The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

CRIME

Four thefts reported

Chandigarh, January 12
Four cases of theft have been reported from across the city. One Satish Kumar reported that thieves struck at his SCO in Sector 8 and decamped with cash amounting to Rs 50,000 last night.

One Raj Kumar, a resident of Sector 15, reported that his Maruti Zen car (CH-01M-3195) was stolen from near Punjab National Bank, Sector 22, on January 11.

Birjesh Kumar of Bapu Dham Colony reported that his Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle (CH-04-5405) was stolen from near Sadar Bazaar, Sector 19, yesterday. Similarly, Arvind Kumar of Burail village lodged that his bike (CH-03X-5172) was stolen from near his residence on January 3.

The police have registered separate cases of theft.

Cheating case

A city-based businessman has alleged that he was duped by a Delhi-based company in a deal pertaining to the sale of a hotel.

Giving details, the police said Manohar Lal of Cable India Private Limited, Sector 7, complained that Ajay Gupta, director of M/s Harishchandra India Limited, New Delhi, and others committed a fraud by executing a forged sale deed of a hotel in Shimla. A case of cheating has been registered and the investigations are underway.

The police are yet to ascertain the amount he has been duped of.

Booked for trespassing

A retd Army officer has accused one of his neighbours of trespassing and creating nuisance on January 10.

The police sources said the retired officer, BS Randhawa, a resident of Sector 18, lodged a complaint that Gobind Singh, his neighbour, entered his house and took away his mobile phone. Randhawa alleged that Gobind also created nuisance and broke the glass of his car. The sources said the neighbours had an argument following which the matter got aggravated. A case of trespass and theft has been registered at Sector 19 police station. The accused is yet to be arrested. — TNS

Beaten by father-in-law, man ends life
Tribune News Service

Mohali, January 12
A 34-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by jumping into a canal after being beaten up by his father-in-law here today.

The victim, Darshan Singh, a resident of Rora village jumped into the SYL Canal, which passes near his village, this morning.

The police have booked the accused, Gurmukh Singh, a resident of Garaga village, in this connection.

According to the victim’s brother, Jasbir Singh, Darshan took the extreme step after being beaten with an iron rod by his father-in-law Gurmukh Singh.

“While beating, Gurmukh also abused him in front of several persons, following which Darshan went to the canal on his motorcycle and jumped into it,” said Jasbir.

The police said Darshan, an electrician, was married to Gurmukh’s daughter, Manpreet Kaur, about five years ago.

“The couple had a four-year-old daughter. Yesterday night, there was some dispute between Darshan and his wife, following which Manpreet called up her father,” said the police. Today, Gurmukh reached her daughter’s house at 7 am.

After conducting the postmortem, the police handed over the body to the kin in the evening. Gurmukh is at large after the incident.

4 booked for kidnapping teenage girl
Tribune News Service

Mohali, January 12
The local police have booked four Naya Gaon residents on the charge of kidnapping a 18-year-old girl, a resident of Janta Colony, Naya Gaon, here.

Atul Soni, SHO, Naya Gaon police station, said all the four accused - Amarpal, Desraj, Sandeep and Khan - were relatives and had kidnapped the victim on the pretext of solemnising her marriage. A complaint in this connection was lodged by the victim’s father, Meharbaan, who alleged that Amarpal along with his brother-in-law Desraj, brother Sandeep and cousin Khan, had kidnapped his daughter when she had gone to attend her vocational training class at Sector 11 on January 4.

"They allured my daughter," stated Meharbaan in his police complaint.

“We have registered a case under Sections 363, 366, 368 and 120B of the IPC,” said SHO Soni. No arrest has been made so far.

SPORTS

ground reality
Despite promises, children await space for recreation
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

The volleyball-cum-badminton court in Sector 35-A lies in neglect.

Chandigarh, January 12
Promises are meant to be broken, goes the oft-quoted adage. When it comes to the promise made by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation of providing adequate facilities for children to play in their neighbourhood, the adage seems apt.

In December 2011, the local civic body had promised to provide adequate playing area to children. The proposal was to build indoor stadiums with world-class sports facilities in each ward. It, in fact, was supported by both the ruling and opposition party councillors. Everything, however, remains only on paper. Instead, parks are being used for parking cars and whatever sports infrastructure was built cries for attention.

The absence of playgrounds has also led to conflicts between youngsters and the elderly. While the former claim the parks are meant to fulfil their recreational needs, the latter want these areas to be reserved for them for spending some peaceful time. In all these years, the local authorities have failed to find any solution.

The city has three types of open spaces. The first are the open spaces under the Municipal Corporation. Here the residents can socialise and organise cultural activities including minor functions. These parks, however, are not well maintained. While children use these open spaces for playing, residents park their vehicles here, that too despite these being fenced.

Neighbourhood parks, adjoining the corner houses, are the other type of open spaces. These parks are also under the civic body, but owing to the neglect, are usually maintained by the neighbouring residents. These areas are also fenced and are also encroached upon by the residents.

The third type is the green belt, which is well maintained across the City Beautiful. Around two such parks, in every sector, are maintained by the Municipal Corporation. These calm places are a refuge for the residents, who walk and spend time here. Children are not allowed to play here.

Open spaces put to other uses by residents

With most of the parks being converted to green belts, children are deprived of playing areas. The neighbourhood parks are also being used for gardening and parking vehicles. As children playing in these parks are considered a nuisance, these are mostly covered with lawns.

On finding children playing in these parks, there are instances of residents approaching the police. Parents are left with no option but to buy indoor games to entertain their children, especially during holidays.

The nuisance factor

Residents often complain of the use of abusive language by the youths playing in the parks. Recently, after a tiff, Sector 27 residents called the police control room to complain about the nuisance created by youngsters playing volleyball nearby. Many people maintain that they are fine with children playing in the open spaces, but when it comes to youngsters, they have reservations. Youngsters often indulge in scuffles on any minor provocation, they say. Such incidents have mostly been reported from Sectors 20, 21, 27, 38 and 38 (West).

Parks haven for boozers

The green belts in the city have become a haven for boozers in the late evening hours. In the absence of proper lighting and security, residents complain that youths enjoy their drinks and create a ruckus.

Present infrastructure cries for attention

The existing sports infrastructure is a shambles in the city. Take a look at the volleyball-cum-badminton court near the V-5 road in Sector 35-A and the situation becomes clear. The court is lying unused. A few years back, spending lakhs of rupees, the fenced court was built. At present, the fencing has broken and the area is serving street dogs and shelterless people in the area. Same is the case with the basketball courts built near the neighbourhood park in the same sector.

Tomorrow: review of mc pilot project

A review of the Municipal Corporation’s pilot project of opening the playground at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, at specific hours for children living in the neighbourhood.