP kin and gun culture go
together CHANDIGARH, May 3— Sons, wards and relatives of VIPs living in the city have been known to act as a law onto themselves. In the past five years since militancy declined, offspring of ministers and senior government functionaries based in Chandigarh have been involved in several major incidents of crime or have perpetuated attacks through gunmen of their parents or relatives. Besides this, incidents like firing in the air during private parties and marriages, drunken brawls and skirmishes that take place in elite clubs, farmhouses and discos are never reported and no cases registered. Examination time is another time to show muscle, strength or even weapons. In some cases, even the police has had to eat humble pie as the influential VIP kids known for their weakness for liquor and the fairer sex have walked away unscathed, point out police sources. Though the latest incident of model Jessica Lal's killing took place in Delhi, it has direct links with the gun culture and lawlessness followed by VIP kids in Chandigarh. One of the suspects, Siddharth, alias Manu Sharma, was brought up in Chandigarh and known to carry a gun, his friends and police sources say. If proved, this will not be the first case of killing by a VIP kid. Manoj Godara, a nephew of Haryana Home Minister Mani Ram Godara is one of the accused among a group that killed a youth in broad daylight in Sector 10 in June last year. He is facing trial under Section 302 of the IPC. He was arrested within six hours of the incident from his home in Panchkula. Guns and gunmen, have become a part of the subculture of kids of the rich and powerful, opined a senior police official wishing to remain anonymous. In March 1996, Kamaldeep Arora, alias Bobby, a son of former Punjab Minister Bhagwan Dass Arora , accompanied his gunmen Harpal Singh and Joginder Singh allegedly to kidnap a shopkeeper and robbed him of Rs 17,000 . The gunmen were arrested and the case went to court. In July last year, a gunman with Aman Beniwal, a nephew of Haryana MLA, Vidya Beniwal, allegedly shot at a security guard in Piccadilly cinema, injuring him seriously. The gunman had allegedly fired from his service carbine at the insistence of the VIP kid following an altercation with the security guards outside the cinema. The District Courts in Sector 17 were converted into a firing range of sorts when a team of guntoting youths led by Manjit Singh Barkandi, a Punjab MLA, and Jagjit Singh, a DSP of the Punjab police, allegedly fired at another group when they clashed in July last year. Several persons were arrested and a case of attempt to murder and under the arms Act was registered. Kamaljeet Singh, a son of former Punjab MLA, Joginder Singh had a major brawl in February 1995. A case was registered in the Sector 11 police station . Punjab IAS officer Bharat Bajaj 's son Ranjeet Bajaj was involved in a brawl in September 1996 . A case was registered in the Sector 3 police station . In a show of strength, a Sub-Inspector of the Chandigarh police was humiliated and he received injuries when, Gurkirat Singh, a grandson of slain Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, allegedly snatched his wireless set during Janamasthmi celebrations in August, 1993. When the cop asked the wireless set back, he was humiliated by the VIP grandson. A case was registered. Recently, in separate incidents, two inspectors of the Chandigarh police were at the receiving end of VIP kids. A son and daughter-in-law of a senior judicial functionary coming out of a disco had a tiff with an SHO. In another case, a son of an IAS officer and his friend allegedly beat up an SHO when he tried to intervene while the duo was allegedly forcing a woman into the car outside a hotel in Sector 10. In both cases, the SHOs were transferred but were re-instated later. However, no cases were registered. Besides such known cases
, police and civil authorities say the names of sons of a
former Adviser to the UT Administrator, a Haryana IAS
officer and some police functionaries crop up time and
again in drunken brawls and fights. Arms licences to be reviewed CHANDIGARH, May 3 — The Chandigarh police has decided to review all arms licences with special stress on licences issued to persons under 35 years of age. This is probably being done in view of the murder of model Jessica Lal in New Delhi. A list from the office of the District Magistrate has been sought to study the circumstances under which the licences were issued and to whom they were issued. The idea is to see what is the requirement, if any, of an arms licence for the holder. Most licences to persons under 35 are issued to and used by children of VIPs. The police will also recommend cancellation of licence if no requirement for it is felt. During days of
militancy, several persons were issued licences for
personal protection. However, the same yardstick may not
apply now, a senior police official said. Passport details of Manu noted CHANDIGARH, May 3 — A team of the Delhi police helped by Chandigarh police personnel today collected the passport number of Siddharth, alias Manu Sharma, from the house of his father in Sector 9. Besides this, others details of his passport were also noted down by the police. Manu Sharma is one of the accused in the Jessica Lal murder case. The police also noted down the number and details of the passport of Manu's father, Mr Venod Sharma, a former Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister. A police party also raided the house of the second accused in Sector 10. This youth, is employed as a manager in a leading multinational soft drinks manufacturing company. The youth's father, a banker, told the police party that his son had talked to him on telephone, police sources said, refusing to give further details of the conversation. He was said to be with Manu when the shooting incident took place in the wee hours on Friday. Sources said the youth had been identified as Tony Gill. However, the Delhi police is yet to officially name the second suspect. Sources further said
that the name of this youth had been linked with a brawl
in a Sector 26 hotel, about two years ago. A compromise
was reached at after senior politicians intervened. |
Leopard
gets trapped, escapes TANDIWALA (PINJORE), May 3 — A convoy of vehicles belonging to officials of the Wildlife and Forest Departments and the District Administration landed at Tandiwala village, 13 km from Pinjore, when a word spread that a leopard, which had created panic in the area and had attacked many domestic animals, had got entangled in a trap. The drama started at around 11 a.m when two forest guards, Gyan Chand and Satpal, heard shrieks of a leopard, which they said had got entangled in a trap laid under a bush in a nearby forest area. A close look by the guard revealed that some poacher had laid a locally made trap in which a foot of the leopard had got stuck. The guards soon rang up their senior officials and began arranging for tranquilliser gun and a cage to trap the animal. A doctor of the Wildlife Department, Dr M.R. Singla, fired five shots to tranquillise the cat but failed to do it completely. Sources, however, allege that the Haryana Wildlife Department does not possess the required gun to tranquillise an animal from a short distance. Lack of management on part of the department to handle the situation can be gauged from the fact that after more than five hours of having fired the initial shots, a distress call was made to the Director of the Chatt Bir Zoo, Dr Vinod Sharma. The department did not appear to have learnt from the past experience when a leopard had strayed in Sector 8 of Panchkula, a few month back. In the meantime, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Aggarwal, the Superintendent of Police, Mr Alok Mittal, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of Haryana, Mr Banarsi Dass, and the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr R.S. Hooda , reached the scene. When Dr Vinod Sharma, led by officials of the department reached the spot, they found that the animal had already freed itself from the trap. The officials said they were not happy at the development as they feared that the cat might stray again into human population in the area. Dr Sharma, after analysing the trap, said the cat had not apparently suffered any injury. Mr Avtar Singh, Sarpanch of Fatehpur Dewanwala village, who was present on the scene, said the animal had spread terror among residents of Narainwala, Nolta, Jabrot, Berghati and other surrounding villages. The animal had killed at least six domestic animals in the area in the past few months. He said a leopard had
even attacked three persons in separate incidents.
However, all the persons escaped unhurt. He said
complaints in this regard had been lodged with the
officials. The officials said they were not sure whether
it was the same leopard which had been attacking domestic
animals in the area. |
Sandhu is
new Chief Architect CHANDIGARH, May 3 — Mr Sarbjeet Singh Sandhu has been appointed Chief Architect-cum-Secretary of Urban Planning, Chandigarh Administration. A decision to this effect was taken after the administration considered panels of names received from both Punjab and Haryana. The post of Chief Architect-cum-Secretary (ex-offico) of Urban Planning, fell vacant following repatriation of Mr S.K. Midha, to his parent state Haryana. Mr Midha has been given the office of the Chief Architect of Haryana, in place of Mr Kansal. Mr Sandhu has been on deputation from Punjab since 1993. The Haryana Government had ordered the recall of Mr Midha and two other architects on deputation with the Chandigarh Administration in December last year. Mr Midha had been with the administration for almost 24 years. Initially, the administration expressed inability to relieve him immediately as he was engaged in several prestigious projects slated for the first three months of the new calendar year. These included holding of an international conference to celebrate 50 years of the idea of Chandigarh. It attracted a large number of architects, designers and planners from all over the world. In April, the administration decided to relieve Mr Midha. The earlier panel sent by Haryana to select a successor to Mr Midha was returned by the administration on the plea that more names be sent. Meanwhile, the Haryana Department of Architecture also witnessed some changes. The then Chief Architect, Mr S.K. Thukral, was made Officer on Special Duty and Mr Kansal, an Additional Chief Architect, was given the office of the Chief Architect at his own pay scale. After repatriation of Mr Midha, Mr Sandhu, Senior Architect, was given the additional charge of officiating as the Chief Architect. Today, the administration considered both panels of names, sent by Punjab and Haryana, including the name of Mr Kansal, and decided to confirm the appointment of Mr Sandhu. After graduating in architecture from Panjab University in 1966, Mr Sandhu worked in various capacities as Architect, Senior Architect and Chief Architect in the Buildings Division of the Government of Tanzania from 1974 to 1979. He has visited many countries, including Kenya, Zambia, South Yemen, Kuwait and Pakistan. Meanwhile, the Chandigarh Administration has received an official communication from the Punjab Government about the appointment of Dr R.S. Sandhu as Director of Family Welfare, in his parent state Punjab. He, however, is yet to be relieved. The administration does not seem happy with the panel of names sent by the Punjab Government for appointing a successor to Dr Sandhu. The names mentioned are of doctors of the level of deputy directors, though Chandigarh has in its own cadre, doctors as senior as a joint director. A final decision about
the appointment of the new Director of Health Services is
expected in a day or two. |
Power
failure in Zirakpur areas ZIRAKPUR, May 3 — Power supply to Zirakpur and its surrounding areas remained suspended for more than seven hours today. Residents said that the electricity supply, which was interrupted at 8 a.m., was restored only late in the afternoon. The area witnessed a power cut on Sunday too for more than four hours. Interruption in power supply has led to the water problem as the major part of the area has no rural water supply system. Residents have to rely on their own tubewells and hand pumps. A number of consumers in Dhakauli, Zirakpur, Bartana villages complained of continuous low voltage. They said that their electric gadgets such as fans, coolers and refrigerators were not functioning properly. The maintenance staff at
Zirakpur said that the problem was due to a fault at
66-KV station at Mubarikpur. |
Cops held for drinking at
public place CHANDIGARH, May 3 — A Sub-Inspector, a head constable and a constable of the Punjab police were arrested allegedly for drinking liquor at public place Sector 22 here last night. Sub-Inspector Malkiat Singh, head constable Jagtar Singh ( both of the Punjab police CID wing) and constable Pawan Kumar of the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) were allegedly consuming liquor while sitting in a government vehicle (PB-08-F-9801) parked outside the CID office of the Punjab police in Sector 22. The DSP, South Division,
Mr Bhagwan Dass Bector, was on patrol duty last night and
he detected some persons sitting inside a
government-owned mini truck. Later the identity of the
drinking trio was established as cops. They have been
booked. |
‘Health
culture missing’ in India CHANDIGARH, May 3 — “The natural fat loss therapy has been recognised by the West, and India is also attuning to such methods slowly,” says Ms Shobha Kaul, managing director of one of the largest health fitness centres. In a talk with this reporter, Ms Kaul felt that the health culture is somehow missing in our country and people think that one should adhere to the age-old belief of having a lot of ghee and milk for the body. “No doubt, these products provide nutrition to the body but only when they are properly utilised by the system in the body,” she said. When asked why in recent years such health centres had come up, Ms Kaul said nowadays people had irregular food habits, unhealthy lifestyles, stress and depression which ultimately led to the weight problem. “At these centres, which are now 19 in India, special care is taken to analyse the body fat and its control for the long-term result by qualified doctors, dieticians and nutritionists, who monitor the client’s chart as per the individual requirements.” Ms Kaul, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir and is now based at Delhi, took up this assignment after the death of her husband, Sunil Kaul, a few years ago. Her health fitness centre now has nine branches in Delhi, and one each at Faridabad, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, Jaipur, Bhubaneshwar, Panchkula, Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Amritsar. Ms Kaul claimed that the clinics practised natural fat loss methods and nearly 50,000 people had so far benefited from their therapies. Girls, women after pregnancies, and even businessmen face the weight gain problems and all of them have the tendency of not losing it for long because of various wrong habits. These people want someone to guide and help them in continuously taking care of their problems, for which our clinics become their teacher. The diet management is another feature of our clinics,” explained Ms Kaul. The clinics had introduced low calorie, high-protein foods, pudding, wheat and low-calorie biscuits and host of other things to eat. The basic idea was to provide India food which tasted well and all these items were manufactured at their factory in Delhi. When asked what happened if person again gained weight, Ms Kaul said that he or she was guided in such a way to regulate lifestyle. Ms Kaul said people faced enormous stress and for this they had introduced a personal touch programme, which helped the person to relax. Model, actor and former national swimming champion Nafisa Ali had been helping in the programme of their clinic, Ms Kaul said. High blood pressure and
back pain were due to excess weight which must be checked
in time, she added. |
Perch,
Seonk lack civic amenities PERCH (KHARAR), May 3 — Residents of Perch, Seonk, Jayanti Devi and other villages lack various civic amenities for the past several years despite complaints to the authorities. Population of more than 8,000 in three villages, get water supply from the tubewell at Perch village. According to Mr Daljit Singh, a local resident, water pressure is low for the past few days. "Even on earlier occasions, the area had got water problems due to non- functioning of tubewells," he said. Some months ago, one of the tubewell developed fault and did not function for more than four months. Condition of rural water supply system became worst during summers when electricity cuts were imposed, he said. There were no wells or handpumps in the village and villagers had to carry water from far off places. Residents complained that unannounced power cuts also affected their life. They further said that the area witnessed low electricity voltage in summers. The Sarpanch of Perch village, Mr Bhag Singh, said, a complaint in this regard had already been given to the officials concerned. Mr Bhag Singh said the officials, during a visit, said a transformer of enhanced capacity was needed. Another problem highlighted by residents of the villages was of non-availability of telephone connection. Even the gram panchayats were not equipped with the facility. Mr Partap Singh, a resident of Seonk village, said that a recent forest fire, caused panic as message could not be sent to the authorities due to lack of the facility. The nearest spot to make a call from is about 4 km from here. Roads in these villages are also in a poor condition. Mr Bhag Singh said that the roads were not repaired for the past seven years. Villagers also
complained of poor bus service in the area. At present
the only bus on this route number 70 of the CTU runs five
times a day. Mr Balak Ram, Sarpanch of Jayanti Devi
village, alleged that the bus often missed the route. He
demanded that the buses, which halted at nearby Khudda
Lahora village, should be diverted towards the area. |
City
authors find space in library CHANDIGARH, May 3 — A new reference section of Central State Library, Sector 17, which includes books written on Chandigarh and by the authors of Chandigarh and some rare books, was inaugurated today by Mr D. S. Mangat, DPI, Colleges and Schools. A booklet titled 'Khalsa Melody' that has 11 poems in English celebrating the Khalsa, written by Mr S. P. Garg, a retired Headmaster from Panchkula, was also released by Mr Mangat. Book lovers would be interested in some rare books in this section, along with the 'Open Hand' magazines taken out annually by the administration and a whole lot of books on Chandigarh trees and architecture. Since the rack of 'English Section' has only one shelf worth of books, the rack is filled with Punjabi books by Chandigarh authors. The section, according to the library authorities, would take a week's time to make duplicate cards for these reference books. The section includes an 1889 publication of 'Diwan-e-Ghalib', an original collection of ghazals of Ghalib, 'Heer-Ranjha' in manuscript form by Asa Singh and Warris Shah's 'Heer' dating back to 1920. Mrs K. C. Ramola, State Librarian, Central State Library, told the press said that she would approach book sellers in the city to contact her regarding more books on Chandigarh and by the people of Chandigarh. The section of Punjabi books includes titles by Santokh Singh Dheer, Sahib Singh 'Arshi' and Rajinder Rosy. Hindi titles include books penned by Kumar Vikal, Indu Bali, R. D. Sharma Taseer and Sudha Jain. The few titles in English include books on agriculture and trees by Dr S. S. Randhawa, fiction by Maj-Gen Himmat Singh Gill, and books by the former Editor of The Tribune, Mr Prem Bhatia. There are almost 500 books in this reference section. This reference section has been separated from the main reference section of the library. The library will not open its main reference section to school students this summer. This is to prevent the misuse of reference books like expensive encyclopaedia, pages of which are found torn and missing especially during summer vacation when school children are given projects like 'Find and Paste Original Photographs' as holiday homework". Meanwhile, the library which had started showing course films to children from 1994, plans to discontinue the practice. The almost 550 video films for students of Classes VI to XI, cover subjects like mathematics, science, English, environment and nutrition and hobby subjects like pottery and flower making as also cartoon films. Since no one is interested in watching these films, the library is planning to lend them to government schools. These films, which were generally screened in the summer holidays experienced a dearth of young viewers because of pending homework and uninterested parents. The library, meanwhile,
lent some books to certain government schools on World
Book Day, last month. "We went to government schools
of Palsora, Dhanas and Badheri with books and magazines,
because instead of inviting those children who already
have the facility of library in their schools, we thought
of taking the library to their schools to celebrate this
day", said Mrs Ramola. |
Exhibition
on solar energy devices CHANDIGARH, May 3 — A home lighting system, comprising an emergency light and a table fan run on solar energy and capable of providing energy to a bulb and fan for over five hours if charged for the entire day with solar energy, was the main attraction at the International Sun Day, celebrated by the Energy Research Centre, Panjab University, here today. The subsidised cost of the system is about Rs 3000. Besides the system, on display at the exhibition were solar energy devices like solar dryers to soak out water from vegetables, solar water heater systems and domestic and community solar cookers.The highlight of the exhibition was a disc-shaped concentrating solar cooker lined with aluminium and capable of raising the temperature up to 250°C. This cooker enables the user to fry, bake and cook dishes requiring high temperatures. This is an improvement on the box-shaped cooker. A radio with a battery to trap solar energy rolled out song after song for the nearly 200 persons who visited the exhibition. The Honorary Director of the centre, Prof S.K. Sharma, had open house discussions with the visitors and emphasised that conventional energy sources like oil, gas and coal were depleting at a fast rate and would last for another 25, 40 and 150 years, respectively. It was high time that a switch-over to an alternative source of energy was made. Deliberating on the techno-commercial feasibility of the solar devices, Prof Sharma said 2000 Kwhs of electricity could be saved per day by installing the solar heater of 100 litres, while Mr S.S. Bedi, Director, Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, elaborated on financial incentives provided by the ministry and highlighted that India had attained first position in the world for selling the maximum number of solar cookers and water heating systems. It is placed third in the world for producing 32 mw power by photovoltaic route. Various devices on display can be bought from the Science and Technology Department of the city, the Haryana Renewal Energy Development Agency, Sector 26, and the Punjab Energy Development Agency, Sector 17. The Energy Research Centre happens to be the regional test centre also. Meanwhile,Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 33-D, and the Children Alliance for Protection of the Environment (CAPE) also celebrated World Sun Day. According to a press note here, over 300 children carrying placards, banners and led by Principal, Mr Karan Singh, marched through the streets of Sector 33 to spread the message of “go solar save fuel”. Later, at a seminar Prof DR Sharma of the Department of Sanskrit of Panjab University demonstrated the practice of “surya namaskar”. He urged the people to shun religious taboos and go solar to save fuel. Dr KK Garg, Joint Director, Ministry of Environment and Forests, said India, which was geographically located near the tropics, was blessed with solar energy equivalent to 5,000 trillion kilo watt hours per annum. Mr Karan Singh said over
200 plants of 15 species would be planted to create
school forest. |
School
curtails timings PANCHKULA, May 3 — The current unprecedented heat wave prevailing in the region has forced a premier educational institution in the satellite town, Hansraj Public School, to curtail its timings. The Principal of the school, Dr Rajani Thareja, told TNS here today that the school decided to curtail its timings with a view to balance the need to protect children from heat conditions with the academic schedule of the school. She said it was her concern that the academic schedule should not suffer but at the same time the students should reach home before the intense heat caught up with them. Dr Thareja said the school had decided to shorten the recess from 30 minutes to 10 minutes. Similarly, periods too will be of 30-minute duration instead of 40 minutes. Extra-curricular activities would also be suspended till the school closed for the summer vacation starting from May 15. As per the new schedule, nursery and K.G. classes will start at 8.30 a.m. and will be over at 10.30 a.m. Classes I and II will start at 8.15 a.m. and call it a day at 10.30 a.m. But Classes III to X will be held between 8.15 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. The new timings of the school will come into force from May 6. Meanwhile, Hansraj Public School has decided to organise a series of summer workshops during the vacations. The two-week summer programme for children in the age group of four to 15 years will start from May 24. Dr Thareja said there would be three theatre workshops for the children in the age group of four to 10 years. Adapted and improvised stories from mythology would be play-acted using mime, masks and other accessories made by children themselves. The Winning Edge will be a personality development programme for girls in the 12-15 age bracket. The participants will be imparted training in etiquettes, social skills, fitness, communication and public speaking through personality interaction, field trips, practical demonstration and lively chat sessions. The Adventure Experience will be a summer camp for children of the 7-15 age group. Informal treks and expeditions will be backed by sessions covering related areas on planning, crisis management, safety, social skills and time management. Most of the outdoor sessions, Dr Thareja said, would be held outside Chandigarh in cooler climes. The workshops would be open to children from all schools. Dr Thareja said the idea behind holding the workshops was not just to keep hyper-active children out of their parents’ way but to create a fun-filled atmosphere, conducive to the process of learning and creative growth. She said the entire
approach would be interactive, ensuring that each child,
the chirpy extrovert or the intense shy introvert, got an
equal opportunity to share, learn and have fun. Ms Taru
Bahl would be the coordinator of the workshops. |
‘No
negligence by hospital’ CHANDIGARH, May 3 — While dismissing a complaint against the General Hospital regarding negligence during delivery, the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has observed that doctors on duty should be more cautious in handling serious cases. The respondents, namely, Director, General Hospital, Sector 16, and Secretary, Health Services, have also been directed to procure the latest equipment for the benefit of patients. The complainant, Mrs Kiranjeet had, in her complaint contended that she was admitted to the hospital on February 13, 1995, for the delivery of her second child. The child was delivered on February 17, 1995, but immediately died in the hospital. She then filed a complaint, claiming Rs 10 lakhs, alleging deficiency on the part of the hospital during delivery. The hospital, in its reply, stated that there was no delay or negligence on the part of the doctors attending to the complainant. The commission bench, comprising its President, Mr J.B. Garg, and members Col P. K. Vasudeva and Mrs Devinder Jit Dhatt, held that trial of labour was justified as Caesarean delivery was more risky to the mother and the child than normal delivery. The doctors took the calculated risk of inducing labour with Oxytocin gel/ Pitocin in low doses under observation. But since there had been no satisfactory progress of labour for 18 to 20 hours, Pitocin was rightly stopped. While the patient was being prepared for Caesarean, the uterus ruptured. It was further found that none of the patients offered blood, which was the immediate requirement. However, the doctor on duty arranged blood from the PGI. The commission also
observed that since the uterus of the patient was
repaired and not removed, she was never told that she
could not bear children. While the case was pending, the
patient delivered a male child on September 8, 1998, at
the PGI. Hence, she was not rendered incapable of
conceiving a child. Since there was no deficiency, the
complaint was dismissed. |
DSSIA
decries state of roads DERA BASSI, May 3 — Due to the poor condition of various link roads in Dera Bassi subdivision, small-scale industrialists here have been facing a number of problems. In a press note, Mr H.S. Kohali, General Secretary of the Dera Bassi Small Scale Industrial Association (DSSIA), complained that the Dera Bassi-Barwala, Dera Bassi-Habitpur, Dera Bassi-Gulabgarh and Dera Bassi-Ramgarh roads were in a bad shape. He said due to deep potholes on these roads, transporters often denied to carry goods. He said a deputation of
the DSSIA had met Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister,
Punjab, thrice in this regard but nothing had been done
so far. |
Shamlat
land CHANDIGARH, May 3 — In connection with the story titled — “US company tries to buy shamlat land” — published in these columns on April 2, the Executive Vice-President of CdCore Inc, USA, Mr Jagbir Singh Dhillon, has claimed that the land was in the legal possession of the rightful owners. “The only legal document which establishes the ownership of the land is the registered “jamanbandi” of the village, which is updated every four years. The 1992 “jamanbandi” of the land in question clearly shows in the ownership column “shamlat deh, hasab rasad zar khewat,” he claimed. Claiming that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued a stay order in favour of the landowners of Mullanpur Garibdass village and against the gram panchayat, Mr Dhillon, who was in the USA at the time of filing of the story, said no aggressive marketing was done for the project in the USA. No plot had been sold till now, he added. Mr Dhillon said the
negotiations for the purchase of land were held in open
public meetings over a period of six months. The promises
made to the landowners were not merely allurements but
the conditions which we unilaterally and willingly
imposed ourselves. Further, all these conditions are part
of our application to the state government. |
Voluntary
body to check crime PANCHKULA, May 3 — A voluntary social organisation has been founded here under the presidentship of Mr Ashutosh Rajan with the professed aim of uplifting weaker sections of society and to fight social evils like dowry system and corruption. In a statement issued here today, the President of the Haryana Youth Brahman Sabha, Mr Rajan, said members of the organisation would coordinate with the law and order machinery to help it in checking crime, particularly against women and children. The members would also enlighten the public about the social evils and their ill effects. The organisation would
propagate the teachings of our ancient rishis and gurus
to strengthen the moral fibre of society, he said. |
SNIPPETS Light shower in city CHANDIGARH, May 3 — Light rain at around 10 p.m. broke the long hot and dry spell in the city and its surrounding areas and brought down the temperature. Just before the rain, city residents experienced hot gusts of wind. Adventure sports fest from May 6 CHANDIGARH, May 3— The third Giani Zail Singh adventure sports festival will be held here from May 6 to 12. The festival is being held to commemorate the birth anniversary of Giani Zail Singh, former President of India. A cycle rally will be flagged off from Sukhna Lake on the opening day. A long-distance swimming race will be held at the lake the next day. On May 9, a Kalka-Kasauli trekking expedition will be flagged off from Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 18. A high-altitude trekking expedition will be organised at Manali in the last week of May. The Governor of Punjab, Lt-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), will be the chief guest at the prize distribution function to be held at the Skating Rink, Sector 10, on May 12. Entries for the festival close with Mr P.S. Brar, Organising Secretary and lecturer in physical education,Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, on May 4. Pillay retires CHANDIGARH, May 3 — Mr K.M.S. Pillay, Controller , Printing and Stationery Department, Chandigarh, was given a farewell by his colleagues today following his superannuation. He put in around 20 years of service in Chandigarh after his transfer here from the Government of India in 1979. Farooqui joins as SSP CHANDIGARH, May 3 — Mr Asad Farooqui, a 1979 batch UT cadre officer of the Indian Police Service (IPS), today joined the Chandigarh police as SSP, Anti-Terrorist Cell, a newly created unit. Mr N.S. Randhawa has been relieved of his charge. Mr Farooqui was heading
the Narcotics and Crime Prevention Wing in Delhi before
his posting to Chandigarh. He has also worked as DCP, New
Delhi Division, and DCP, South West Division in Delhi. |
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