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| Saturday, April 1, 2000, Chandigarh, India   |
9
killed as Tata Sumo, truck collide Actress,
‘director’ dupe youths Criminalisation
in Punjab police Ministers
not to use luxury cars Dhindsa
misses plane to Anantnag
Badal
‘responsible’ for SGPC row |
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| BSP drive to enrol upper castes FEROZEPORE, March 31 — Stung by its humiliating defeat in Nawanshahr byelection, the Bahujan Samaj Party is trying to shed its image as a Dalit party and is seeking to extend its base in Punjab to upper castes.
Vidhan
Sabha to have portraits of martyrs Sirhindi
Gate gets back its glory Order
on petrol outlet at village upheld Trees
causing breach in canal Sikh
Core Group suggestions Sant
Namdev jatha arrives at Amritsar Punjab
urged to promote tourism Women’s
team back from Pak BKU
stages rally IMA
mourns death of Dr Thapar CMC
plans modern trauma unit Police
GPF system computerised Computer
centre opens Traffic
suspended after derailment
Admn’s
nod mandatory for fetes Tourist
complex at Harike soon
Constable
held for carrying opium Couple
hurt in mishap
Mass
copying at Baba Bakala centre Old
Mahindrians hold Sham-e-Ghazal
No
ad-valorem duty on stocks with mills Chhabra
gets printers lifetime award
|
9 killed as Tata Sumo,
truck collide BARNALA, March 31 — Nine persons, five men and four women, were killed and four injured in a head-on collision between a Tata Sumo and a truck near Ghunas village, about 15 km from here on the Barnala-Bathinda road, this afternoon. Those killed in the mishap included Bhajan Singh (45), Gurcharan Singh (45), Bhupinder Singh (50), Ladhe Ram (55), Gurdev Singh (45), Balbir Kaur (50), Surjit Kaur (55), Charanjit Kaur (50) and Hardev Kaur (50). Out of the four injured, three sustained serious injuries. The seriously injured victims were shifted to DMC Hospital, Ludhiana, and the fourth one is admitted to the local Civil Hospital. According to reports received here, 13 persons hailing from Changan village in Ludhiana district were travelling in a Tata Sumo, which was coming from Bathinda side to wards Barnala. When the Tata Sumo
reached near Ghunas village while trying to overtake a
bus it collided head-on with a truck coming from the
opposite direction. |
Criminalisation in Punjab police CHANDIGARH, March 31 — Criminalisation and indiscipline in the ranks has become a headache for the police authorities concerned in Punjab. More than 400 policemen are under suspension for various reasons and over 1,000 are facing criminal charges. Criminal charges against policemen include murders, attempt to murders, violent assaults, rapes, wrongful confinement, kidnappings, thefts, dacoities, robberies and forgeries. However, Mr N.P.S. Aulakh, I.G. (Headquarter), says that the number of suspensions and criminal cases is not very high keeping in view the numerical strength of the police force, which is around 70,000. “Moreover it is clear from the cases registered against policemen and the number of suspensions that anyone involved in any sort of criminal activity or indiscipline is not spared in the police force. This also belies the general impression that policemen go scot free after committing offence”. Amritsar district leads as far as the number of the policemen involved in criminals cases is concerned. In this district as many as 92 policemen are facing criminal charges. Patiala district is second in the list. The number of policemen facing criminal charges in this district is 91. The third and fourth place go to Bathinda and Ferozepore where the number of such police personnel is 88 and 78, respectively. The minimum number of such cases is in Nawanshahr district. It is only two in this district while in Barnala police district only five such cases have been registered. The number of such policemen in Fatehgarh Sahib district is seven, in Jalandhar 65, Kapurthala 18, Batala 13 , Majitha 19, Moga 31, Hoshiarpur 54, Mansa 25, Faridkot 32, Tarn Taran 38, Ropar 48 , Jagraon 22, Sangrur 55 and Gurdaspur 16. Constable Amrik Singh, head constable Surinder Kumar, constable Shabir Mohd,constable Dalwinder Singh, constable Partama Singh, and constable Roop Singh are among those facing rape charges in separate cases. Among those facing murder charges include ADGP D.S.Bhullar, DSP Dilbagh Singh, Sub-Inspector Ram Lubhaya, Sub-Inspector Dharam Singh, Inspector Paramjit Singh, Inspector Sant Kumar, Sub-Inspector Gulzar Singh and many others, according to information made available by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Mr Badal, who has the Home Portfolio with him, had tabled a complete list of police personnel under suspension and facing criminal charges in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The names of police officers figuring in the list include DIG S.S.Saini, DIG S.K.Sharma, SP, Surinder Atwal, DSP Charan Singh, DSP Darshan Singh, DSP Harpal Singh, DSP Paramjit Singh, SP Kanwaljit Singh, DSP Mohinder Singh, DSP Balraj Gupta, DSP Puran Singh, SP Balkar Singh and a substantial number of Sub-Inspectors, assistant Sub-Inspectors and head constables. Certain criminal cases against police officers and the lower ranks appears to be related to the period of militancy in the state. Again Amritsar police district tops the list as far suspension of police personnel is concerned . The number of suspended police personnel in this district is 66 and is followed by Patiala, Tarn Taran and Jalandhar districts where the number is 53, 46 and 44 respectively. In Kapurthala the number of suspended policemen is only two. The number of such policemen in Jagraon district is also two as also in Kapurthala. In Ludhiana the number of such policemen is nine, in Ropar 16, Khanna 10, Sangrur 17, Barnala five, Mansa eight, Bathinda 19, Faridkot 10, Fatehgarh seven, Hoshiarpur 23, Gurdaspur 21, Mukatsar 10, Majitha 24 and Batala 20. Police authorities say
that no policeman found guilty following an inquiry or
otherwise can be directly removed from service . Police
rules are very elaborate in this connection. For instance
a suspended constable can file an appeal to the DIG, the
IG and then to other senior officers. He can even
approach the court. So before taking action all aspects
have to be examined. |
Ministers not to use luxury cars CHANDIGARH, March 31 — The Punjab Council of Ministers, at its meeting held here today, decided on the use of Ambassador cars by Ministers in place of luxurious Contessa cars. A press release, however, does not say what happens to the waiting fleet of Contessas. Giving details, it said that the Council was unanimous in curtailing non-Plan expenditure on all items following stringent economic measures to usher an era of austerity in the administration. The Council has granted approval to the proposal for the establishment of the Punjab Social Security Fund for timely and regular payment of pensions to senior citizens and other forms of financial assistance to widows, destitute women, disabled persons etc. The Social Security Fund shall be created by the levy of a cess at the rate of 10 per cent of the rate of sales/purchase tax applicable under the Punjab General Sales Tax Act, 1948. The Council has approved a draft resolution for consideration of the state legislature in the current Punjab Vidhan Sabha Session relating to the repeal of the Public Debt Act, 1944 and its replacement by a new Act, namely, the Government Securities Act. This draft resolution had been forwarded by the Government of India to State Governments for consent. The Council has extended the deemed assessment scheme up to June 30, 2000. The cases pertaining to the years 1995-96 and 1996-97, have been brought under the am bit of this scheme. Extension of this scheme would save the traders from undue harassment. The government will also get due amount of revenue. The Council of Ministers decided on the release of Rs 1 crore for “kar seva” of the Durgiana Temple in Amritsar. The Council also
released Rs 10 lakh for development of village Saidpur,
tehsil Hastinapur in district Meerut, the birth place of
Bhai Dharam Singh, one of the five panj pyaras of Guru
Gobind Singh. |
Dhindsa misses plane to Anantnag SAHNEWAL (Ludhiana), March 31 — The Union Minister for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, today missed the plane to Chatti Singhpora village in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, allegedly because the plane carrying the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, a few Cabinet ministers and other eminent personalities took off about 15 minutes before the scheduled time. It is reliably learnt that Mr Dhindsa was supposed to go to Chatti Singhpora along with Mr Badal from here and was also given 12 noon as the departure time from Ludhiana aerodrome. The state aircraft from Jammu and Kashmir had specially been sent here to take the Punjab Chief Minister to Chatti Singhpora to attend their bhog ceremony. Mr Badal, who was where this morning to attend the ‘shagun ceremony’ of a relative, was scheduled to fly around 12 noon, but the plane took off around 11.45 am. Mr Dhindsa arrived five minutes after the plane had taken off. Earlier, Mr Badal, while talking to mediapersons here, 10 km from Ludhiana, refused to comment on the ongoing Panthic crisis following the removal of Giani Puran Singh as Jathedar of Akal Takht. Talking about the
carnage of Sikhs in Chatti Singhpore, he said that it was
a deliberate attempt at “ethnic cleansing” and
meant to scare the one lakh Sikhs in the valley to
migrate from Jammu and Kashmir. |
Actress, ‘director’
dupe youths NAWANSHAHR March 31 — The desire among the Doaba youth to settle in foreign countries has been resulting in them falling an easy prey to swindlers, who dupe them in the guise of travel agents, film producers, actors and managers of cultural groups, not only cheating them of lakhs of rupees but also leaving them in the lurch to suffer in alien countries. Manjit Singh (26) and Charanjit Singh (20), residents of nearby villages of Shahabpur and Sloh, respectively, were allegedly duped by a Punjabi film actress, Inderdeep Kaur, alias Indu Mann, her uncle, Raghubir Singh, and a ‘film director’, Swami Kamal Baba, all residents of his district, in the name of sending them to Canada. Mr Manjit Singh said that he came into contact with Indu Mann and her uncle in July, 1998, through one Mr Parkash Ram of Bairsian village. They promised me to send him to Canada and a deal of Rs 7.75 lakh was struck. He said he paid Rs 1 lakh as advance to Indu Mann and Raghubir Singh. After that, he had to make several rounds of their residence and at film shooting sites for about a year and at last on July 24, 1999, Indu Mann took him and another youth, Charanjit Singh with her to Thailand, where her another accomplice Swami Kamal Baba, met them. Both Indu Mann and Swami Kamal Baba allegedly started demanding more money for sending the youths to Canada from Thailand. They harassed them and kept them without food many times. Manjit Singh arranged $ 6000 (about Rs 2,58,000 from his father residing in Dubai) and paid it to Indu Mann and Swami Kamal Baba. But after keeping the youths in Thailand for about one and-a-half months, they were taken to Cambodia, Singapore and Malaysia instead of Canada. Both had to live in a miserable condition in Malaysia for about five months. Manjit Singh alleged that once again Indu Mann started demanding more money to send him to Canada and he arranged $ 500 from his father and $ 1000 from his relative. Even then he was not sent to Canada. Finally Manjit Singh’s elder brother sent Rs 26000 to enable him to return home from Malaysia, he added. Both Manjit Singh and the father of Charanjit Singh, Balbir Singh have been contacting the accused along with their village panchayats, but in vain. On the basis of their
complaint, a case under Section 420/406/506 of the IPC
has been registered against the accused. The local police
has taken into custody two of the accused, Indu Mann and
Raghubir Singh. |
Badal ‘responsible’ for
SGPC row PATIALA, March 31 — Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, general secretary, Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, said today that Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, should own responsibility for the current Jathedar-SGPC row involving persons appointed by him. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Chandumajra said the state government had set a dangerous trend of allowing the shifting of jathedars of Akal Takht by mobilising support of the SGPC members. He said the intrigues of the SAD government in first removing Bhai Ranjit Singh and appointing Giani Puran Singh and then again removing him from the post of the Akal Takht Jathedar has lowered the image of the Sikhs and denigrated Akal Takht’s “maryada”. Mr Chandumajra said the state government was sleeping over the issue of including Udham Singh district in the proposed Uttaranchal state. He said the party had
decided to organise a huge rally-cum-conference as the
historical Gurdwara Nanak Matta in Uttar Pradesh on April
4. |
BSP drive to enrol upper
castes FEROZEPORE, March 31 — Stung by its humiliating defeat in Nawanshahr byelection, the Bahujan Samaj Party is trying to shed its image as a Dalit party and is seeking to extend its base in Punjab to upper castes. The state unit of the party has apparently learnt its lesson from its Uttar Pradesh experiment which paid dividends once the party gave adequate representation to the upper castes in the Hindi heartland. Punjab BSP convener and former MP, Mr Mohan Singh Phallianwala said Brahmins, Aroras, Mahajans and Jats were being enrolled as members in the new drive. Elaborating he said the maximum number of Jats had enrolled from Zira and Makhu, while Brahmins, Aroras and Mahajans were joining the party in the Fazilka and Abohar belt. “We are not opposed
to the Brahmins. It is the ‘Braminwaad’, we are
fighting against Brahmins, who are willing to challenge
this order are welcome to join us”, he said. |
Vidhan Sabha to have portraits of
martyrs CHANDIGARH, March 31 — Fiftytwo years after independence, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha has decided to put portraits of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, who made the supreme sacrifice for the freedom of the country, in the main lobby of the Vidhan Sabha. This was disclosed today by Mr Jatinder Singh Kariha, newly elected Akali MLA from Nawanshahr, who took the initiative for getting the portrait installed in the lobby. Mr Kariha told newsmen that he was called by the Business Advisory Committee of the House in this connection and the committee members told him that portrait of Bhagat Singh, who is known as a Shaheed-e-Ajam would be put up in the lobby. Besides the portraits of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, the portraits of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Master Tara Singh, Baba Ram Singh, who also played a very significant role in starting the movement for freedom and Lala Lajpat Rai would also be put up in the lobby. Mr Kariha, who hails
from Khatkar Kalan, the native place of Shaheed Bhagat
Singh, said that he had got the information that the
process for installing the portraits had already started
and the President of India was expected to be invited to
unveil the portraits. |
Sirhindi Gate gets back its glory PATIALA, March 31 — The Conservation Department in the city which is most of the time facing music for the crumbling monuments here has finally something to boast about. It has succeeded in protecting the dilapidated Sirhindi Gate, one of the nine gates constructed in the erstwhile princely state of Patiala in the early 19th century. After lying closed for more than two years, the gate was opened for public yesterday morning. All the cracks in the walls have been repaired and the roofs re-built. An efforts to restore its pristine glory has also been made by giving it a fresh coat of light pink colour. The gate is one of the four still visible in the city. Originally, the erstwhile rulers of Patiala state got constructed nine gates on nine entry points to the city. Apart form the majestic architecture, the gates were of immense historical and defence importance. The doorways to the city also give an indication on how the city developed and what were the major routes or which neighbouring states were more friendly. Today they give a unique character to the city’s landscaping. There used to be a giant wall around what is today known as Old Patiala. The gates were constructed on nine paths which lead to different cities. After the fall of princely states, and expansion of the city due to pressure of population, the gates were seen as obstructions to smooth traffic flow, especially of heavy vehicles. About two decades ago the government declared these gates as protected monuments to refrain the residents around them from demolishing them. However, little was done to actually protect them. Due to neglect, five of these passed into oblivion. The city residents are so used to the presence of the gates that even after their fall many roads and places are still known by their name. For example, one finds Sheranwala Gate, Lahori Gate and Nabha Gate addresses but the gates are nowhere. These gates had immense architectural splendour as well. With inscriptions and innovative designs, they were a delight to watch. But they were no soft targets. Built in Nanakshai bricks, the gates had huge iron material. They had pointed iron spears fixed on them so that even elephants could not force their entry in. On the roofs special holes were made to pour burning oil on the enemies. Though praises of the gates were specially mentioned in history and tourism books of the state, little was done to actually protect them. With such dismal background the protection of the Sirhindi Gate assumes significance. Assistant Conservator
Balwant Singh said about Rs 70,000 was spent on the gate.
He said earthen colours and limestone were used to
maintain its old glory. It took two years for opening up
the gate because the residents around it were adamant on
demolishing it down as it obstructs their movement.
Initially, there were problems of funds but later the
government provided all the requisite amount. |
Order on petrol outlet at
village upheld CHANDIGARH, March 31 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken exception to the “tendency among businessmen and traders to establish a monopoly in their respective areas of operation.” Upholding the decision of Commissioner, Jalandhar Division, allowing the request of Mrs Jagdish Kaur, a widow, to set up a petrol station at Arjanwal village, near Adampur, instead of setting it up within the municipal limits of Adampur, Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Iqbal Singh, observed: “In the recent few years, competition among them has greatly increased and for furthering their interests and also for preventing the entry of new entrepreneurs, they frequently seek intervention of courts and other judicial and quasi-judicial forms. This type of litigation consumes a substantial time of the courts and at times the interim orders passed by the court cause immense injury not only to the individuals but also to the public interest”. The decision of the Commissioner was questioned by Mr Manjit Singh, who was operating a retail outlet of petroleum products on state highway No 23 in Punjab, on the ground that Mrs Jagdish Kaur was selected for setting up the petrol pump at Adampur. He stated that the authorities did not have the power to accept the request made by Mrs Jagdish Kaur to permit her to set up the petrol outlet at Arjanwal village which fell outside the municipal limits, of Adampur town. He explained that the guidelines framed by the Union Government for setting up of retail outlets on national and state highways were mandatory in character and therefore she could not be allowed to set up the retail outlet in contravention of the advertisement issued by the oil company. Counsel for the respondents, on the other hand, pleaded that the petition deserved to be dismissed because the reasons recorded by the appellate authority (Commissioner) were germane to the issue of “NOC”. The location for setting up of the retail outlet at Adampur was decided keeping in view the volume and distance norms laid down by the Union Government. Therefore, the petitioner could not have any legitimate objection to the grant of NOC under the rules. He contended that in the absence of any specific stipulation in the government that retail outlet was to be set up within the municipal limits of Adampur, the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation had the discretion to accept the request to set up the outlet at Arjanwal village which fell within the revenue area of Adampur. Speaking for the Bench, Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi held that the establishment of the retail outlet at Arjanwal village did not contravene the volume or distance norms laid down by the Central Government or any provision of law, therefore, there was no valid ground to quash the impugned order. CBI asked to probe custodial death The High Court today asked the CBI to probe the death of Jassa Singh while in custody of the Narwana police. Mr Justice K.S. Kumaran in his 23-paged order further directed that the file of the FIR (No. 268) be handed over to the CBI. Jassa Singh is alleged to have been poisoned to death. The court said the investigations should be completed with three months. A petition in this connection was filed by Ms Rajwant Kaur (widow) of the deceased, for payment of Rs 10 lakh as compensation. The deceased was
allegedly administered poison while in the custody of the
Narwana police during the night of July 28-29, 1996. His
family was informed of the death after the post-mortem
examination. |
Trees causing breach in canal ABOHAR: Plantation on the banks of the brick-lined sub canals is considered responsible for breaches. The flooding of fields has damaged standing wheat crop in 60 to 70 acres of Kikkarkhera village in this sub-division. This is the third breach during past two years. This time the breach developed only a few feet away from last year’s breach. Officials of the Irrigation Department maintain that the Forest Department had turned down their plea to auction kikar and tahli trees on both sides of the canal and sub-canals. The forest officials had even threatened to book the employees of the Irrigation Department if they dared to cut any tree. The explanation that the roots of some old trees had damaged the brick-lined base as well as side walls of the sub-canal and water courses was not considered by the Forest Department. Farmers said irrigation officials had compromised with quality while brick lining the canals and sub-canals. The State government had provided more than Rs 3 crore for this project. In order to stop seepage of water in the area the project to brick-line canals, sub canals and water courses was floated by Mr Bal Ram Jakhar, the then Punjab’s Deputy Minister for Irrigation and Cooperation. The project was funded by the World Bank. The lining of canals and sub canals was executed through the Irrigation Department. The task of lining water courses was assigned to the Punjab State Tubewell Corporation. Later the Irrigation Department developed separate lining division. Huge funds for strengthening the banks of the canals and sub-canals are earmarked every year in the annual budget of the Irrigation Department. There have been many complaints regarding misuse of funds in the project by municipal bodies, irrigation department and Public Works Department, but no official has so far been brought to book. Utilisation of funds under the earth work head at the fag end of each financial year is a wellknown practise. The officials getting benefit out of this had learnt much to remove audit objections. Even they know how to influence officials of the Vigilance Department, well informed sources said. In some cases the Deputy Commissioners had opted to get the earth filling work done by village panchayats. The recent breach near
Kikkarkhera village has not only caused heavy loss to the
farmers around the sub-canal, but the spill over of water
on the road has become an impediment of vehicles. It took
three days to plug the breach after suspending supply of
water which also affected irrigation to many fields.
Roots of trees can be seen gutting out of the side canal
walls. Substandard material used in the lining work can
also be seen. Farmers say instead of blaming them the
Irrigation Department should step up vigilance and nab
politically-influential farmers who indulge in theft of
canal water. |
Sikh Core Group suggestions CHANDIGARH, March 31 — A member of the local Sikh Core Group, Brig Gurdip Singh Grewal (retd), in a statement today said the group was of the view that the exercise to review the role and functions of Akal Takht should involve the proposed committee of scholars (yet to be named) besides the SGPC and other key Sikh organisations which normally take decisions on behalf of the “Panth”. The committee suggested by the head priests must include scholars and men of credentials well-versed in Gurbani, Sikh tradition and history. The core group members
who met today were Dr Kharak Singh, Dr Gurmit Singh,
Principal Gurbax Singh Shergill, Dr M.S. Rahi, Mr Gurdev
Singh and Col Parminder Singh Randhawa (retd). |
Sant Namdev jatha arrives at
Amritsar AMRITSAR, March 31 — The concluding functions of the tercentenary of the Birth of Khalsa Panth began on an enthusiastic note with the arrival of a jatha of 5000 followers of Sant Namdev Ji in this holy city. This is the biggest ever jatha from outside state. The jatha was received By Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Revenue Minister and followers of Sant Namdev. The jatha will remain in Punjab till the concluding functions of the tercentenary, April 13. Sant Namdev, though he was born in Maharashtra, travelled throughout north India 700 years ago. While in north India, he stayed at Ghuman (dist Gurdaspur) for 20 years. His 61 hymns have been included in the Guru Granth Sahib. The jatha, will take out a nagar kirtan tomorrow at 9.00 a.m. from Darbar Sahib, to Durgiana Mandir. Later, the entire sangat
will start for Ghuman in buses. |
Punjab urged to promote tourism LUDHIANA, March 31 — Mr N.S. Nanda, who has been re-elected president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Punjab today, accused the state government of doing precious little to promote tourism in the state. Mr Nanda said Punjab with its rich cultural and historical heritage, had great potential for tourism. But it was regrettable that the government was doing nothing to promote it. As a matter of fact, the government seemed to be doing everything possible to discourage the tourism industry, he added. Mr Nanda complained that although the draft tourism policy was framed two years ago, it was yet to be formally approved and implemented by the state government. Tourism had been granted the status of an industry, but there had been no follow-up action, he said. Mr Nanda further said
the hotel and restaurants had been burdened with multiple
taxes. He warned that if no remedial measures were taken,
the tourism industry which has already in the doldrums
would sink deeper into crisis. |
Women’s team back from Pak WAGAH, March 31 (UNI) — Pakistan’s chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, has told an Indian women’s peace delegation, which had visited Islamabad, that he wants peace between the two neighbours. The peace delegation returned home today after a week’s stay in Pakistan. Speaking to newsmen at this joint check post (JCP), some of the members of the delegation who returned by the Lahore-New Delhi bus, said Gen Musharraf, besides conveying his good wishes to the people of India, expressed his desire to meet Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. ‘‘In his message to Mr Vajpayee, the chief executive of Pakistan said that he was willing to hold negotiations with India for ending tension, at any place and any time’’, Mrs Nirmala Deshpande, a former MP and leader of the delegation said while referring to their meeting with Gen Musharraf in Islamabad. The all-woman team, which crossed over to Pakistan on Friday last, became the first Indian delegation to meet Gen Musharraf. Other prominent members of this delegation included former chairperson of National Commission of Women Mohini Giri, Nadira Babbar and Sayeeda Hamid, currently a member of the National Commission on Women. Besides Islamabad, the
delegation members also visited Lahore and the Sikh
shrines in Nankana Sahib, Panja Sahib and Dera Sahib. |
BKU stages rally RAMPURAPHUL, March 31 — Hundreds of activists of BKU (Ekta) today burnt ‘effigies’ of the Punjab govt and held a rally to protest against failure of the state to implement their demands relating to killing of two Dalit youths, allegedly in police firing on January 31. Mr Lachhman Singh
Sewawala, Member, Jethuke Goli Kand Virodhi Action
Committee, said that their main demands included
withdrawal of false criminal cases registered against BKU
(Ekta) leaders, registration of murder cases against
guilty police officials. |
IMA mourns death of Dr
Thapar CHANDIGARH, March 31 — The Indian Medical Association (Punjab unit) has mourned the death of Dr A.K. Thapar, a renowned physician who served as honorary physician to the Kapoor Charitable Hospital in Ludhiana for 30 years. In a condolence message
the President of the association, Dr Iqbal Singh Ahuja,
and the secretary, Dr Naresh Bassi, described the death
as a big loss to the medical community. The kirya for the
doctor will be held at Mahavir Bhavan on April 4. |
CMC plans modern trauma unit LUDHIANA, March 31 — Christian Medical College and Hospital will set up a state-of-the-art emergency and trauma unit at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore in collaboration with doctors from Louisianna State University of the USA. This information was given by Dr T.M. Jaison, Acting Director of the Hospital while addressing a press conference here yesterday. He said the unit would be set up as per the guidelines of the American College of Emergency Physicians by July this year and would be the first of its kind in India. Dr Anna Perry, Associate
Professor of Emergency Medicine from Louisianna State
University would be stationed at the hospital for one
year to run the unit. |
Police GPF system computerised PATIALA, March 31 — The police personnel in this district will no longer have to wait for months to know the details about their General Provident Fund account or to withdraw money from it. The district has become the first police district to have fully computerised district General Provident Fund system, which will put an end to all the earlier problems of missing entries and absence of yearly receipts. The new software also aims to minimise time spent on learning about one’s GPF account and withdrawing money from it. Mr Sanjiv Gupta, DIG Patiala Range, released the new software here today. In a press note, he said it had been noted during welfare meetings with police personnel that a large number of complaints pertained to the alleged irregular and delayed maintenance of records of the General Provident Fund, to which all police personnel were subscribers. The main complaints centred round the lack of proper entries in the respective GPF ledgers of individuals, calculation of interest, information about sums of loans taken, refunds due and lack of yearly receipts being despatched to police personnel in time. Mr H.S. Sidhu, SSP, said personnel could immediately access their accounts and know the status of their balance and loans. Data of all the years since subscription could be accessed in a matter of seconds, he claimed. He said receipt generation for the district, which earlier literally extended into months and sometimes years, had improved. Receipts for the entire district could be generated in 1 to 2 hours. All reports regarding GPF to be sent to headquarters could be generated within a short time, he added. Mr Sanjiv Gupta added
that the software was likely to revolutionise the
maintenance, transparency and supervision of police
personnel’s General Provident Fund. He stated that
this would be introduced in all other districts of the
Patiala Range and would be recommended for adoption by
other police units and districts. |
Computer centre opens PATIALA, March 31— The Rotary Club (Midtown) has established a computer centre at the Rotary Bhawan at Sewa Singh Thikriwala Nagar here, which will impart computer education at nominal cost. The Deputy Commissioner Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, inaugurated the centre yesterday evening. Speaking on the occasion, he said the administration would also provide money to the centre. The Rotary Club, Toronto, had donated Rs 1.8 lakh to the centre. Giving details of the
project, the Club Secretary, Mr O.P. Gupta, said computer
education would be provided initially to 18 girls. He
said the students were being charged Rs 150. Humber had
also cleared a project of Rs 4 lakh for the purchase of
hepatitis-B vaccine for 1,000 persons, he added. |
Traffic suspended after derailment PHAGWARA, March 31(UNI) — Both up and down line rail traffic remained suspended for about an hour on the Amritsar-Jalandhar rail section following derailment of an engine of a shunting train near Beas railway station last night. Railway sources said
here today that the Delhi-bound 2904 Dn Frontier Mail and
8102 Dn Amritsar-Moorie Express trains were detained at
Butari railway station, while the Amritsar-bound 2925 Up
Deluxe Express was detained at Dhilwan station and 333 Up
Ambala-Amritsar train was detained at Kartarpur railway
station due to derailment. |
Admn’s nod mandatory for
fetes PATIALA, March 31 — Organisation of fetes, entertainment shows, and fun games will now depend on the permission of the District Magistrate here. Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, District Magistrate, yesterday issued orders, making his permission necessary for organisation of such programmes for the entertainment of the public. In a release to the press, he said the organisers would have to take no-objection certificates from the police, excise officials and Subdivisional Magistrates of the area. No objection certificates from Public Works Department, PSEB and fire brigade was also necessary, the Magistrate said. He also issued orders to
the organisers that facilities of potable water, hygienic
surroundings and toilets would also have to be made. He
banned gambling at such events. He also directed the
organisers that they would be held responsible for any
accidents in their programmes. |
Tourist complex at Harike soon FEROZEPORE, March 31 — About two acres of land has been selected for the setting up of a Rs 50-lakh tourist complex near the Harike wetland in Zira subdivision of the district. Giving this information today, the Zira Subdivisional Magistrate, Mr Bakhtawar Singh, said the site was selected on Wednesday by a team comprising Mr Nirajan Singh and Mr Inderjit Singh, Secretary and Director, respectively, of the State Tourism Department, and the local Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu. He added that the Centre
would bear entire expenditure on the project. |
Constable held for carrying opium AMRITSAR, March 31 — A police constable was arrested with 3kg of opium, according to a delayed report. Kuldeep Singh, a constable with the Punjab Police, was arrested by a police party during a nakabandi in Marimegha area, Ajnala district. Three kg of opium hidden in polythene sheets in a scooter was recovered. A case was registered under the NDPS Act. The accused has been remanded in police custody for four days. During the interrogation the accused stated that his brother Subegh Singh, who is also a constable with the Punjab Police, used to smuggle opium. He named Mukhtiar Singh of Ghanpur Kaley as his other accomplice, who presently lodged in a jail. Kuldeep stated that he had got the contraband from Gopal Bhaiya of Kotibundi (Rajasthan). The police has recovered
9 kg of opium from different smugglers in Tarn Taran area
during March with this seizure. |
Couple hurt in mishap AMRITSAR, March 31
— Mr Khushwant Mubarak Singh, Editor, Practical
Psychology and Art of Living, and his wife were injured
in an accident here today. |
Mass copying at Baba Bakala centre TARN TARAN, March 31 — Prof Surinder Singh Bamb, officer-in-charge of the school education flying squad to check copying in the 10+2 exams in Amritsar district said here today that he had detected a case of impersonation at the exam centre of Government Senior Secondary School, Bhakna on March 27 where one Harjit Kaur, a student of DAV College, Amritsar (B. Tech) was appearing instead of the daughter of the school principal Mr Jarnail Singh. He also received a large number of complaints about the exam centre of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, the Mall Road, Amritsar, saying the authorities had made special arrangements, for some special cases. In a raid yesterday he found a lady lecturer of chemistry supervising a chemistry exam. This a clear violation of board instructions. Cases of mass copying
were detected at Baba Bakala and Khilchian and he has
recommended cancellation of the paper of these exam
centres. |
Old Mahindrians hold
Sham-e-Ghazal PATIALA, March 31 — The Old Students Association of Government Mahindra College, here, organised a Sham-E-Ghazal programme past evening to mark the 125th Foundation Day of the college. Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, IAS and Deputy Commissioner of Patiala, inaugurated the programme by lighting the ceremonial lamp. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Bir lauded the role of poets in society. “Poets, with their gift of sensitivity and expression, pave the way for social harmony and human values”, he said. Padmaashri Dr Sardar Anjum, an eminent Urdu poet and an old student of the college, presided over the function. In his address, Dr Anjum mentioned the contribution of the teachers of the college in shaping-up the poet in him. “Husn ki mere mujh ko daad na do, janne kis kis ka main sanwara hoon”, he said. Dr Anjum was given a standing ovation by the audience. Others who recited their poems and were honoured with mementoes were Jigar Jalandhari, Shiromani Urdu Sahitkar of Punjab; Dr Manjit Tiwana, Sahitya Akademi Award winner; Dr Yogindra Bakshi, Mahesh Patialvi, Ved Parkash Gupta, Dr Tarlok Anand, Dr Nasher Naqvi, Prof Anup Virk, Prof S.C. Sharma, Dr Ravinder Ravi, Amritpal Singh Shaida, Dr Sarabjit Sandhawalia, Masroor Lakhnavi and Dr B.S. Pannu. Prof S.C. Sharma and Dr Naqvi anchored the programme. Earlier, Prof M.M. Singh, Principal of the college, welcomed Mr Bir, Dr Anjum and other guests. He highlighted the role of the association in the betterment of the college. Dr Joginder Singh,
President of the Association, proposed a vote of thanks.
Prof M.S. Salh, General Secretary of the association,
announced the forthcoming programmes, including the meet
of the millennium to be organised as part of the 125th
year celebrations of the college. |
No ad-valorem duty on stocks with
mills CHANDIGARH, March 31 — Stocks of finished goods lying with steel re-rolling mills and induction furnace units as on April 1 will be treated as excise duty paid and such stocks will not be required to pay further ad-valorem duty when moved from the mills on or after April 1. According to a Department of Revenue’s notification received by the Customs and Central Excise offices here today, mills which have discharged their duty liability for the period up to March 31under the compound levy scheme will have to maintain necessary records, showing that clearances made without payment of ad-valorem duty on stocks which were lying with them on the midnight on March 31. The Finance Minister, had in his budget speech announced that with effect from April 1, re-rolling mills and induction furnace units would be required to pay excise duty (CENVAT) on ad-volorem basis. The earlier scheme of levy of excise duty based on capacity of production stands discontinued from tomorrow, with the notifications issued in this regard in August, 1997, standing rescinded. It has also been decided that CENVAT credit will be allowed in such cases. Credit will be allowed only if the stock is supported by duty payment documents. The notification adds that mills and furnace units would not be eligible to take credit of the duty paid on capital goods received in the factories from August 1, 1997, to March 31, 2000. Further, scrap and waste
lying with such mills and furnace units will be exempted
from excise duty while being cleared till April 30. The
Central excise notification issued on August 1, 1997, in
this regard has been extended till April 30. Only that
waste material and scrap is eligible for exemption which
is lying at the mills or units as on April 1, 2000. |
Chhabra gets printers lifetime
award LUDHIANA, March 31 — The Offset Printers Association has decided to honour Mr Viren Chhabra with the Lifetime Achievement Award this year. Born on December 1, 1927, Mr Chhabra is just like a printers’ ambassador to the world. He has highlighted the problems of Indian printers throughout the world through printers’ conferences meetings. He has devoted his life for the cause of the printing industry, as the founder editor of Printing Times. Mr Chhabra is Chairman of the International Relation Committee. He was also elected GATF fellow recently. He was Chairman of the World Print Congress and the South-Asia Print Congress. He is a member of the Intergraf International Steering Committee for WPC-7 to be held in Beijing in 2001. Mr Pranav Parikh, CMD,
Technova Imaging System Ltd, Mumbai, has been selected
for the Outstanding Achievement Award-1999. Mr Parikh is
the first Asian Regional Vice-President of GATF, USA.
Under his leadership Technova has won internationally
coveted GATF Intertech Award. Technova has a market share
exceeding 70 per cent in India as far as the offset
plates, graphic art chemistry, reprographic films etc are
concerned. He has brought fame to the Print Suppliers of
India by exporting its products in over 30 countries. He
has set up an “open university of change”
through which he hopes to help the industry to bridge the
technology gap. |
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