29032024-CT-01.qxd 3/29/2024 12:37 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune MAN ARRESTED FOR ‘KILLING’ BROTHER OVER PROPERTY UP NATIVE ARRESTED FOR SNATCHING PHONE IN P’KULA COURT SENTENCES MAN TO 12 YEARS IN JAIL IN DRUGS CASE The suspect and his wife allegedly murdered his brother over property dispute at Bugga Kalan village. P2 Four boys had snatched a mobile phone from Chhote Lal of Sector 26 on the night of March 18. P2 Parampal was arrested with 83 injections of buprenorphine and 83 of pheniramine maleate in 2018. P2 » » CHANDIGARH 115 PANCHKULA 76 MOHALI 118 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF MAN HELD FOR THEFT AT SCHOOL Chandigarh: The UT police have arrested a man for allegedly stealing gold and silver items from a school. Suresh Kumari, who is an employee of the government school, Sector 37, had reported that she had kept her jewellery in the locker of an almirah of the school. Someone stole it on March 27. The police registered a case at the Sector 39 police station. During investigation, Pawan Kumar (44), a resident of Ram Darbar, was arrested. TNS IMMIGRATION AGENTS BOOKED Chandigarh: The police have registered cases against immigration consultants for duping people on the pretext of sending them abroad. Kulwant Singh, a resident of Patiala district, alleged that Kulvir Singh and others, who have their office in Sector 17, duped him of Rs 8.10 lakh on the pretext of sending him abroad. Another complaint was received from Radha Raman, a native of Uttar Pradesh, who alleged that Rinku, Govind, both Haryana residents, and Vikramjit, a resident of Hallo Majra, all from Royal Growing Services in Sector 40, cheated him and a few others of Rs 13 lakh on the pretext of sending them abroad. TNS WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH APNI MANDI: Sectors 24 and 46 MOHALI APNI MANDI: Kumbhara PANCHKULA APNI MANDI: Sector 20 Dept holds meeting on Excise Policy Chandigarh, March 28 Excise and Taxation Department today sensitised stakeholders to the implementation of the Excise Policy 2024-25 from April 1 in letter and in spirit during a meeting conducted under the chairmanship of Vinay Pratap Singh, Excise-Taxation Commissioner. Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar, Collector (Excise)-cum-Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner, was also present. The meeting was held regarding instructions for compliance of Excise Policy 2024-25 and enforcement of Election Commission of India’s (ECI’s) guidelines on the model code of conduct (MCC) by bottling plant licensees and wholesale licensees of liquor in the wake of the Lok Sabha elections. The stakeholders were given clear directions to adhere to the Excise Policy 2024-25, Excise Act 1914 and the rules framed thereunder and the election code guidelines issued by the ECI or face stringent action under the policy as well as penal action under the IPC in case of any violation. Emphasis was placed on curbing the menace of interstate smuggling. — TNS Civic body earmarks ~20L for dog bite compensation HC had directed there should be a minimum relief of ~ 10,000 per tooth mark RECENT STRAY DOG ATTACKS STRAY CANINE MENACE ■ A stray dog grabbed a lecturer’s calf and she was see his injured sister, was also bitten by a stray rescued from the jaws of the ferocious canine with much dog outside her house. effort by local residents in Sector 35-D in December. ■ At least six bite cases were reported in two ■ A day after, victim Indera’s brother, who came to residential lanes in that sector. Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 28 In a significant move, the city Municipal Corporation has kept aside Rs 20 lakh as compensation for the fiscal 202425 to dog bite victims in view of the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s directions that there should be a minimum financial assistance of Rs 10,000 per tooth mark. Acting on a batch of petitions pertaining to dog bite incidents, the court, in its November ruling, had also directed that for injuries where flesh is removed, the compensation will be, at least, Rs 20,000 per 0.2 cm wound. However, the victims will be able to get compensation once the UT Administration forms a requisite committee in this regard. The High Court had mandated the Governments of Punjab and Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh to set up committees headed by the Deputy Commissioners of the respective districts to determine such compensation. As per the ruling, the award has to be issued by the committees within four months after the filing of claims along with necessary documents. The civic body’s move assumes significance as the number of canine bite cases have doubled in City Beautiful. A total of 5,365 persons were bitten by canines in 2022, while the number jumped to a whopping 10,621 MAX 33°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 35.1°C | MIN 20.3°C SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:14 AM TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Man posing as RAW officer dupes P’kula resident of~58L Tribune News Service Panchkula, March 28 A Panchkula man has been duped of Rs 58 lakh by a Delhi resident impersonating as a RAW officer, the police said. A case of cheating, forgery and impersonation was registered against Ajay Kumar, a resident of Delhi’s Shalimar Bagh, at Sector 5 police station. Complainant Sanjeev Garg, a Sector 4 resident, who owns a petrol pump, said he has been contesting a court case pertaining to a land in the Punjab and Haryana High court since 2014. He said he had met Ajay, who had introduced himself as an IG rank officer in RAW, through an acquaintance in 2019. He said the man sought Rs 2 crore to get the court case decided in his favour. Victim offered settlement of court case in his favour He said in 2019, Ajay had come to his house and collected Rs 25 lakh in cash and four checks. Garg said: “The man assured me of a hearing in September 2019, and also sent a cause list of the court mentioning my case number to me. He collected another installment of Rs 15 lakh from me, but later kept delaying the matter on one pretext or the other.” He said Kumar even prepared two forged court orders and sent them to him to gain trust and collected more money from him. The complainant said after the court case was not heard despite repeated assurances, he realized that he had been duped. Garg said he had filed a complaint in the matter at Sector 10 police station in 2021, but the police failed to initiate action. Now, the police at Sector 5 have registered a case against Ajay under the IPC Section 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 120-B (party to a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable with death), 419 (cheating by personation), 467 (forgery of a valuable security), 468 (forgery intended to cheat), 471 (fraudulent use of a forged document or electronic record as genuine), 474 (possession of a forged document) and 506 (criminal intimidation). Sharjah flight set to resume on April 2 COMMITTEE YET TO BE FORMED CASES DOUBLE IN 2023 Victims will be able to get the compensation once the UT Administration forms a committee in this regard. The HC had mandated the governments of Punjab and Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh to set up committees headed by the DCs of the respective districts to determine compensation. The award has to be issued by the committees within four months after the filing of claims along with necessary documents. The civic body’s move assumes significance as the number of canine bite cases have doubled in City Beautiful. A total of 5,365 persons were bitten by canines in 2022. The number jumped to a whopping 10,621 in 2023 (till December 12). in 2023 (till December 12). Packs of stray dogs in streets, parks, markets and other public areas are often seen hounding people as well STERILISATION DRIVE OF LITTLE HELP Packs of stray dogs in streets, parks, markets and other public areas are often seen hounding people. While the corporation claims it has got more than 22,000 stray dogs sterilised through private agencies since 2015, local councillors as well as most residents feel the effect of the campaign is not felt on the ground. as vehicles. While the corporation claims it has got more than 22,000 stray dogs sterilised through private agencies since 2015 in an attempt to contain the dog population, local councillors as well as most residents feel the effect of the campaign is not felt on the ground. Bottling plant sealed in city Tribune News Service FILE AIR QUALITY INDEX GENERALLY CLOUDY SUNSET FRIDAY 6.39 PM » FRIDAY | 29 MARCH 2024 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Chandigarh, March 28 Deputy Commissioner-cumExcise and Taxation Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh today issued orders for cancellation of the licence of Zannat Breweries, a bottling plant, for violations under the Excise Act. Based on the information received from sources, an inspection was conducted at the bottling plant. In view of the discrepancies found during the inspection, a notice was issued to the licensee, he said. Upon hearing the licensee, an order for cancellation of the licence has been issued, he said, adding that the bottling plant has been sealed by the officials of the Excise Department. Mohali, March 28 Chandigarh-Sharjah flight is set to resume service at Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh, from April 2. The twice-aweek flight will operate on Tuesday and Thursday with the arrival time of 4:10 pm and departure at 6 pm. The summer schedule at the SBSI Airport remains in effect from March 31 to October 26, officials said. The Sharjah flight was discontinued from here on October 27 last year. The thrice-aweek flight, with 360 available seats (180+180), was much in demand with the people of this region. The officials said it was quite likely that the twice-a-week flight would be made thrice-a-week soon. However, there is no confirmation yet. The airport’s connectivity will now be restored to two international destinations, the other being Dubai. According to the summer schedule, Dharamsala and Jammu would have an enhanced connectivity from Chandigarh. Tribune News Service Ayushmann helps launch food Will complete legacy waste processing venture for LGBTQ+ community by May, Panchkula MC assures NGT Zirakpur, March 28 Actor Ayushmann Khurrana today inaugurated a food truck to be operated by the LGBTQ+ community. “This food truck is a kind of push to make them (LGBTQ+ community) self-reliant and financially independent so that they can find a place in the society,” he said in Zirakpur. “This food truck has been inaugurated for a very special reason to encourage and include the trans community in the society. It’s a small step, more people, opinion leaders like me who think about society and are sensitive towards it should come forward and help them,” he said. Tribune News Service The food truck being inaugurated by Ayushmann Khurrana. Khurrana said he wished to support the LGBTQ+ community in real life, too. “I wish Dhananjay Chauhan and members of the transgender community of Chandigarh good luck in their food venture! Onwards and upwards.” On June 6 last year, the actor had given financial assistance for launch of such trucks for the local trans community. — TNS Panchkula, March 28 Having completed bioremediation of initially identified legacy waste of Jhuriwala dumping ground, the Panchkula Municipal Corporation is aiming to complete remediation process at Jhuriwala and Sector 23 sites by May. The civic body had identified 90,837 MT of waste at Jhuriwala site and 304,645 MT at Sector 23 site. As per a progress report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the MC said it has been processing 2,100 MT A partially cleared dumping ground at Sector 23, Panchkula. legacy waste per day at Jhuriwala and 3,200 MT per day at Sector 23. It had assured the green watchdog to complete bio-remediation of waste at Jhuriwala by February 25 and Sector 23 by March 21. MC officials today said the MC has identified another 13,000 MT waste at the Jhuriwala site. “We had completed the bio-remediation of waste as per our previous estimates and a report was submitted to the NGT. But, we have identified another 13,000 MT waste at the site, and it will be processed by April,” said an official. SDO Manoj Ahlawat said the MC has processed over 2 lakh MT of legacy waste at the Sector 23 dumping ground. “We are carrying out the remaining work (processing of 1 lakh MC of waste). The work is expected to complete by May.” Audit finds financial mismanagement in Panchayat Bhawan operations Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 28 Audit Department has unearthed financial mismanagement in the operations of Panchayat Bhawan, now converted into UT Guest House2, located in Sector 18. Now, this facility is run by the Hospitality Department of the UT Administration. The audit report 2019-2022 has observed various discrepancies in the management of Panchayat Bhawan. One of the findings is the loss of revenue amounting to Rs 39 lakh due to the cancellation of the booking of hall number 502. The report observed that booking of the hall was cancelled and the advance payment of Rs 2.15 lakh deposited by the client was allowed to be adjusted against the booking of hall number 501. It was a major decision having an impact on the revenue of the Panchayat Bhawan Society to the tune of Rs 39 lakh, remarked the report. Further, it was observed that hall number 501 was leased out in favour of a client for three years from April 1, 2018, to March 3, 2021, with a minimal increase in the rent by Rs Now converted into UT Guest House-2, facility is run by Hospitality Department 500 per day, without following proper procedure as per rules. “Hence, increasing the rent without ratification from the Governing Body and with- c m y b out wide publicity/observance of Rules is irregular,” stated the report. The Hospitality Department allocated Rs 31 lakh and Rs 34.12 lakh on February 8, 2020, and April 30, 2020, respectively, to meet the liability towards salary of regular staff, wage of outsourced staff and payment of retirement benefits of employees, subject to the condition that 50% share of the society likely to earn be remitted to the Consolidated Fund of India. However, the detail of refund of 50 per cent government share during the period of audit not made available, stated the report. The report also sheds light on the mismanagement during the Covid-19 pandemic, where 32 double bedrooms and 100 dormitory beds were utilised for quarantine purposes from March 20, 2020, to November 17, 2020, incurring a loss of Rs 33.66 lakh. As per the letter dated May 1, 2020, Panchayat Bhawan will not levy any room tariff on who came for quarantine during Covid period up to May 13, 2020. Accordingly, Panchayat Bhawan did not charge any rent from the occupants. The report found that for 55 days, from March 20, 2020, to May 13, 2020, Panchayat Bhawan suffered a loss of Rs 33.66 lakh. The report has advised that matter regarding creating the Pachayat Bhawan as quarantine centre from March 20, 2020 to May 13, 2020, (without any charges), may be taken up with the authorities concerned and recover the amount at the earliest or the matter be brought to the notice of the General Body for appropriate order. RK Garg, who obtained the information through RTI, requested the UT Administration to conduct a thorough scrutiny of society’s accounts to safeguard revenue interests.