4 held for eve-teasing
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 10 — The police has arrested four persons on the charges of eve-teasing from Sector 17. According to the police, the accused--Sanjeet Singh, Amit Singh, Sunil Kumar and Khushwinder Singh--were arrested. Khushwinder Singh later fled away, the police added. A case has been registered.

Eight arrested: The police has arrested eight persons--Kaka Singh, Gurnam Singh, Ranjit Singh, Arvind Singh, Chauhan, Dahesh, Sheela and Jarnail Singh--for apprehension of breach of peace.A case has been registered.

Thefts: Mr Om Parkash Banga, a resident of Sector 22, in a complaint to the police, has alleged that cash worth Rs 10,000, a gold ring, an ear ring, a silver "paijeb", a scooter (CH01-B-3720), a lady's wristwatch and keys of the lockers have been stolen from his house.

In another case of theft Mr Ram Sarup Sharma of Sector 20-B reported that a gold ring and cash worth Rs 13,000 has been stolen from his house

Cases have been registered in both the incidents.

Car stolen: Mr Sarban Singh, a resident of Sector 33, alleged that his car (CH01-L-5547) has been stolen from the Sector 18 market.The police registered a case.

Burn injuries: Gorkha, a resident of Hallo Majra village, sustained burn injuries when a kerosene oil lamp fell on him from the hands of Kaka, a resident of the same village.

According to the police, Kaka had gone to the roof of his house to rectify an electric fault when the lamp accidentally fell on Gorkha.

He has been admitted to Government Medical College and Hospital, (GMCH),Sector 32.

Two women hurt: Two unidentified women were hurt when the rickshaw they were travelling in was hit by a CTU bus--CH01-G-5499--near Sector 20 here tonight.

Both have been admitted to the GMCH, Sector 32.

PANCHKULA

Liquor seized: Satinder Singh, a resident of Balidasspur in Uttar Pradesh was arrested by the police while allegedly carrying 18 pouches of country made liquor in Pinjore.

Gambling: The Pinjore police has arrested Nem Singh, a resident of Chandimandir, for allegedly gambling at a public place at Surajpur, near here.

‘Mother backbone of family’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 10 — The NSS Department of Panjab University and Government Home Science College, Sector 10, organised “World Mother’s Day’’ at Labour Colony, Sector 25, here today.

A number of social workers, women’s organisations and community leaders, volunteers residing in hostels and college teachers participated in the celebration. Dr CL Narang, Programme Coordinator, NSS, said mother is the back-bone of the family and it is unfortunate that mothers are treated shabbily at health centres and hospitals due to lack of facilities in rural areas. He said it is not safe to rely on midwives and that mother care is essential for a healthy society.

The programme officer from the college, Dr Barinder, dismissed the notion that costly diets are healthy diets, while emphasising the need to propagate healthy food habits among rural women. Mrs Rashmi, also from the college, said mother was the first teacher of the child and the personality and habits of the mother are picked up by the child. She stressed that it is the duty of the government to provide them with the best education.

Invited: Dr VK Rattan, Reader, Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, has been invited to present his research paper at the Eighth “APCCHE” (Asian Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineers) Congress to be held in Seoul, Korea, from August 16 to 19.

Meeting: A group of teachers and students will gather and hold a public meeting at the Sector 14 market on the anniversary of the nuclear explosion at Pokhran on May 11, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

Condoled: Members of Panjab University faculty, non-teaching staff and students condoled the untimely demise of Dr SK Kawatra, a Reader in the Physics Department, who expired on May 8. In a condolence meeting held here on Monday, the gathering observed a two-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul.

Few turn up for mural show
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 10 — "It is quite surprising that in a modern planned city like Chandigarh there is hardly any work on murals going on", said painter-muralist Surendra Pal Joshi at Art Folio, Sector 9, today, while delivering an audio-visual lecture on the 'Art of Murals'.

Joshi, from Jaipur, has been holding his oil-on-canvas exhibition at Art Folio since the past one week.

The evening began with a 35-minute video presentation of a documentary on his murals, focussing on a 66 x 6 feet wooden mural, probably the largest such mural in India, at Indian Oil Bhawan, New Delhi. The video talked about the making of the composition, which is in wooden circles, triangles, rectangles and squares with original wood colours, including iron, brass, copper and aluminum.

This documentary was followed by a slide-show that showcased the many kinds of murals that Joshi has created over the years, including a wall mural and a floor mural. Though only a select audience was present today, with even the artist community of the city and students of art failing to show up, the slide show proved to be a highly interactive session with the artist-muralist.

The slide-show presented two of his wall murals done in glass tiles, on the walls of a church in Jaipur. One of these was a colourful representation of Leonardo da Vinci's famous 'Last Supper'. "I more or less stuck to the original Vinci style, since the Church did not want me to add a lot of masala to it. I only simplified the background of this painting", said Joshi on this six by 12.5 feet mural.

"Surprisingly, when we in India do such a lot of work while building our temples, I wonder why no contemporary art work is included in the same. Without too much abstraction, murals can be very interesting work in such places as well", he added.

Another of Joshi's highly engaging works was a floor mural that he did in a school in South of Wales, which included motifs and impressions that he gathered "while working with the local kids in a school project". He explained that floor murals used rough tiles to make walking easier on them and to make them last long.

"In India, I have yet to come across floor murals,though I am told that such work exists down South. I would be interested in creating some murals in swimming pools as well. The only problem where murals are concerned is the economics of the whole thing. Sponsorship by corporate houses is an essential thing, because there would be hardly any private places wanting you to put up murals in their houses, and sponsorship are not easy to come by" he said.

Joshi has also created a mural with some local students, in a workshop conducted by him, which would be installed at the Art Folio tomorrow evening.

UTI told to compensate
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 10 — The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has awarded compensation of Rs 1000 to complainants against UTI for delaying the redemption proceeds of mastershares.

The complainants, Mr Avinash Mohananey and Mr Nand Gopal Sardana, held that they had 200 shares of UTI , which on maturity were tendered for payment on November 2, 1993. They had further averred that they had intimated the UTI office for remitting the said amount in their account with the State Bank of Patiala.

The redemption proceeds were not received for long despite repeated requests. It was after a delay of six months that the amounts stood credited to the account on June 25, 1994. Hence, the complainants sought relief with regard to interest for the delayed period of six months on the amount of Rs 9,940.

In its reply, the UTI had stated that the mistake occurred because inadvertently the amount was remitted to the Sector 22 branch of the State Bank of India instead of the State Bank of Patiala.

The forum bench comprising its President, Mr H.C Modi, and members, Dr R.K Behl and Ms Shashi Kanta, in its orders pronounced on April 22, 1999, held that UTI should have been vigilant while remitting the amount of the depositors to them at their correct addresses and also by sending the same in the account and branch intimated by them.

They observed that the complainant had been deprived of the use of their money in time. The forum awarded a sum of Rs 1000, including interest on the delayed payment at the rate of 12 per cent per annum.

Dealer fined

The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has directed Oriental Automobiles to refund Rs 2.74 lakh with interest and costs to a consumer for failure to deliver a Mahindra jeep. The amount had been deposited with the dealer for the purchase of the vehicle.

The court has directed the payment of interest at 14 per cent per annum with effect from the date of deposit as the dealer failed to deliver the jeep within the specified time. The court has also imposed costs of Rs 10,000.

Mr Sonam Chopell of Kinnaur had, in his complaint, stated that he had deposited an initial amount of Rs 78,000 on May 9, 1997, when he had booked a Mahindra jeep with Oriental Automobiles, Industrial Area, Chandigarh. Later, Rs 1,96,000 was also deposited, bringing the total sum to Rs 2.74 lakh. The complainant further alleged that despite the dealer's assurance that the jeep would be delivered within three weeks from the date of booking, the delivery had not yet been made.

The dealer, who appeared in the court, asked for dismissal of the complaint on the plea that he had sent letters to the complainant to take the vehicle. However, the dealer could not produce any document showing that he had offered the complainant the vehicle before filing of the complaint.

The forum bench, comprising its president, Mr H.C. Modi, and members, Mr R.K. Behl and Ms Shashi Kanta, observed that the amount kept lying with the dealer.

They further directed the dealer to compensate the consumer to the tune of Rs 10,000.

Indian stars to play at SAS Nagar
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 10—The members of the Indian team, currently in England preparing for the World Cup,will be seen in action at the PCA Stadium at SAS Nagar on June 26 in the Friendship Cup.

The India XI will take on the Sri Lanka XI in a day-night match in a benefit tie for former Punjab player and former national selector, M.P. Pandove, who is also Secretary of the Punjab Cricket Association. The Sri Lanka XI will consist of players who are representing their country in the World Cup.

All collections from the match will be donated by Mr Pandove to the Dhruv Pandove Trust, which runs a coaching scheme for young cricketers at Patiala.

According to Brig G.S. Sandhu, Chief Administrator of the PCA Stadium, the Indian team, even if it plays in the final of the World Cup, will arrive in Mumbai on June 23.After a day's rest, it will arrive in Chandigarh on June 25. The organisers of the mach are trying to keep an extra day on June 27 in case the match cannot be played on June 26 for some reason.

The Indians who have signed a contract to play here on June 26 include Mohammed Azharuddin, Sachin Tendulkar, Ajay Jadeja, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Saurav Ganguly, Robin Singh, Nayan Mongia, Ajit Agarkar, Javagal Srinath, Debashish Mohanty, Venkatesh Prasad and S. Ramesh.

The Sri Lankan cricketers who are committed to play in the match include Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Roshan Mahanama, Hashan Tillakeratne, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vass, Pramodaya Wickremasinghe, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanjeewa Ranatunga and Don Arunasiri.

In view of the heat wave conditions which prevail in this part of the region in late June, the match will commence at 4 pm. According to Brig Sandhu, the sale of tickets for the match will begin on May 15. The match will be telecast live on ESPN.

MCA to run nets

The Mohali Cricket Association, which is affiliated with the Punjab Cricket Association, will run regular nets at the PCA Stadium from May 16. Mr D.P. Reddy, President of the Mohali Cricket Association, will inaugurate the nets at 9 am.

According to a spokesman of the association, the coaches who will oversee the nets include Daljit Singh, Jasbir Singh, D.P. Azad and Sukhwinder Tinku. In order to make the nets affordable for all, the association will charge a nominal fee from the trainees.

Rai to head UTCA

Ms Vineeta Rai, Adviser to the Administrator, UT, has agreed to become President of the UT Cricket Association in place of Mr Jagdish Sagar, according to Mr S.S. Bawa, Secretary of the UT Cricket Association.

In its renewed efforts to seek direct affiliation with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the UT Cricket Association has decided to pursue the matter vigorously with the board. A special committee has been constituted to look into the ways and means to approach the board. Efforts are also on to pursue the BCCI to frame an agenda item regarding affiliation of Chandigarh in the next annual general meeting, scheduled to be held in September this year.

Meanwhile, the UT Cricket Association has added another activity to its calendar as St Kabir Trophy for under-14 boys will be held in the second fortnight of December, Mr Bawa added.

Coaching camps open
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, May 10—The annual summer coaching camps in 21 disciplines, organised by the Chandigarh Sports Department, began at various centres here today. These camps are both for regular and new trainees.

The camps are for boys and girls up to the senior secondary level. These are being held in the evening session. The sportspersons are being provided with free refreshment.

The disciplines are: athletics, basketball, badminton, boxing, cricket, football, gymnastics, hockey, handball, judo, kho-kho, kabaddi, lawn tennis, rowing, swimming, shooting, skating, table tennis, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling. Twenty trainees have been allowed in each discipline, except in athletics, which has 50 trainees.

Kho-Kho teams

The Chandigarh Kho-Kho Association has selected 18 players each in the boys and girls sections to represent the union territory in the National Kho-Kho Championship to be held at Aurangabad from May 26 to 30.

These players will attend a coaching camp from May 11 to 24 at the Sports Complex, Sector 42 ( boys) and the Coaching Centre, Sector 23 (girls).

Pulses raise housewives' pulse
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 10 — There is bad news for housewives. The prices of almost all commonly used pulses have witnessed a considerable hike in the local market during the past fortnight.

During a survey of the market today, it was found that on an average there was a hike of 10 per cent to 15 per cent in the prices of most pulses, thus disturbing the budget of housewives. The hike was attributed to the rise in demand of pulses, which was usual during summer months.

The highest jump in the price was recorded by 'roungi'. A kg of the commodity, priced at Rs 24 just 15 days back, was available today for Rs 32. Its wholesale price has increased from Rs 2000 per quintal to Rs 2800 per quintal.

Similarly, a kg of 'arhar' which was available for Rs 28 earlier, could be purchased today by shelling out Rs 32. The wholesale price of the commodity has jumped from Rs 2400 per quintal to Rs 2800 per quintal during this period.

In the case of 'mah sabat' the hike was not as much as in case of other pulses. A kg of 'mah sabat', priced at Rs 25, 15 days back, was available for Rs 28 today. As far as its wholesale price is concerned, it had gone up from Rs 2200 per quintal to Rs 2500 per quintal during this period. The price of 'mah dhuli' has increased from Rs 26 to Rs 28 a kg and the wholesale price of the same has gone up from Rs 2400 per quintal to Rs 2600 per quintal.

While the price of a kg of 'safed chana' has increased from Rs 28 to Rs 32 per kg, the price of same quantity of 'kala chana' remained stable at Rs 18 a kg and Rs 1550 in case of wholesale price of the commodity. There was no change in the retail and wholesale price of 'dal chana', which could be purchased for Rs 18 a kg and Rs 1550 a quintal, respectively.

The price of a kg of 'dal moong' has increased from Rs 30 to Rs 32, while the wholesale price of the commodity has gone up from Rs 2700 per quintal to Rs 2900 per quintal. If a kg of 'sabat moong' was available for Rs 27 about a fortnight ago, the same was priced in the market today for Rs 229. 'Rajmah' has also become costlier as its price has jumped from Rs 32 to Rs 36 a kg, during this period. The wholesale price of the commodity has increased from Rs 2900 to Rs 3300 per quintal.

While there was no change in the price of 'masri' as it was still available at the old price of Rs 24 per kg, the retail price of 'malka masar' has witnessed a slight hike as its price has increased from Rs 27 to Rs 28 a kg and in case of wholesale price it jumped from Rs 2500 to Rs 2600.

According to Mr Satpal Singla, a Sector 46 trader, the hike was owing to a big hike in consumption of pulses due to a rise in the prices of vegetables. Similarly, Mr Ram Karan Gupta, President of the Grain Market Karyana Association, described the hike as normal. " Actually, the demand of pulses rises manifold during summers, due to a rise in the prices of vegetables. It is a routine phenomenon during every summer and there was nothing unusual, particularly when the hike revolved around 10 per cent," he added.