Sunday, November 29, 1998
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P U N J A B | |
Sunday, November 29, 1998 |
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Pro-militant
bodies favour 'people's panel'
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 Call to boycott preacher AMRITSAR, Nov 28 — Sikh clergy, headed by Jathedar of Akal Takht Bhai Ranjit Singh in a "hukamnama" today excommunicated from Sikh Panth, preacher Mohinder Singh for making "wrong" preaching in foreign countries. |
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Murder case
against 2 cops
Proclaimed
offender Thande arrested Khalsa
march from Dec 4 'Counter
commercialism' in journalism 5
students hurt in group clash Rs
250 crore for road repair No
DAP shortage in Punjab Punjab
to be under lok adalat system by Jan-end Discipline
is 'key factor in work' Stocks
worth 20 crore lying with millers |
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Pro-militant
bodies favour 'people's panel' AMRITSAR, Nov 28 — Certain pro-militant organisations held a convention here today in favour of the 'People's Commission' headed by former Supreme Court Judge, Mr Kuldip Singh formed to collect reports of police excesses during militancy and collect data of missing persons. The Commission was to begin its proceedings here today but were stayed by the Supreme Court. Called a "Convention for Justice" it justified the formation of the 'People's Commission' and said that it would continue to work and called upon the people for cooperation to it. The convention which was presided over by former Punjab High Court Judge, Mr Ajit Singh Bains, criticised the Akali Government in Punjab and promised to cooperate with it if it was prepared to help the victims of police excesses and awarded punishment to guilty persons. The speakers criticised the BJP MLA Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla and certain Congress leaders for staging protest in Amritsar yesterday against the 'People's Commission' and said that such persons were endangering peace in Punjab and threatening unity and integrity of the country. The convention condemned the cases registered against the human rights activist Mr Jaspal Singh Dhillon and demanded withdrawal of these false cases. The Chairman of the subcommittee formed to find out facts about the missing persons, Mr Ram Narain Kumar, spelling out the aim of the commission said that the Commission was to get justice for persons who had been done injustice and to punish the guilty persons responsible for crimes like killing innocent persons in the past 15 years. He said the Commission would compel the government to give justice to the people. He said that the Commission could be disbanded if the Government promised to get each case probed. The Commission members would cooperate with the Government in this job. He said that the Government would have to probe all the cases of missing persons for which the Supreme Court had directed the district authorities. He said Government was not sincere about suggestions for amending the Government commission to probe police excesses. Justice Ajit Singh Bains observed that persons who had been opposing the People's Commission were responsible for bringing militancy in Punjab and wanted to break the country. These persons had not only opposed Punjabi but also not accepted its culture. The People's Commission is formed since there is no other way to get justice for the people. He said people were giving
cooperation to the People's Commission. The report of the
Commission would be submitted to the Government and it
would be compelled to implement it. The Convention
adopted resolutions in favour of the working of the
Commission. |
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Call
to boycott Sikh preacher AMRITSAR, Nov 28 — Sikh clergy, headed by Jathedar of Akal Takht Bhai Ranjit Singh in a "Hukamnama" today excommunicated from Sikh Panth, preacher Mohinder Singh for making "wrong" preaching in foreign countries. Mohinder Singh, who is a former Punjab S.D.O. has been touring certain foreign countries at present. He was summoned to appear at Akal Takht for an explanation for distorting "Gurbani" and giving different definitions of Sikh symbols but he ignored the summons. He was excommunicated and the Sikh clergy gave a call to Sikhs for his social boycott. In another Hukamnama a Sikh Sant Sewa Singh of Pehowa in Haryana was declared "tankhaiya" (guilty of religious misconduct) and asked him to appear at Akal Takht within one month. The charges against him were for his indulging in "anti" Sikh acts like black magic. Meanwhile Sikh clergy has directed Bhai Chatter Singh of Mai Sewan Bazar in Amritsar, to appear at Akal Takht on December 18 to explain their conduct since they earlier were warned against publishing Guru Granth Sahib and other Sikh religious books and asked not to print such books. The Sikh clergy said that despite warning, reports had been received that the firm continued to publish such books including the Sikh scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib. The Jathedars of Anandpur
Sahib, Prof Manjit Singh and Damdama Sahib, Giani Kewal
Singh were not present. Their places were filled with
"granthis" of Golden Temple. |
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Murder
case against 2 cops MANSA, Nov 28 — The sadar police station of this district has registered a case of murder against police inspectors Gurjit Singh and Chuhar Singh allegedly for killing Gurmail Singh of Akkawali village. Policer sources said the case was registered against these two police officials on November 7, 1998, on the direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Gurjit Singh was working as station house officer (SHO), police station, Sardulgarh, while Chuhar Singh was on leave, police sources added. The Punjab and Haryana High Court gave this direction after hearing the writ petition of Mr Bachhan Singh, father of deceased Gurmail Singh. In his writ petition, Mr Bachhan Singh alleged that his son was killed by the police in a fake encounter and that he had sought a proper action against the guilty police officials, the police sources said. Official sources said that Justice R.L. Anand of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after receiving an inquiry report conducted in this matter by the District and Sessions Judge, Bathinda ordered the registration of the case against these police officials for subjecting Gurmail Singh to an encounter on January 29, 1993, after kidnapping him. An FIR in this regard was registered then in Budhlada police station under Sections 307, IPC, 25 of the Arms Act and 3/4 TADA. Though the murder case had been registered against these two officials, no arrest had been made so far by the police. Gurjit Singh, one of the accused, was also given additional charge of police station, Jhaunir for few days after the registration of a criminal case on November 7, police sources said. This is the second case of its nature in this district in the recent past. Earlier Inspector Budh Singh was arrested by the police when a criminal case was registered against him on the direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court allegedly for keeping army jawans in illegal custody. The SSP when contacted on phone told TNS that Mr Varinder Singh, DSP, Budhlada, was investigating the matter and further action would be taken after the report was submitted by the DSP. Police sources said that the police had applied for a copy of the inquiry report of the District and Sessions Judge in this case in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The high court had also directed the police to investigate the matter within stipulated period. BATHINDA: The Talwandi Sabo police of this district has arrested Balwant Singh who was involved in the selling of illegal fire arms in the region. In a press note issued here on Saturday Mr Harnek Singh Sran, SSP, said Balwant Singh, who was arrested on November 25 near Talwandi Sabo had sold one pistol to Jagar Singh with some cartridges. He said that Jagar Singh who was arrested on November 21 told the police that he had bought the pistol and cartridges from Balwant Singh. Mr Sran said a
country-made pistol and five cartridges had also been
recovered from Balwant Singh. A case had been registered
in this regard, he added. |
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Founder
V-C's death anniversary observed CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — The first death anniversary of the founder Vice- Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Prof Bishan Singh Samundari was observed at the farmhouse of his family at Lohgarh village,near Chandigarh, today. A large number of leaders, including the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and the Union Minister of State for Industry, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, besides leading educationists attended the ceremony. Among those who were present were Dean, Academic Affairs, GND varsity, Dr Satinder Singh, former Vice-Chancellors of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, Dr Amarjit Singh Khaira and Dr Sukhdev Singh. An announcement was made on behalf of the GND varsity that a book on Samundari was under publication. Politicians who were present included Speakers of the Punjab and Haryana assemblies, respectively, Mr AS Atwal and Mr Chattar Singh, Rajya Sabha member from Haryana, Mr Lachhman Singh, a sitting MLA from Punjab, Mr Harminder S. Jassi and former Punjab minister Pratap Singh Bajwa. PATIALA: Warm tributes were paid to the founder Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University and noted scholar Bishan Singh Samundri on his first barsi at Lohgarh village, 50 km from here. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, Union Minister of State for Industries Sukhbir Singh Badal, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Prof Chhattar Singh, Prof Manjit Singh Jathedar of Takht Keshgarh Sahib and leaders of different political parties and educationists attended the function and lauded the services of Mr Samundri. Paying tributes to Mr
Samundri, the Chief Minister said the former
Vice-Chancellor had done yeoman service to society in
different capacities as an educationist, social reformer
and a true Sikh. He said Mr Samundri was not only a great
human being but an institution. He recalled the role of
Mr Samundri in nourishing Guru Nanak Dev University with
devotion and dedication. His life would continue to be a
torchlight for the youth of the nation for times to come,
Mr Badal added. |
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Proclaimed
offender Thande arrested AMRITSAR, Nov 28 — The Majitha police claimed to have arrested proclaimed offender, Balwinder Singh Thande, who had escaped from a jail in Rajasthan recently, alongwith Karnail Singh Kalia, in a special drive against anti-social elements and absconders, the SSP Majitha police district, Mr H.S. Sidhu stated at in a press note today. Balwinder Singh Thande is the brother of hardcore militant the BTKF, Karaj Singh Thande, who had committed suicide on being caught during Operation Black Thunder in Golden Temple Complex in 1988. The police chief said that Balwinder Singh was responsible for a murder in Rajasthan and was in jail. He was declared proclaimed offender in another case of murder in the Jandiala area of Majitha district in 1990. A case was also registered against him for the theft of 95 gas cylinders from a gas agency at Verka. He said that the police
raided a village in Lopoke border area on Wednesday last
on information that group of persons were planning to
commit some heinous crime in the Lopoke area. This raid
resulted in the apprehension of Thande and Kalia whereas
Bashir Masih, Palla and two unknown persons managed to
escape. One 30 bore pistol along with five live
cartridges, one knife and 40 stolen gas cylinders were
recovered from the possession of arrested persons. Raids
are being conducted for the persons who escaped arrest,
he added. |
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Khalsa
march from Dec 4 AMRITSAR, Nov 28 — The SGPC in collaboration with the Sant Samaj has decided to organise a ‘Khalsa March’ from Anandpur Sahib to Fatehgarh Sahib from December 4 to 6. The march will be organised under the patronage of Akal Takht. The march will commence from Quila Anandgarh on the night of December 4 and 5 and would reach Chamkaur Sahib on December 5 evening via Parivar Vichhora Gurudwara and Bhatha Sahib Gurdwara in Ropar. The march will resume its journey on December 6 terminating at Jyoti Sawroop Gurdwara at Fatehgarh Sahib after visiting Machhiwara and Ranwan. The decision to take out
this march came in following the resolve of the Jathedar
of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh to have own programme on
the occasion of tercentenary celebrations of the birth of
Khalsa in April next year. |
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'Counter
commercialism' in journalism PHAGWARA, Nov 28 — A new concept of welfare media and parallel social press was mooted at a seminar on press at Dhahan Kaleran last night with view to countering commercialism and sensationalism afflicting journalism. Reading out a paper on the role of journalism in Sarbat Da Bhala (universal well-being) at Guru Nanak mission hospital Dhahan Kaleran Ms Bhupinder Kaur president Indian Women Photo Journalists Federation mooted the concept stressing that "kalyankari patarkarita" (welfare journalism) should now be top on our agenda to combat corporate sector market-oriented journalism. In his presidential address Gurbachan Singh Bhullar, Editor, Punjabi Tribune stressed the urgency of starting feature and new services in Punjabi. He regretted total absence of lekh sewa and samachar sewa in Punjabi press which had to depend for these services on English. Even Hindi press had these facilities he said. However, the positive and profitable point of Punjabi journalism was that it was co-product of Punjabi literature claimed Bhullar. Manavhitashi parampara (people friendly tradition) of Punjabi leterature had naturally passed on to Punjabi journalism which was committed to ‘janhit’ and ‘sarbat da bhala’ continued synthesis of realism and idealism Bhullar asserted. Newspapers could not be run without vanaj (commerce) and maintained that past, present and future of Punjabi journalism was pregnant with hopes. Noted columnist Prof Piara Singh Bhogal traced the genesis of Punjabi patarkari to non-conformism. Dr Mahep Singh Hindi and Punjabi writer stressed the need of perception and commitment. Mr Satnam Singh Manak
Associate Editor, Ajit and Baba Gurbax Singh Banoana a
semi journalist claimed like Amartya Sen’s welfare
economics there had also existed welfare journalism. Dr
Daljit Singh Assistant Station Director, Jalandhar
Doordarshan regretted that journalism had not fully
measured up to the creed of sarbat da bhala which meant
universal equilibrium of all species. Prof Kamlesh
Duggal, a teacher of journalism claimed that first Indian
newspaper, on January 29, 1780 and The Tribune which came
up on February 2, 1881 had hit the stalls as
people’s voices. Joginder Sandhu from Jagbani, Mr
Budh Singh Dhahan, chairman, Dhahan Kaleran Trust Gurmit
Palahi Secretary of the seminar also spoke. Seminar was
held on the occasion of 16th Sikh educational conference.
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5
students hurt in group clash MALERKOTLA, Nov 28 — Five students – Kulwinder Singh, Ranjit Singh, Jasbir Singh, Balwant Singh and Kulwinder Singh of the local government college were injured seriously in a clash between two groups of students today. The cause of the clash was
not known. According to the police sharp-edged weapons
were used by both groups. All injured students have been
admitted in the local civil hospital. According to
doctors Kulwinder Singh who received head injuries, has
been referred to Ludhiana. The police has registered a
case but no arrest have been made so far. |
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Rs
250 crore for road repair SANGRUR, Nov 28 — Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, Punjab, presiding over a state-level function of the Small Savings Department in connection with the draw of the 12th Lucky coupon scheme here yesterday announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for medical aid to the injured in the rail accident near Khanna. He said the amount would be placed at the disposal of the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana. Lauding the role of small savings in the development of the state, he announced that Rs 250 crore would be spent out of small saving funds through the PWD for the repair of roads in the state. The minister announced that another Rs 70 crore would be spent for the repair of link roads. The repair work of the state and link roads would be completed by June, 1999. Capt Kanwaljit Singh also
announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for the development of
the district and Rs 5 lakh for the expansion and
renovation of the district Bachat Bhavan. |
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No
DAP shortage in Punjab MALERKOTLA, Nov 28 — Mr Gobind Singh Kanjhla, Minister of State for Youth Services and Social Welfare, Punjab, has said there is no shortage of DAP and other fertilisers in the state. Mr Kanjhla was addressing a large gathering at Sandhour village, about 15 km from here, yesterday. He also instructed the Civil and Police authorities of Malerkotla to ensure proper supply of fertilisers to the farmers and take strict action against the black-marketeers. Mr Kanjhla also
inaugurated a gas agency in the village. |
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Computer
institute in rural area KOT ISE KHAN (Ferozepore): The District Red Cross Society with assistance of a Chandigarh-based computer institute has opened Red Cross Computer Centre at the BDPO complex here on a trial basis. According to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu, who heads the Red Cross unit, the purpose of opening such centre is to provide computer training to youth, especially girls, of this block at a cheaper rate. The centre, which started functioning from September 7, has 52 girls on its rolls. The first batch is being imparted both practical and theoretical four-months training in computer applications. The trainees, a majority of whom belong to SCs or BCs, have been divided into four groups. Every group is given two hours training — one each for theory and practicals — once a day. This is a backward town of Zira Sub-division. Previously, there was no computer facility and youth had to go as far as Moga, Ferozepore and Ludhiana and pay high fees for training. Zira's Sub-divisional Magistrate, Mr Bakhtawar Singh, told this reporter that the admission for this training centre was free and the monthly fee — Rs 500 and Rs 300 were charged for those belonging to general category and SCs and BCs respectively — was reasonable. Two instructors are there to impart training, provided at three rooms of the BDPO office here. Eight computers, furniture and instructors have been arranged by the computer institute. This computer centre will
ultimately prove to be a boon for career of youth of this
backward area. Such centres can be opened in other
backward areas of the district. But, this depends upon
success of the ongoing centre, says Mr Sidhu. |
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Punjab
to be under lok adalat system by Jan-end FARIDKOT, Nov 28 — Mr Justice H.S. Brar, Judge, of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and Executive Chairman of the Punjab Legal Services Authority has emphasised the mobilisation of concept of Lok Adalat at grassroots level in the State. He said it would prove not only to decide hundreds thousands of cases of different nature in the Judicial Courts amicably, but also strengthen the democratic set up. Inaugurating the eighth permanent Lok Adalat here today, Mr Justice Brar called upon all senior Executive Officers including the police to participate in motivating the people to make them aware about the gains of the four-tier Lok Adalat system. Highlighting the achievements of the Lok Adalats, Mr Justice R.L. Anand, who presided over the funciton, revealed that more than 65000 cases against the total receipt of 87115 had been settled and an amount of Rs 68 crore had been disbursed as compensation to the affected people by organising 598 Lok Adalats at different places after the implemention of the system in the state. He added entire state will be brought under the Lok Adalat system permanently in the next two months. However, Mr Justice Anand,
appealed the people to get rid of the curse of litigation
in the interest of the society. Among others who
addressed the function included Mr S.S. Arora, member
Secretary, Punjab Legal Services Authority, Mr H.P.
Handa, district and Sessions Judge and Mr Gurinder Singh
Grewal, Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot. Nearly 50
different cases were settled on this occasion. |
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Discipline
is 'key factor in work' SAS NAGAR, Nov 28 — Conviction and will-power are the necessary tools of management. What is important in work is time management, discipline and honesty of purpose. Stating this today at the inauguration of Gian Jyoti Institute of Management and Technology here, Mr Ashok Khanna, Vice-President of the Punjab, Haryana and Delhi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, laid emphasis on what one grasped in education rather than giving importance to the certificate which one used only once at the time of the job interview. The institute is affiliated to Punjab Technical University Jalandhar, and approved by the AICTE for conducting the MBA programme. A short cultural show was
put up by students. |
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Stocks
worth 20 crore lying with millers KHARAR, Nov 28 — Rice worth about Rs 20 crore has accumulated with various rice millers in Ropar district because of the failure of the Union Government to announce new specifications for rice. Some rice millers of Kharar said here yesterday that the rice millers had purchased most of paddy on their own. As the rice specifications have not been relaxed, the FCI was not accepting rice from them as a result which a huge quantity of rice had accumulated with them and they were facing a financial crisis. Even the farmers hadnot been paid for the paddy sold by them. The millers were not even in a position to meet their daily expenses. Due to the terrain of this district, small farmers grow the PR-103 variety of paddy which has up to 10 per cent damaged rice. They have urged the government to send a team to analyse the damage. In 1995, the yield of fine
variety was fixed at 66.5 per cent for Ropar and
Hoshiarpur districts. But for the past two years, the
yield was fixed at 67 per cent for the whole state. They
demanded that as both these districts fell in the kandi
area, the government should reconsider the yield
percentage. |
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