Assault case against two sweepers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — The police has registered a case against two leaders of the Sweepers Union for assaulting and inflicting knife injuries on Mr Karamvir Singh, a Sanitary Inspector.

The duo, Sham Lal and Ram Bir, were reportedly annoyed with Mr Karambir Singh as he did not mark a daily wage sweeper, Ram Nivas, present for five days since he was absent from duty.

A press note of the Sanitary Inspectors' Association alleged that the matter had been reported to the Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner and Medical Officer of Health of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh but no action had been taken against the two accused. The status of the city could not be maintained if discipline was not enforced and such incidents were not curbed with an iron hand, the press note added.

Meanwhile, the Sweepers Union said its leaders had been falsely implicated. The union, which held a dharna here today, threatened to launch an agitation if the cases were not withdrawn.

Harassed: A couple living in Sector 21 was harassed and threatened by occupants of a car in the same sector last night. According to the police, Ms Priya Yadav of house no. 1108, Sector 21-B, alleged in a complaint that she and her husband were harassed and threatened by occupants of a car (HR-51-B-3672) near house no. 1275 at about 1.30 am.

They were returning to their house after attending a function. She also alleged that their gold chain, gift pack and keys of the motorcycle were taken away by the occupants of the car, who were drunk. A case under Sections 341, 356, 379, 506 and 34 of the IPC has been registered and investigations are on.

Booked: The local police has booked Rohit Sondhi, a resident of Indore, for maltreating his wife Amita, a resident of Modern Housing Complex, Mani Majra.

In a complaint to the police, Mr Harmohan Chadha, Amita's father, alleged that his son-in-law and members of his family had been harassing her and were pressurising her to bring more dowry. A case has been registered and the Crime Against Women Cell of the police is investigating into the matter.

Suicide: A resident of Palsora Colony, Davinder Kumar, allegedly committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance in his home last night. He was reportedly disturbed over repayment of a loan he had taken from somebody. A case has been registered.

Liquor seized: The police has arrested Labh Singh of Maloya and Dharam Pal of Colony no. 4 for possessing 47 pouches of country wine and seven bottles of whisky, respectively. Two separate cases have been registered against them under the Excise Act.

PANCHKULA

Scooterist held: Suresh of Sanjay Colony was arrested and his scooter (CH-01-H-3565) impounded following a complaint of rash and negligent driving against him. Jagdeep of Sector 14 alleged that he and his mother, Prema Devi, were going towards their house when the scooterist hit him near Buddapur.

Jagdeep's mother was seriously injured in the accident. A case under Sections 279 and 337 of the IPC has been registered.

Hospitalised: Three cases of poisoning have been reported at General Hospital, Sector 6. Living in 'jhuggis' on a plot in Sector 9, Champat Singh (45), Vishna Devi (40) and Ram Shri (40) were offered 'laddoos' by a passerby last evening. They started feeling dizzy today afternoon and were brought to the hospital.

Exhibition of oil paintings
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — The Art Folio Gallery, Sector 9, today opened an exhibition of oil paintings by a local artist, Anju Pasricha. The city is now quite familiar with Pasricha’s works, but she does not make the desired impact with this exhibition of hers.

With about 22 works on display, all splashed with a riot of colours, though in pastel shades, Pasricha seems to be more comfortable with flowers and landscapes. Her figurines somehow fail to impress and appear to fall flat. However, four of her vertical paintings are very interestingly done and are in fact quite appealing.

Pasricha’s exhibition was inaugurated by Mr Prem Singh, Principal, College of Art, Sector 10, here this evening.

Meanwhile, the stained glass workshop, at the same premises, ended here today. The five-day workshop, was being conducted by a husband-wife duo from Delhi, J. Yeamanthgiri and Latha.

The workshop, which taught the students the tiffany method of stained glass, worked with eight students. According to this duo, both products of the College of Arts, Madras, this method involved intricate and skilled work, besides an artistic eye.

According to the organisers, since the workshop included expensive material, not many people attended the same.

HUDA told to allot plot
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Oct 14 — The District Consumer Redressal Forum has ordered the Haryana Urban Development Authority to give possession of an alternative plot where development work is complete in lieu of the plot allotted to Mrs Meena Bhatia, a resident of Sector 19, Chandigarh, at Panipat and pay Rs 500 towards the cost of proceedings.

In her complaint, Mrs Bhatia had alleged negligence and deficiency of service on the part of HUDA. She stated that she had applied for the allotment of a plot as per an advertisement given by HUDA and was allotted a plot at panipat.

Thereafter, the total payment of the plot was made but she was not given possession of the plot. Further, the plot in question was reported a disputed one, was lying unleveled with no road and had no sewerage facility. Under the circumstances, the complainant demanded that an alternative plot should be allotted to her in the vicinity.

However, it was found that the plot was not disputed. The plot had been allotted without adequate development in the area. Also, Mrs Bhatia visited the officer concerned to persuade him to develop the area so that she could start construction but to no avail.

The bench comprising Mr R.C. Taneja and Mr B.S. Badhran observed that HUDA had indulged in deficient services by not offering a plot complete with development works and that an alternative plot in the same sector and at the same price be allotted to the complainant.

Gourd up, brinjal stable
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — Prices of most vegetables have fluctuated in the local market in the past four days.

After a survey of various markets, it was found that after remaining low for a couple of days, the price of gourd had gone up from Rs 8 to Rs 10 a kg in retail and from Rs 30 to Rs 40 per 5 kg in the wholesale market. This is due to its lesser arrivals from Punjab and Haryana. Brinjal, however, has remained stable at Rs 10 a kg in retail and at Rs 40 per 5 kg in the wholesale market in this period.

There was no change in the price of cauliflower which was available at Rs 12 a kg. The price of cabbage has come down from Rs 12 to Rs 10 a kg in retail and from Rs 50 to Rs 40 a kg in the wholesale market. The price of cucumber has come down from Rs 14 to Rs 10 a kg in this period. Its wholesale price has decreased from Rs 55 to Rs 40 per 5 kg. The price of peas also dipped from Rs 48 to Rs 40 in retail and from Rs 200 to Rs 150 per 5 kg in the wholesale market. Green chilies were priced at Rs 30 a kg in retail and at Rs 130 per 5 kg in wholesale market.

Capsicum, too, was available at a lower price as compared to yesterday. If a kg of it was priced at Rs 40 two days back, it was available today at Rs 30 in retail and at Rs 130 per 5 kg in the wholesale market. There was however, no change in the price of 'tori'. A kg of it was priced at Rs 14 in retail and at Rs 55 per 5 kg in the wholesale market. Beans were also cheaper than yesterday today as instead of at Rs 18 a kg these could be purchased today at Rs 14 per kg. The vegetable was priced at Rs 55 per 5 kg in the wholesale market.

Potato has turned costlier in this period. A kg of the 'pahari' variety of it, priced at Rs 10 two days back, could be purchased today at Rs 14. Its wholesale price has increased from Rs 40 to Rs 55 per 5 kg due to a rise in consumption of the vegetable in 'navratras'.

There was no change in the prices of ginger, garlic and lemon as a kg of each of these could be had for Rs 40 in retail and for Rs 170 per 5 kg in the wholesale market.

Long journey for Haryana spiker
By Arvind Katyal

CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — Amir Singh Sahran, captain of the Indian senior volleyball team, who led India to a gold-medal victory in the just concluded SAF Games at Kathmandu in Nepal, was greeted by the SAI coach who trained him, Mohan Nargeta, and the Vice-President of the Volleyball Federation of India, Mr Vijay Pal Singh, an observer at these games, when he visited the city.

In an interview with this reporter, this six-feet-five-inch-tall gutsy Haryanavi lad recalled how he was made captain of the Indian team in the Senior Asian Volleyball Championship held at Teheran (Iran) in September for the first time. Later, he led India to the victory at SAF Games. In Kathmandu, India defeated Pakistan in the final, avenging the defeat in a pool match.

Mr Vijay Pal was all praise for this 23-year-old lanky spiker who always kept the spirits of the team high. When the team lost to Pakistan, 0-3 in one of the pool matches, it seemed India would never come back. Amir said besides the emotional boost, technical flaws were rectified which helped in revival of the team's spirits and brought the final victory.

Amir attributes his success to none other than his mentor and coach, Mohan Nargeta. Mohan had selected him under the Bhwani Hostel scheme eight years back. Son of a farmer and belonging to an ordinary family, Amir Singh hails from Farmana village of the meham tehsil in the Rohtak district. He was recommended by a doctor posted with the SAI hostel scheme. Mohan trained Amir in dedicated manner.

From a humble beginning at the Junior National Volleyball Championship, to the winning the North Zone Inter-varsity Volleyball Championship at Shimla in 1993 for MD University Rohtak, it has been a long journey for Amir.

He was picked by the VFI for the Indian junior team and later respresented India at the Fazr International Volleyball Tournament held at Iran. After this he participated in the Quaid-e-Azam International Volleyball Tournament at Qatar.

He won gold medals in the first and second Rashid Memorial International Volleyball Tournament held at Dubai in 1996 and 1997, respectively. He also helped the Indian team secure the fourth place in the Junior Asian Volleyball Championship held at Vietnam in 1996. He then helped the team win the second position at the Four-Nation Volleyball Champiosnhip held in 1997 at Doha.

Amir represented India in Asian Games at Bangkok in 1998 where his performance was applauded by the VFI, said Mr Vijay Pal. In the last Senior National Volleyball Championship at Chinsura in West Bengal, Amir helped Punjab to a gold-medal victory.

Amir said Indians lacked exposure for which the team should regularly play with other countries at home or abroad. Foreign coaches could also be invited to train Indian spikers. He has not been given any sponsorship or award by his parent state Haryana. However, he says volleyball is not on the agenda of people, so, it is being ignored.

His coach Mohan who is now posted at Shivalik Public School in Sector 41, said out of 12 players who represented India in the recent SAF Games, nine belonged to different schemes of the SAI in various states. These players are Joby Joseph, Rajesh, Tulsi Reddy, Tom Joseph, Harun Khan, Amizim, M. Nath and Manoj, besides Amir.

Amir says he normally undergoes three hours of rigorous training at grounds, along with weight training, with emphasis on knees. He said the knee and the arm injuries were common in the sport as more stress was laid on them.

Sports day at St John's
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — The annual sports day of the primary section of St John's High School, Sector 26, was held at the school premises with tiny tots fighting for top honours in various races and other events.

Nearly 750 boys from the KG to Class V took part in this one-day meet. Innovative inter-class relays, athletics events and colourful drills enthralled the audience.

A perfect synchronisation was displayed by these children. The event also included dumbbells performance by students of Class II and Yoga by students of Class III.

Results: 50 m — (KG-A) Ravpritpal Kohli 1, Deepankar 2, Parag Puri 3; KG-B — Pranil Gupta 1, Madhur Bain 2, Aseem Goel 3; KG-C; Viren Sibal 1, Akshay 2, Ishipreet Singh Anand 3; KG-D — Sumaer Sandhu 1, Shabaz Sandhu 2, Sahej 3.

KG-E — Nazir Mian 1, Arjun 2, Vikas Kumar 3; 50 m (I-A) — Siddharth Duggal 1, Prakash Punia 2, Devashish Aggar 3. I-B — Jashanpreet Narula 1, Pukhraj Jeji 2, Jagrit Pathania 3.

I-C — Gaurav Malhotra 1, Amit Singh 2, Sachin Arora 3. I-E — Narain 1, Sunil Kumar 2, Arokia Dass 3. 75 m (II-A) — Manav Preet Singh 1, Indervir Sandhu 2, utkarsh chanana 3; II-B — Devjoyot Samlok 1, Ankit 2, Vidhur 3; II-C — Vishal Suri 1, Divyanshu Chaudhary 2, Ankit Vij 3; II-D — Sukul Bansal 1, Parveen Ghuman 2, Ashish Kumar 3; II-E — Jaswinder Singh 1, Evic 2, Jatinder Kumar 3.

III-A — Vishal Jhatta 1, Akshay 2, Ayush Raj Soni 3; III-B — Mandeep Singh Gill 1, Rahul Balshi 2, Aditya Kumar 3; III-C — Jaskeerat Singh 1, Abhinav Katyal 2, Arjun Sood 3.

Relay 50 x 4 (Class II) — The team of Akshay Julka, Parveen Ghuman, Ashish Kumar and Sukul Bansal of Class II-D secured the first position, while team comprising Visahl, Ankit, P. Arora and Divyanshu Chaudhary of Class II-C got the second position.

Relay 50x 4 (Class III) — The team of Rajat, Aditya, Rahul and Mandeep Gill of Class III-B got the first position, while the team of Ayush Raj Soni, Dhruv, Amitabh and Vishal of Class III-A secured the second position.

Volleyball tourney inaugurated
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — The second CBSE Cluster XI Volleyball Tournament was inaugurated by Mr Yograj Sachdeva, Regional Officer of the CBSE, at PML SD Public School in Sector 32 here today. The meet will see participation of teams of Chandigarh and HP.

In the girls' section, PML SD Public School, Sector 32 entrerd the final and will take on IS Dev Samaj Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 21.

In the boys' section, New Public School, Sector 18, and SD Public School, Sector 32, sailed into the next round when they defeated 3 BRD Air Force School and Guru Harkrishan School, Chandigarh, in straight games.

Results: GA Vidyalya, Solan b AKSIPS-41, 25-6, 25-11; DAVSSS-8 b Manav Mangal School, Sector 21, 25-6, 25-2; SPS-41 b Shishu Niketan-22, 25-2, 25-3; LPS, Shimla got a walkover against GN Khalsa School; SPS-41 b GAV, Solan, 25-15, 25-12; PML SD Public School, Chandigarh, b NPS-18, 25-13, 25-12; NPS-18 b 3 BRD AF School, Chandigarh, 25-9, 25-12; PML SD School b GHKPS, Chandigarh, 25-9, 25-4.

Girls: MM-21 b NPS-18, 23-25, 25-17, 25-11; semi-final — IS Dev Samaj GGSS-21 b LPS, Shimla, 25-9, 25-15; PML SD Public School, Chandigarh, b MM-21, 25-0, 25-5.

Kho-kho trials: The kho-kho association will hold selection trials on October 16, 3 pm, at Sports Complex in Sector 42, according to Mr R. Sharan, Secretary of the association.

The UT team for the Senior National Kho-kho Championship to be held at Dhulia from November 13 to 17 will also be selected. The team for the North Zone Kho-kho meet at Bulandshehar (UP) from October 27 to 30 will also be chosen.

Basketball meet: New Public School, Sector 18, will meet Government Model High School, Sector 26, in the under-14 boys' section's final of the UT Inter-School Basketball Tournament being held at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41. In the under-17 section, GHS-26 will take on SPS-41 in the final.

In the semi-final of under-14 section, GMHS-26 defeated SPS-41, 37-35, and NPS-18 beat AKSIPS-41, 48-19. In the under-17 section, GHS-26 defeated DAVPS-8, 32-6, while SPS-41 beat DAVMS-15, 30-23. In the under-19 section, DAVSSS-8 beat GMSSS-19, 30-5.

In volleyball matches also played at same venue, in the under14 section, SPS-41 beat GHJS-7, 25-11, 25-8, and GMHS-26 defeated SNS-22, 25-8, 25-7. In the under-17 section, SPS-41 beat DAV-8, 25-13, 25-4, while GSS-27 beat GMSSS-19, 25-15, 25-15.

In the under-19 section, SPS-41 b SGGSSS-35, 25-9, 25-5 and DAVS-8 b SDPS-32, 25-16, 25-13.

Inter-school kho-kho: The UT Inter-School Kho-kho matches were played at SGGSSS-35. The following are the results: Under-14 — SGGSS-35 b GHS-29 by one inning and 15 points; GHS-32 b GHS-30 by one turn and eight points.

Under-17 — GHS-35-D b GMSSS-37-B by 13 points.

In kabaddi matches played at GHS-22-C, the results were as follows: Under-19 (final) — SGGSSS-35 b GMSSS-33, 43-10; third place — GSSS, Mani Majra.

Under-14 — GHS-40 b GHS, Kajehri, 11-4; GHS-28 b GHS-35, 49-13; GHS, Dadu Majra b GHS-25, 38-31; GHS-47 b GHS-32, 19-02. Under-17 — GHS-47 b GHS-11, 50-41; GHS-20 b GSSS, Mani Majra Town; GHS, Kajehri b GSSS-38 (W), 40-22; SGGSSS-35 b GHS-40.