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| Saturday, October 21, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Punjab to have biotechnology
park Distress
sale of paddy continues: Rajewal Crop on 20,000 acres hit by floods Farmers’ suicides increased after ’97 Punjab to amend PUDA Act Dangers of MNCs’ entry pointed
out |
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HC vacancies to be
filled by year-end Fake cosmetics seized, 2
held Nod to transfer of properties IGP acquits
commandos
Chautala victimising opponents:
Gujjar Mayor’s poll: BJP to
probe cross-voting
Khadi Board Director flouts HC
ruling? Probe into AIDS
death sparks row Commemorative parade
for slain cops Church council
to boycott Masih Jayanti Decision on red lights
atop vehicles flayed DTO challans son Hindus bitter after
Pak visit Jail warden
refused bail
Punjab order on
pensions
One-by-six-scheme inaugurated
Withdraw case against mahant:
DC Mother
of two hangs herself Two held for
trafficking 1 held for raping
Dalit girl 1 arrested in murder
case Teenager commits
suicide
No forcible sale of tickets:
Principal Fee exemption to cost SGPC
dear Hostel girls continue
boycott of meals University ABVP president accused of burning
tents
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Punjab to have biotechnology
park CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today called upon scientists to find practical solutions to India’s problems as the nation was passing through a critical period. Unemployment, to his mind, was one of the biggest challenges. In the given situation where there was no work, no food, no money, a revolution might brew at a pace much quicker than imagined. Those at the helm of affairs, including politicians, must attend to this problem quickly. Speaking at a brain-storming session on “Priorities for the biotech sector”, organised by the Punjab State Council of Science and Technology, Mr Badal said a biotechnology revolution, perhaps would soon overtake even the information technology revolution. Therefore, India should prepare itself to adopt biotechnology. “The pace of biotechnology in India is slow, whereas Indians have been pioneers in many a scientific field the world over”, he added. Referring to the critical needs of Punjab, where agriculture was the mainstay of the economy, he urged the participants, representing industry and institutions, to look for “permanent” solutions to the emerging problem of plenty. He was referring to the “temporary” solution to the problem of paddy procurement he found the hard way in recent weeks. Promising all government help for the application of modern biotechnology to agriculture, Mr Badal responded positively to the All-India Biotech Associations demand for a 100-acre biotechnology park, assuring the necessary financial help. He also promised the setting up of a council to promote biotechnology. In return, he asked industry and institutions to take decisions and make recommendations that could he implemented and not remain a mere academic exercise. Mr Badal, speaking extempore, expressed his concern over the growing pollution in Punjab: the toxic effects of chemicals (through the use of fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides and weedicides); unfit drinking water in cities and villages; the problem of sewage disposal; and how foodstuffs had crossed the safety limits posing a serious health hazard. Therefore, the application of biotechnology to medical care had become imperative. He asked the participants to suggest ways to bridge the widening “communication gap” with people in villages. “No one seems to talk of their development, welfare and economic well-being”. A message must also go down to the grassroots that unless the quality of farm produce and products was improved, Punjab would lag behind in the highly competitive world market. The occasion also saw the inauguration of the northern chapter of the All-India Biotech Association. Its all-India president, Mr Vivek Singhal, set the pace for the one-day session. He said the pace of biotechnology would be faster than that of information technology, a fact that even Bill Gates considered during his recent visit to India. The slow pace of biotechnology was due to the absence of awareness, slow government response and the unavailability of a market, he added. Punjab, having ushered in the Green Revolution, must also take credit for initiating biotechnology in a big way for sustainable agricultural production and processing. Mr Singhal said the focus should be on “reducing” use of the chemical fertilisers and pesticides and opting for biopesticides and bio-fertilisers in the interest of people’s health. Integrated pest management should mean eco-friendly methods. It had been found that traces of pesticide poisoning were present in at least six out of 10 samples of mothers, milk. Punjab had to safeguard itself against growing toxicity. Dr P.K. Ghosh, Adviser, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India presented the keynote address. He referred to the steps initiated by the Department of Science and Technology to promote biotechnology, identified four thrust areas for focus — agriculture, human and animal health products, industrial biotechnology and environment — and gave a bird’s eye view of future prospects. A glimpse of the current consumption and future demand of biotech products in India showed that healthcare products would dominate and might contribute up to 40 per cent of the consumption market by 2005. This would be followed by agriculture with a possible 33 per cent share. The share of industrial products would be nearly 35 per cent. India was far behind in the use of biotechnology drugs. Against 30 drugs that helped save 200 million lives worldwide, India had just 12 that helped save 35 million lives. Punjab Agricultural University’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr G.S. Kalkat, endorsed the idea of a biotechnology park. “Time”, he said, “was an important factor to find practical and permanent solutions to the problem of plenty or surplus, which Punjab faced at present. With 300 million poor in the country unable to buy food, how can it be surplus? The aim should be a remunerative price for farmers and an affordable price for consumers. The food produced must also be acceptable to buyers”. Dr Kalkat saw a big challenge before scientists and farm policy planners: how to improve the “quality” of farm produce and products, make agriculture cost-effective, improve marketing and cut down on post-harvest wastage and losses in storage and transportation. The Principal Secretary, Science and Technology, Mr Rajan Kashyap, promised positive government intervention. The interplay of industry, institutions, research and government would work for “sustainable” development, he added. A former Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and at present B.P. Lal National Professor, Dr V.L. Chopra, while proposing a vote of thanks, did some plain speaking. “It has to be Punjab, where the seeds of the Green Revolution germinated, to once again take a lead in ushering in the biotechnology revolution”. The country’s food security rested on a “narrow base” of northern states, Punjab and Haryana. Their problems must be solved quickly. The only way was to keep producing more food. The problem of plenty was still better than that of scarcity, added. “For the equitable distribution of the benefits of development, the Green Revolution has to be tempered with technology. But for technology to take roots, political will was needed — the kind shown by Mr Badal”, he added. A book, “Food Processing, Biotechnology Applications”, edited by Dr S.S. Marwaha and Dr Jatinder Kaur Arora, was released by the Chief Minister. The Executive Director of the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Mr N.S. Tiwana, while welcoming the delegates, referred to the fate of the Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology, which was sanctioned in 1995. It was still to see the light of day. “I hope Punjab will not miss the bus.” |
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Distress
sale of paddy continues: Rajewal KHANNA, Oct 20 — Farmers now have brought paddy who are at the mercy of millers who are making excuses of “bardana” shortage etc. No government agency is purchasing coarse variety of paddy like 1R8 and PR 113. The farmers are forced to make distress sale of the paddy at the rate of Rs 340 to Rs 390 against the minimum (MSP) of Rs 510 per quintal. Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal national general secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) after visiting the grain markets said this here today. He alleged that the officers of government agencies are now more interested in making money than in procurement. After
relaxations of three kg rice in paddy milling to the rice millers is declared, the district managers and District Food Supply Controllers are busy finalising deals with rice millers to issue paddy for milling to them. He further alleged that corruption is on from Rs two to Rs six per bag now. Even the procurement agencies are being made to pay in mandis by keeping the Deputy Commissioner in the dark. Share of part of Rs 350 crore package has started growing upwards, Mr Rajewal alleged. Mr Rajewal demanded that the Punjab Vigilance Department should stop going after small fry of corrupt but instead prepare to catch the big fish. Rice millers, flour millers, petrol pump owners etc are going to pay in the name of Divali gifts, huge amounts of booty in the shape of
cash to the officers concerned, he alleged. |
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BKU to continue
agitation: Jethuke BATHINDA, Oct 20 — The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta) will continue its stir till the whole of the paddy was lifted from the mandis and the farmers were given the minimum support price (MSP). This was stated by Mr Jhanda Singh Jethuke district president of the BKU (Ekta). Mr Jethuke said addition of a third category in quality standards of paddy and authorising district authorities to form such a category had been done to benefit the rice millers and not the farmers. Mr Jethuke asked the activists of the union to gherao the purchasing agency officials who did not auction the paddy at MSP. He said although the procurement had become fast at some villages, it was unsatisfactory at several other places. |
FCI officials
gheraoed JALANDHAR, Oct 20 — Irked at the slow pace of procurement farmers gheraoed two FCI officials at a commission agent’s shop in Lohian township of the district this afternoon. At least 100 farmers raised slogans against the procurement agencies. Led by Mr Kartar Singh, sarpanch, they cornered Inspector Jasbir Singh and an Assistant Manager at the shop of the commission agent. They were allowed to go only after an hour when they promised to ensure speedy lifting of the paddy from the local grain market. |
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Crop on 20,000 acres hit by floods SANGRUR, Oct 20 — Following the completion of special girdawari, ordered by the District Collector to assess loss to standing crops in 24 floor-but villages of Moonak subdivision in July last, the Sangrur district administration has prepared a detailed special girdawari report to demand Rs 1.82 crore from the state government for compensating farmers. The special girdawari was ordered on August 7 last as there were reports that during floods in the Ghaggar river in July, 20,000 acres were under flood water in 24 villages of the Moonak subdivision and the farmers due to damage to the standing crops had suffered losses to the extent of crores of rupees. As per report of the special girdawari, out of 26 flood-prone villages of the Moonak subdivision, as many as 20 villages were affected by the flood waters. In these villages, standing crops on 12794 acres suffered a heavy loss. On 5527 acres the farmers had to sow crops again while standing crops on 7089 acres faced 76 per cent to 100 per cent damage. The standing crops on 97 acres were affected from 51 per cent to 75 per cent while 81 acres suffered 26 per cent to 50 per cent damage. Talking to The Tribune here today, Mr G.K. Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Sangrur, said special girdawari in 24 villages had shown that standing crops had been damaged during floods in 20 villages. He said the names of the 20 villages were Nawan Gaon, Hotipur, Banrarasi, Khanauri Kalan, Mandvi, Chandu, Andana, Therri, Moonak, Banga, Bushera, Baopur, Hamirgarh, Makror Sahib, Bhunder Bhaini, Surjan Bhaini, Salemgarh, Wazidpur, Karrel and Fulad. He said the administration had assessed that heavy losses had occurred to the standing crops during floods, so it had prepared a case demanding Rs 1.82 crore from the Revenue Department of the state government for giving compensation to the farmers. He said the case would be
dispatched to the government in a couple of days. The special girdawari was held by the patwaris and Kanungos under the supervision of Circle Revenue Officer. However, it could not be known how much time the state government will take to clear the compensation cases and release of Rs 1.82 crore required to pay the compensation to the affected farmers. |
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Farmers’ suicides increased after ’97 PATIALA, Oct 20 — The number of farmers committing suicide has increased since 1997 with economic hardship, indebtness, addiction and crop failure being the major reasons for agriculturists taking this step. These were the findings of a Committee constituted to study this phenomenon by the Association for Democratic Rights seven months back. The Committee which will be sending its report to the Punjab government as well as the State Human Rights Commission has visited 29 villages of 10 tehsils of four districts of Mansa, Bathinda, Sangrur and Patiala districts. Releasing the report, study team leader Sucha Singh Gill said the team examined 79 cases in detail which occurred over a period from 1988 to 2000. He said it was revealed that a maximum of 42 farmers committed suicide during 1997-2000 but said they had been denied officially as family members did not report them for fear of harassment. Mr Gill said it had also become clear during the investigation that most of those who committed suicide were farmers and labourers. He said it was also found that economic hardship was the main reason for this drastic act and that those a majority of those committing suicide had land holdings of five acres and less. Tractors apparently also play an important role in the various suicide cases. As many as 24 per cent of the farmers had sold their tractors before committing suicide and 66 per cent of the farmers did not possess tractors. He said the Committee found that in many cases the purchase of a tractor on loan acted as an accelerator towards suicide. He said it was also revealed that 64 per cent of the farmers committing suicide were illiterate with their progeny also not being educated. He said most of the victims were in the age group of 18-35. Besides this he said contrary to official perception only 12 per cent of the victims were addicts and that as many as 48 per cent of them had never used any intoxicants. The Committee leader said the indebtedness of the farmers who were surveyed was between the range of Rs 10,000 and Rs 6.5 lakh and that the average debt was Rs 1.25 lakh. He said moreover the farmers had borrowed from non institutional sources, specially arhatias, which was the main reason why the situation had got complicated in their cases. He said at least 13 per cent of the farmers who committed suicide tried to adopt some other profession related to agriculture and non agriculture field but did not succeed. The study team comprising of Mr Gill, Vidhu Shekhar Bhardwaj, Surjit Singh Lee, Ranjit Singh Ghuman, Jaswinder Singh Brar, B.S. Sohal, J.S. Uppal, Suchha Singh Cheema and Sukhpal Singh recommended that the State government must immediately identify families in which suicides occurred and provide a compensation of Rs two lakh. They said the debt of farmers should also be written off from all sources . Among the long time suggestions the Committee has asked for providing compulsory and quality education to every child in the villages. It has also urged for taking steps to usher in cooperatisation or collective farming as small land holdings were not self sustaining any longer. It has also advocated opening of machine tractor centres so that marginal farmers do not have to go in for buying their own tractor. |
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Punjab to amend PUDA Act ROPAR, Oct 20 — The Punjab government is planning amendments in the PUDA Act the Punjab Tenancy Act and the Punjab Securities and Land Tenure Act 1953 as per the suggestions of the permanent law commission headed by Justice JP Bhandari. Mr H.S. Matehwal advocate General Punjab and the Chairman of the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council gave this information, at a function here yesterday evening. Mr Matehwal was here to attend a meeting of the Ropar Bar Council. Mr Matehwal told that the Punjab government had earlier formed a permanent law commission to review the old laws, which had lost relevance in the present context. The commission has already submitted three reports in which it has enlisted its suggestions for amendment in the above mentioned Acts, he said. About the National Commission for the Review of The Constitution formed by the Punjab government, Mr Matehwal said that it had recommended the abolition of the Article 356 and limited registration of communities under the eight schedule of the constitution. He was told that the Punjab government was planning to formulate the Advocate Welfare Fund Act for the welfare of those associated with legal profession. The Act would help the government in providing financial grant to the dependants of the legal professional succumbing to untoward incidents. The office of the Advocate General Punjab is the first of its kind in the country that had been fully computerised. Computeri-zation would help in the speedy disposal of about 70,000 cases, pending with the office, he said. Mr Matehwal also gave a grant of Rs 2.5 lakh to the Ropar Bar Council. The Deputy Commissioner Ropar, Mr G.S. Grewal who was also present on the occasion said that site for the library for the Ropar Bar Council had been selected and work on it would start very soon. The District and Sessions Judge, Ropar, Mr Maghar Khan, the SSP Ropar, Mr G.P.S. Bhullar were among others present on the occasion. |
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Dangers of MNCs’ entry pointed out JALANDHAR, Oct 20 (UNI) — India's food security would be imperilled if transnational corporations like the US major Cargill were given a free run to control agriculture and allied sectors in the country through the Patent Act. The warning was sounded at a seminar on “the impact of globalisation of Indian economy, culture and education” conducted during the four-day 25th national conference of the All India Students Federation (AISF) here last evening. The Secretary National Federation of Indian Women, Ms Amarjit Kaur, said Cargill, which controlled 60 per cent of the world’s foodgrains trade, has already entered the Indian market and warned the country would have to wage a grim battle to protect its bio-diversity from being poached by the MNCs. These MNC's were trying to force the government to introduce the patent regime. These companies had been trying to acquire the patent rights of neem, basmati rice, brinjal, karela and many other agricultural products through subterfuge of the regime. She said if the MNC's succeeded in their endeavour, it would sound the deathknell of India’s food security through the regime of patented terminator seed technology. Ms Amarjit Kaur said it was not for nothing that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) was being maligned and a concerted propaganda had been mounted to wean farmers away from growing foodgrains. The so-called crisis of plenty (of rice and wheat) in the country and the propaganda against the minimum support price regime was aimed at creating a food crisis in India so that MNC's like Cargill could have a free run, according to the CPI state secretary Joginder Dayal. The way Coke and Pepsi killed India’s soft drink industry, Ms Amarjit Kaur said Cargill and other MNC's were trying a similar strategy to control agriculture and allied sectors like dairying, small dairying wherein nearly 2 lakh families were engaged in Punjab alone. They would be crippled with the entry of MNC's, she warned. Ms Amarjit Kaur alleged that the so-called protagonists of Swadeshi were handing over India on a platter to transnational corporations. The Vajpayee government, she alleged, has already removed quantitative restrictions on import of 714 items, including most agriculture and dairy products, and would be abolishing these restrictions on the remaining 715 items from April, next year. This, she added, would cripple India’s small and medium scale industry. She said the strategy of international capitalists was to break India’s financial backbone and hence the country’s insurance and banking sectors were being opened to private companies. She said Indian insurance sector alone generated about Rs 40,000 crore for spending in social sector like health, education, sanitation, water supply, road and power generation but once private companies controlled the insurance industry, the social sector would be deprived of this huge investment. She further said Leftists were not opposed to entry of the MNCs or foreign direct investment as such but opposed to giving them a free run. The sovereign republic of India must have effective control on them as had been case in first 40 years of India’s independence. She said companies like Lever and Colgate had been operating in the country for many years but were never allowed to have majority control in their Indian subsidiaries. But the world capitalists, who were not happy with the restrictive agenda of the General Agreement of Trade & Tariff (GATT), launched a blitz brief in mid-80s when world socialist system and non-aligned movement started collapsing. She said they converted GATT into WTO incorporating new elements to control markets in developing countries. She said the triad of IMF-World Bank-WTO was becoming super-sovereign threatening the sovereignty of independent states and added that the ruling elite in India had become its hand-maiden and hence the Left and progressive forces must unite to fight this onslaught. A resolution, adopted on the third day of the conference here this evening, also sought 10 per cent central budgetary allocation on education, adding the Union Government could not be allowed to abdicate its responsibility in the field of higher education. Strongly criticising “packing” of government apex institutions like the NCERT and the ICSSR with committed RSS cares, the AISF also condemned “systematic modification of education syllabi” in furtherance of the agenda of saffronisation of education. It alleged that the Human Resources Development Ministry under Mr Murli Manohar Joshi had become “Hindutava Resource Development Ministry”. |
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HC vacancies to be
filled by year-end BATHINDA, Oct 20 — The Punjab Law and Justice Minister, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, said here yesterday that all vacancies in the Punjab and Haryana High Court would be filled by the year-end. Mr Garg, talking to TNS, said the Punjab Government had sent a list of names of senior advocates to the Central Government for necessary clearance so that they could be nominated to the Bench. Mr Garg said at present more than 10 posts of Judge in the Punjab and Haryana High Court were lying vacant and every effort was being made to fulfil these. To reduce the burden in subordinate courts in Punjab, the state government had cleared appointments of 40 judges while seven Additional Sessions Judges had been nominated. He pointed out that the institution of Lok Adalat was being popularised and expanded to reduce the number of court cases. On the condition of Punjab jails, Mr Garg said these were being given more facilities and
accommodation in view of the rush of undertrials. He said it was difficult to set up new jails. Hence, arrangements were being made to create more space within the existing jails. Asked whether the classification of “A”, “B” and “C” category convicts had been done away with in accordance with the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr Garg said he was not aware whether the judgement had been implemented. Mr Garg said computer education in all schools and colleges of Bathinda and Gidderbaha blocks would be started from the next academic session. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would lay the foundation stone of B.Ed College in the town on November 1. |
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Fake cosmetics seized, 2
held BATHINDA, Oct 20 — Watch out the face cream, face pack, wax powder, skin cream and rose water you may be using to have
better looks may be spurious. Instead of giving better looks such products can actually damage skin and cause skin diseases. This fact came to light in the town today when the district police seized hundreds of packs of fake face cream, face pack, wax powder, skin cream and rose water from Chander Mohan and Raj Kumar who were arrested from the Sanguana Basti of this town. For the past few months, the accused had been running a factory where these fake goods were being manufactured. The accused used to get the labels of famous cosmetic brands in the items manufactured in Delhi. Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, said the accused used to supply these fake cosmetic items to different shops of in the district and also to beauty parlours located in rural and urban areas. The prices printed on these items used to be very high but these were being sold at much lower prices to the customers. The two persons involved used to sell these fake items under the brand names of Pooja Cosmetics, Mumbai, Vikram Cosmetic, Mumbai and Calcutta, Diana Cosmetics, Mumbai and Heena Nature Care, Bhubaneswar. Eightytwo wax powder, tubes of fairness, 33 herbal cream, 12 pieces of face care products, four pieces of gold breast cream, eight pieces of herbal face mask, 100 packs of beauty mask, 142 bottles of rose water, machines, raw material, 3,000 empty bottles, glass bottles, covers and 4,000 wrappers had been seized from the accused. The Bathinda district has become haven for fake goods’ manufacturers as unscrupulous elements have been trying to make a fast buck by cashing in on the lack of quality awareness among the unsuspecting buyers. In the past one year, the district police has seized fake audio cassettes, cough syrups, driving licences, registration certificates, watches, oil paints and oil filters. More than 15 criminal cases have been registered against the unscrupulous traders and manufacturers for indulging in the sale and preparation of fake goods in this current year by the district police. Dr Jain said a case under Sections 420 and 472 of the IPC had been registered against both the accused who were making spurious cosmetics. |
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Nod to transfer of properties GURDASPUR, Oct 20 — Mr Balramji Das Tandon, Local Bodies Minister and BJP leader in the Punjab Legislative Assembly, while talking to mediapersons here today said 17,000 properties worth over Rs 300 crore and belonging to
municipal corporations and municipal committees on lease and encroached upon by private individuals had been identified. The Punjab Cabinet Sub-committee has approved transfer of these properties to the lessees and encroachers, he said. Mr Tandon said as per the order properties, including shops with roof rights would be transferred on the payment of 50 per cent of the market price of the said properties. The properties without roof rights would be transferred on the payment of 40 per cent of the market value of the property. Mr Tandon said the process in this regard had been set in motion and several properties had already been transferred. For determining the market value a committee headed by Deputy Commissioner and comprising municipal Presidents, Executive Officer of municipal committees and Sub Divisional Magistrates had been constituted. After determining the market values the respective property holders and “encroachers” will be issued notices to make the payment accordingly within six months otherwise the properties will be got vacated. Mr Tandon said the income of the municipal corporations and municipal committees had increased after the present SAD-BJP government assumed power in 1997. “Against an earning of Rs 380 crore in 1997 the earnings have gone up to Rs 870
crore, now,” he said. Mr Tandon said the State Finance Commission had recommended to pay 20 per cent share to municipal committees and municipal corporations out of electricity duty, stamp duty, motor vehicle duty and entertainment and
cinematography in their respective areas. The government has not been able to release the shares of the municipal committees and municipal corporations in this regard for the past 2 years. He added that the Municipal Corporation of Amritsar has got a part of their share in this regard through directions issued to the corporation from Punjab and Haryana High Court. Many of the other municipal committees and municipal corporations have gone to the High Court for the payment of their share. Mr Tandon said Central Government had given liberal grants for the development of slum areas. The Punjab Government had received Rs 23 crore in this regard out of which a sum of Rs 11 crore had been given to municipalities. Mr Tandon said Mohalla committees have been formed to undertake cleanliness of their respective areas. For recruitment of sweepers by the committees on contract basis 50 per cent each will be contributed by the municipalities and concerned mohalla committees. Mr Tandon said streetlights which were earlier in the charge of the PSEB would be maintained by the municipal corporations and municipal committees in order to avoid extra payments to the PSEB and added that the work in this regard would start in four municipal corporations of the state from November 1. Regarding the controversy raised by the Congress and other opposition parties over the election of Mayor of Amritsar Municipal Corporation, Mr Tandon said it was politically motivated. The election of the Mayor was free and fair. The Mayor was elected by draw of lots which is permitted in the Municipal Corporation Act. Answering a query regarding the distress sale of paddy, in spite of specific instructions by the government, Mr Tandon said any lapse reported to the government would be viewed seriously and action would be taken against the guilty. |
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IGP acquits
commandos FARIDKOT, Oct 20 — Mr R.S. Challiha, Inspector-General of Police, Commandos, Bahadurgarh, Punjab, and Mr T.S. Dhaliwal, Commandant of the 5th battalion, have acquitted all 15 commandos who were allegedly involved with the police of Kotkapura in this district in the beating up of 20 citizens in the town on August 20 last of the charge. Issuing a clean chit to them, both the officers in separate letters written to Mr Venu Prasad, Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot, said the commandos took the action in self-defence. The two have also requested the Deputy Commissioner not to hold any inquiry against the commandos under the Punjab Police Act as it was not under his purview. When contacted the Deputy Commissioner admitted receiving the letters. In his reply to both the senior police officers, the Deputy Commissioner has made it clear that being a district magistrate he enjoys full powers to make any magisterial probe in public interest. He said he had already deputed the SDO (Civil) in this connection who had recorded the statement of 15 persons on the burning issue. Moreover the SSP had also suspended three constables — Bikkar Singh, Chamkaur Singh and Harvinder Singh — who were involved in the incident. In his report sent to the commandant of the 5th battalion the district police chief had also asked for taking necessary action against the commandos. Mr Prasad made it clear that if any commando was found guilty by the inquiry officer strict action would be recommended. |
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Chautala victimising opponents:
Gujjar JHAJJAR, Oct 20 — Growing rift between the BJP and the INLD came to the fore today when state BJP Legislative party leader and former Transport Minister Krishan Pal Gujjar accused Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala of implicating him in false cases of misappropriation of funds during his tenure as Transport Minister in the Bansi Lal Ministry and holding property above his known source of income. He alleged that Mr Chautala was victimising his political rivals in a bid to stifle any voice of dissent against his government. Disclosing a letter issued by State Vigilance Bureau, (SVB) to him before the press person in Bahadurgarh today in which he has been accused in four different cases on the basis of investigations done by the SVB, Mr Gujjar said that all these accusations were politically motivated. According to this letter SVB accused that Mr Gujjar had illegally possessed 2000 square yard land of HUDA in Sector-28, Faridabad and gave it to Swami Permanand who started the construction of a temple on this land with his help. Third charge on him according to this letter is about not putting on audit Rs. 90 lakh sanctioned for laying sewerage system in Mevla Maharajpur village. Refuting all these charges, Mr Gujjar maintained that he had nothing to do with HUDA land on which a temple was being constructed. It may be mentioned here that the temple had been demolished by HUDA which had created a fresh controversy. On next charge he said that Transport Ministry has no role in construction of bus stand so the charges are outrightly rubbished. While on the accusations of earning and holding property above his known source of income he said that all the details about his property has been mentioned in his Income Tax returns. He accused the Government of a large scale of corruption and nepotism in recruitment of police constables and alleged that large number of persons from Sirsa and Rajasthan had been recruited in the police. |
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Mayor’s poll: BJP to
probe cross-voting AMRITSAR, Oct 20 — Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, president Punjab BJP has said that a high-level probe was being ordered to cross check the allegations of cross voting at the time of Mayor’s election on October 18. Talking to the press, here today, Mr Rinwa said it had been confirmed that many members of the ruling BJP-SAD indulged in cross voting which needed to be probed. He said he would constitute a committee in this regard. On the basis of the committee’s report strict action would be taken against the ‘guilty’. Terming the election for the Mayor as undemocratic and an eye wash, the Rashtriya Suraksha Dal and the All-India ex-Serviceman’s League (IESL) demanded that an apolitical person be appointed by the Punjab Governor to undertake duties of the Mayor and the present election be declared as null and void till a new date. In a joint statement the RSD and the IESL offered their services for election duty where even the security agencies play a partisan role. Meanwhile Yuva Shakti, Punjab, president Mr Sohan Lal Amrohi, in a press release has demanded immediate removal of the new Mayor who has merely been installed by the ruling party against democratic norms. The district CPI secretary, Mr Amarjit Asal, in a press note cleared his stand and said the party councillors had voted for Congress party candidate Sunil Datti in the election for Mayor. Calling Mayor’s election a “farce, Mr Asal said money had exchanged hands and horsetrading was evident from the pattern of voting. Further he said, the reason for extending support to the Congress was it was less corrupt and communal than the BJP party. |
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Khadi Board Director flouts HC
ruling? JALANDHAR, Oct 20 — Can a Director of the Khadi Board flaunt a red light atop his private vehicle and flout the recent traffic guidelines of the Punjab and Haryana High Court? The answer could be yes if use of red light by such a director is concerned. The Punjab Government had recently issued a list of those who were entitled to use red lights atop their vehicles and any director of the Khadi Board has not been included in the list. But it seems flouting of the guidelines of the High Court and sporting a red light atop his private car has become more of a passion for Mr R.S. Sandal, a Senior Vice-President of the Youth Akali Dal and a director of the Khadi Board. His
gray Esteem with a large red-light had become a centre of attraction at the Circuit House where Mr Sandal was to address a press conference. Those using the red light without proper permission by the Punjab Transport Department are liable to be challaned under Section 177 of the General Motor Vehicle Act, even as the Jalandhar District Transport Officer, Mr G.S. Khaira was not aware whether any director of Khadi Board was entitled for using the red light or not. However, Mr Sandal maintained that he had been permitted to use the red light by the Additional Director General of the Punjab Police (Security), Mr B.P. Tiwari, who according to him was competent to issue a permit in this regard. Mr Khaira, however, said the ADGP was not authorised to do so and he could just issue stickers to those who figured in the list issued by the Punjab Government. |
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Probe into AIDS
death sparks row MOGA, Oct 20 — An inquiry ordered into the death of an AIDS victim at a local private clinic by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) has sparked a controversy. The victim — a six-month-old child — had died in May. While the CMO, Dr G.L. Goyal, accused the clinic authorities of inflicting AIDS on the victim by administering him infected blood, members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have come to the rescue of the clinic owner, Dr Surinder Goyal, claiming the deceased had acquired the disease from his father. Accusing the CMO of blackmailing Dr Surinder Goyal, the district president of the IMA, Dr Manpreet Singh Dhaliwal, and general secretary, Dr Suresh Khanna, have threatened to launch an agitation if the probe was not
stalled. They also sought the CMO’s transfer. Dr Surinder Goyal said the child was brought to him by his parents for treatment in May. As the boy was in need of blood, he advised his parents to arrange for it. Although the man, whose blood was administered to the boy, had tested HIV negative, the child died of AIDS after some days, said the doctor. Dr Surinder Goyal claimed that the boy, who was shifted to Ludhiana for treatment, had actually acquired the disease from his parents. He added that the boy’s father was later tested HIV positive. Irate members of the IMA pointed out that even if Dr Surinder Goyal had administered infected blood to the deceased, it would have taken him several years to become an AIDS patient. They charged the CMO of initiating a “motivated” probe. Denying the charge, the CMO, Dr G.L. Goyal accused Dr Surinder Goyal of inflicting AIDS on the deceased. He alleged that the boy was administered the blood of his infected father, without carrying out the necessary tests. |
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Commemorative parade
for slain cops CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — The ghost of militancy continues to haunt security forces in general and the Punjab Police in particular as the latter prepares itself to pay tributes tomorrow to nearly 2,300 men or their family members who laid down their lives during the 20 years of militancy in the state. The figures reveal that every fifth person killed in Punjab between 1981 and 2000 was a security man. On October 21 every year, police commemoration parades are organised throughout the country to commemorate the sacrifices made by men and officers while discharging their duties. It started on October 21, 1962, when 14 men and officers of the Central Reserve Police Force died while fighting intruders from China on the Indo-China border. In Punjab, the police suffered the maximum. It lost not only two Deputy Inspectors-General, five Superintendents, seven Deputy Superintendents and 22 Inspectors, but also a large number of non-gazetted men, Home Guards and Special Police Officers (SPOs). During the past 20 years, the police lost 46 Sub-Inspectors, 109 Assistant Sub-Inspectors, 197 Head Constables and 554 Constables. The security forces lost 294 Home Guards and 180 SPOs. Punjab also witnessed the killings of men and officers from the Border Security Force, the CRPF, the Railway Protection Force, the Haryana police, the National Security Guards, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, the Army and even the IAF. The CRPF lost two Superintendents, three Deputy Superintendents, four Inspectors, nine Sub-Inspectors, 40 Head Constables and 117 Constables or sepoys. On the other hand, the BSF lost two DSPs, three Inspectors and four Sub-Inspectors, besides 24 Head Constables and 74 Constables. The casualties suffered by the Army were 49. Besides these security personnel, nearly 300 relatives or family members of police personnel were killed. Police sources maintained that another 100 relatives of police personnel were kidnapped by militants during the past 20 years. At one stage, they pointed out, there were more than 2,000 petitions pending against police personnel of the state pertaining to their actions. Tomorrow the main police commemoration parade will be held at PAP Complex in Jalandhar where the DGP, Mr Sarabjit Singh, will take the salute and lay a wreath at the memorial. |
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Church council
to boycott Masih Jayanti JALANDHAR, Oct 20 — The United Church Council of Punjab has decided to boycott the “state-sponsored” millennium celebrations being organised by a few people in connection with Masih Jayanti-2000 at Gurdaspur. Father Benjamin Karam Chand, president of the council, said the function was being organised by some vested interests at the behest of the state government and they did not enjoy any support from the Christian community. He said the very fact that the Christian community was not supporting any such celebration could be judged from the fact that the function was being organised in a government college and not in a church. He said the Punjab Christian Front did not carry any credibility since it had the patronage of the state government, which had been a mute spectator when the community was being attacked by some fundamental organisations. The council said if the government was sincere towards the community, it should follow the example of the Madhya Pradesh and Delhi governments who had declared the jubilee year as the “year of the Christ” after taking representatives of the community into confidence. |
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Decision on red lights
atop vehicles flayed FEROZEPORE, Oct 20 — The Punjab Government’s decision to allow Jathedars to use red lights atop their vehicles has evoked serious criticism, especially from the Left parties who view it as a fallout of growing state patronage to religious forces. Condemning the state government’s decision, the state council of the CPI today alleged the Shiromani Akali Dal was misusing its
prerogative to serve the interests of religious figures. Questioning the rationale behind such a move, the member of the CPI state council, Mr Randhir Gill, said SAD was bent upon turning Punjab into a theocratic state. |
DTO challans son KAPURTHALA, Oct 20 — Mr Gurmit Singh, District Transport Officer today challaned his own son Zorawar Singh for driving his moped on The Mall without driving licence. Later he told mediapersons that during checking on The Mall he found his son under 16 years driving moped without driving licence and immediately stopped him and Challaned him. The step was taken against Zorawar Singh to apprise the parents not to allow minors to drive two wheellers or other vehicles. |
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Hindus bitter after
Pak visit ATTARI (Amritsar), Oct 20 — A jathas of Hindu pilgrims returned after visiting various temples in Pakistan with bitter experience. The jatha leader Mr Gobind Ram, who hails from Raipur (Madhya Pradesh) said jatha members visited the temples under the shadow of ISI officials. They were not allowed to meet the Pakistani Hindus even. The members of the jatha alleged that they were not allowed to visit ‘Mata Da Mandir’ in Lahore and Shivala temple in Karachi. The jatha members who were shaken over the mal-treatment meted out by Pakistani authorities said they were permitted to visit few temples there. They alleged that the most of the temples are in dilapidated condition. |
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Jail warden
refused bail ROPAR, Oct 20 — The Sessions Judge, Ropar, has rejected the bail application of Burail Jail Warden, Om Vir Singh, who was arrested earlier on the charges on possessing objectionable material which was to be faxed to supporters of the Punjab ultras in the United Kingdom. Counsel of Om Vir Singh in his petition before the Sessions Judge had pleaded Om Vir Singh should be granted the bail because the other accused in the case Bagel Singh had already been granted the bail. He also asserted that the story of the prosecution regarding the recovery of the objectionable material from the accused was concocted. |
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Ban on sale of
crackers RAJPURA |
Punjab order on
pensions CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — The Punjab Government has empowered all Deputy Commissioners to transfer the pensions of deceased freedom fighters in favour of their widows forthwith to avoid any harassment. Earlier, an official press release said today, the process to transfer pension was undertaken at the state level with prior verification and recommendation of the Deputy Commissioner concerned. Now the Deputy Commissioners would themselves ensure proper verification and scrutiny of the documents before sanctioning pensions to eligible widows. Keeping in view the factor of age, the necessary instructions had also been issued that widows were not be called to the office of the Deputy
Commissioner/SDM for this purpose. A government official would personally visit their residences for verification. |
One-by-six-scheme
inaugurated PATIALA The scheme envisages filing of returns under form 2C by persons satisfying one of the six criteria. Emphasising the importance of widening the tax base in strengthening national economy, Mrs Kaur said that adoption of modern technology and change of attitude by officers and staff in the Income Tax Department was important to provide better service to honest tax payers. Mr B.M. Singh, Commissioner, Income Tax, Mr B.S. Rattan, Additional Commissioner, Income Tax, and other senior officers including Mr S.K. Mittal, Mr P.S. Puniha, Mrs. Poonam Sidhu, Mr P.S. Sachdeva and Mrs Sukhvinder, Joint Commissioner, Income Tax, were present on the occasion. |
Withdraw case against mahant:
DC KAPURTHALA, Oct 20 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr V.K. Singh, has directed the police to withdraw a case against Mahant Purana Nand of the dera of Mahant Parkasha Nand of Kahlwan village under sadar police station. The sadar police has arrested the mahant on the charge of attempting to rape a married woman of Kahlwan village. A case under Sections 376, 511, 323 and 354 of the IPC has been registered against the mahant. The mahant has reportedly been observing fast in judicial lock up in the local “sudhar ghar” to protest against the registration of a false case against him. A large number of residents of Kahlwan village and its adjoining villages took out a procession in the town to press the police to withdraw the case against the mahant. Mr Hira Lal Bhir, senior state leader of the BJP, led the procession. The Deputy Commissioner told the processionists the case would be withdrawn against the mahant on the basis of an inquiry conducted by Mr Tulsi Ram, SP (D), who had reportedly found the mahant innocent. Meanwhile, the bail application of the mahant pending in the court of Mr Gurdev Singh, Sessions Judge, has been adjourned to October 20 as the Sessions Judge was on leave on Thursday. In a report lodged with the police the woman alleged that she went to the dera of the mahant to borrow money from him as her husband had suffered injuries. She alleged that the mahant allegedly molested her and attempted to rape her. A dispute over the possession of the dera and 20 acres of land attached with the dera is said to be the cause of dispute between the natural heirs of Mahant Parkasha Nand and Mahant Purana Nand. In the dispute pending in revenue courts, the will made by the heirs of Mahant Parkasha Nand has been up- held while the will in favour of Mahant Purana Nand has been rejected. |
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Mother
of two hangs herself BATHINDA, Oct 20 — Kanchan, a mother of two children, was allegedly forced to commit suicide by her husband and other relatives yesterday. Police sources said the victim, who was married to Ashwani Kumar about six years ago, committed suicide by hanging herself. According to a complaint lodged with the police, the father of the victim, Mr Mool Chand, said his son-in-law Ashwani Kumar and his other relatives used to harass his daughter. Fed up with the harassment of her husband and other relatives, Kanchan stayed with him for about 11 months and she went with her husband only when a compromise was reached between both the parties through the panchayat and on the assurance that Kanchan would not be harassed again. Police sources said the other accused against whom a case under Sections 306 and 34 of the IPC was registered were Sanjeev Kumar, Devinder Singh and Nirmala Devi. The body of victim, who belonged to Abohar, has been handed over to her relatives after a post-mortem examination. |
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Two held for
trafficking GURDASPUR, Oct 20 — The police has arrested Bachittar Singh of Buttar in Batala subdivision for his alleged involvement in the abduction of women from West Bengal and Maharashtra and sale in Punjab. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, in a press note issued here today said the police had rescued an abducted woman brought from West Bengal. The SSP said the suspect was involved in the trade for the past several years and had brought many women from Maharashtra and West Bengal by alluring them on the pretext of getting jobs here. The SSP said the arrested person recently brought a woman, whom he sold to Santokh Singh of Malia under Batala subdivision for Rs 14,000. Santokh Singh had also been arrested. The SSP said on specific information, a police party from Kahnuwan police station apprehended the suspect along with the woman at Namana Bus Stand. A case under Sections 366, 368, 344, 342, 376 and 511 of the IPC has been registered against the suspect. The SSP said during his preliminary interrogation, the suspect confessed having brought scores of girls from Maharashtra and West
Bengal. |
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1 held for raping
Dalit girl BATHINDA, Oct 20 — The police has arrested Jagga Singh of Guru Sarsanewala village for his alleged involvement in the abduction and rape of a Dalit girl of the same village. Police sources said the suspect allegedly abducted the victim on October 15 and raped her. Another suspect,
Narsingh, alias Gogi, allegedly helped Jagga Singh escape from the site. A medical examination of the victim has been conducted and its report is awaited. A case has been registered against Jagga Singh and Narsingh under Sections 363, 376 and 34 of the
IPC. Meanwhile, in another incident, Basanti, a Dalit woman of Burj Mehma village of the district, reportedly committed suicide on Wednesday. The police has registered a case under Section 174 of the Cr PC in this regard. |
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1 arrested in murder
case BATHINDA, Oct 20 — The Bathinda police has arrested Surindera, a resident of Dholpur in Orissa, for being involved in a murder case registered at the Ferozepore sadar police station. Giving details the SSP, Bathinda, said Surinder had allegedly murdered Randhir Singh. A case was registered against him under Section 302, IPC, at the police station. The Bathinda police has found a paddy-leaden truck (No.WB-25-4713) from Rampura Phul stolen from Bhadaur in Sangrur district. A case has been registered at the Bhadaur police station under Section 282. |
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Teenager commits
suicide JALANDHAR, Oct 20 — Manpreet Kaur (15), a resident of Harnamdass Pura locality, committed suicide at her house today. According to the police, the victim allegedly tried to immolate herself after her teacher warned that she could not pass examination due to lack of interest in studies. She was admitted to the local civil hospital with 98 per cent burns where she succumbed to the burns. An unidentified person was found dead on the Bhogpur-Pathankot road near Kala Bakra village in Bhogpur today. According to the police, the victim was run over by some vehicle in the morning. A case has been registered under Section 304 of the IPC. |
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Ex-serviceman killed in road
accident SAMRALA, Oct 20 — An ex-serviceman, Kuldeep Singh and his wife, Kulwinder Kaur were killed in a road accident near Rano village on Thursday evening. Panchkula resident
arrested RAJPURA,
Oct 20 — In Mohikhwid village, 8 km from here Tarsem Singh of Panchkula was beaten up by villagers. He was later arrested by the police on the charges of making blank calls.
A case has been registered against him under Sections 451 and 508, IPC. |
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No forcible sale of tickets:
Principal FEROZEPORE, Oct 20 — The management of the local Dev Samaj College has refuted charges that the college authorities intended to pocket lakhs of rupees by means of organising “Chandi di Duphair” at which noted Punjabi singer Harbhajan Maan to perform. Reacting to allegations regarding forcible sale of tickets, Mrs Madhu Prashar said no student had been compelled to buy the entry ticket. The college authorities were under a cloud for another reason. Since the show was to be organised at the premises of women college, parents of girls studying there apprehended hooliganism during the show. The Principal, Mrs Prashar, clarified that keeping this in mind, the tickets were not made available in the open market despite heavy demand for these and were being sold from the college office, that too after verification of the antecedents of the buyer. While emphasising the motive behind the show, Mrs Prashar said as the college building was more than 100 years old and had been declared unsafe, it had to be restructured and funds available were not sufficient to manage the expenses. She said in addition to renovation work, more rooms and a home science block had to be added as the strength of girls in the college had increased manifold. It is pertinent to mention that Dev Samaj College is -the oldest and the largest women educational institution in the region with a strength of more than 2000 day boarders and 700 hostelers. The principal asserted that strict discipline was being enforced in the college and there was no question of allowing anti-social elements to create a nuisance in the wake of the show. While lashing out at those who had demanded a ban on the show, she asked: “Where were these people and voluntary organisations when the show was advertised? Why have they objected to it at the eleventh hour only at the time when everything is ready?” As far as permission from the Excise and Taxation Department was concerned, she pleaded they were not aware of these modalities according to which exemption had to be sought from the department under Section 21 to avoid tax. She said new dates for the show would be announced after due permission from the district authorities as well as exemption from the Commissioner, Excise and Taxation, Patiala. |
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Fee exemption to cost SGPC
dear AMRITSAR, Oct 20 — The SGPC will suffer a loss of more than Rs 1 crore as its President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, has exempted fees of four MBBS students who were admitted under the NRI quota in Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research here. The SGPC chief has asked the college authorities to charge only Rs 1.10 lakh each from the four students subject to approval of the trust. The students are reportedly near and dear ones of SGPC members. A week before relinquishing his charge as Director-Principal of the SGPC-run college, Dr S.S. Cheema, had pointed out that the SGPC committee would incur a loss of more than Rs 1 crore by exempting fees of MBBS students admitted under the NRI quota. The letter of Dr Cheema dated September 1 reads. “As many as eight students were admitted in MBBS under the NRI quota during the current session. The net fees under the NRI quota is 75,000 US dollars (about Rs 34 lakh) in three instalments as per the prospectus of the college. However, only two students have deposited the first instalment of 40,000 US dollars. Two more students deposited 13,500 US dollars but Bibi Jagir Kaur has directed to charge Rs 1.10 lakh from the rest of the four students”. The letter of the then principal, further reads: “Guru Ram Das Trust would suffer a loss of more than Rs 1 crore on account of exemption of fees”. Dr Cheema, had urged Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, member-secretary, Guru Ram Dass Trust, to convene a meeting of the trust immediately for seeking approval for the fee exemption. Mr Kiranjot Kaur, member Guru Ram Dass Trust, when contacted, refused to talk on the matter. She, however, said she would ensure that the trust did not suffer any financial loss at its forthcoming meeting. Sources pointed out that the meeting of the trust was unlikely to be held during the tenure of Bibi Jagir Kaur as SGPC chief. At the time of admission last year fee was exempted to many students, including wards of a Cabinet Minister, Dr Rattan Singh, and “near and dear ones” of SGPC members. However, Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, member-secretary, has denied that fees of four MBBS students were exempted. He claimed that the SGPC would charge the fees from all students in instalments. He denied that he had received a letter from the then Director-Principal clearly mentioning that the fees of four students had been exempted, subject to the approval of the trust. The sources in the SGPC say if the fees of the students is not deposited in the near future, the financial position of Guru Ram Das Trust, which runs the college, will be placed in a precarious condition. It will virtually become difficult to pay the salaries of the staff of the college if fees of NRI students is not deposited. Interestingly, the medical college has no power supply yet. The college has to spend more than Rs 1 lakh per month on running a generator. The generator supplies power only during the day. |
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Hostel girls continue
boycott of meals AMRITSAR, Oct 20 — Even as Khalsa College has set up a five-member committee to probe the charges of “thrashing” of girl residents of hostel, student leaders have rejected the committee. Meanwhile Mr Jaswinder Singh Advocate, Member, SGPC urged Giani Joginder Singh to summon Mr M.S. Dhillon, Principal, Khalsa College at Akal Takht for using force against girls. Mr Dhillon, however, has sent a communication to the parents of the girls alleging
that they (the girls) created “un-savoury” scene when he refused to give them passes for cultural programme organised by Alpha T.V. Girls, however, denied allegations of the college management. As protest the girls boycotted the mess for the second consecutive day and held a meeting in the college gurdwara. “We are sore over the unruly behaviour of bodyguards who entered the girls hostel along with the principal”. The five-member inquiry committee constituted by the principal include, Mr C.L. Baneja, Registrar, Prof Surinder Singh Sareen, Dean Cultural Affairs, Prof Avtar Singh, Dean Students Welfare Mr Navreet Singh, President, All-India Sikh Students Federation (Gill group) and Mr Harpreet Singh, President, Sikh Students Federation (Mehta-Chawla). Meanwhile, Principal Dhillon said that would not give permission to outsiders for organising cultural or other programme in the college premises. He said he won’t allow any girl student to remain outside after 6.30 p.m. As it was the duty of the college to give them proper protection. He reiterated that he was right while refusing to give passes to girl students for the programme which continued till late night. The students, especially girls boycotted most of the classes, in protest against the behaviour of principal and his bodyguard which resulted in injury of few girls. |
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University ABVP president accused of burning
tents PATIALA, Oct 20 — The Punjabi University authorities in a complaint to the district police have accused campus unit president of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) Sandeep Kapoor and two others of burning ‘shamianas’ set up for the Divali fair following the use of force by the police to disperse students trying to gate crash into a function being organised at the residence of the Vice-Chancellor on October 18. The university authorities, in a written complaint to the police chief, Mr Harpreet Singh Sidhu, accused that two other students — Pawan Bhatia and Jaskaran Singh were also responsible for committing arson on the university campus. While Sandeep and Pawan had been rusticated from the university for a period of six months besides banning their entry into the University campus, Jaskaran Singh a research scholar, had been asked to vacate his research scholar flat on the campus. He had also been served a show cause notice asking why his scholarship and PhD registration should not be cancelled. All students had been given seven days to make any representation to the Vice-Chancellor against the departmental actions taken against them which will come into effect immediately. However, a defiant Sandeep Kapoor today addressed a small gathering of students on the campus even though his entry is officially banned. The ABVP leader served an ultimatum on the authorities to withdraw punitive action against him and others or be ready to face an agitation. He announced that the agitation would start from October 30 upon reopening of the university after the Divali break in case the rustication orders were not withdrawn till then. He also claimed that he was watching the programme taking place in the Vice-Chancellor’s residence when the alleged act of arson took place . The agitating students have formed a joint action committee and announced that they would gherao the Vice-Chancellor if they were not given justice. The committee also announced that it would boycott all university functions till the issue was resolved in their favour. The university authorities, however, seem to be bent upon taking action against the alleged culprits . A clear case has been made out against them with the complaint letter to the police saying the security officer and the Dean , Student Welfare saw the students running after burning the shaminas . The complaint says the students led by Sandeep also went to various hostels to provoke the students . It has also been reported that inflammatory speeches were made by them on the public address system yesterday which were heard by faculty members, including Dr H S Pannu, Dr J.A. Khan and Dr Harijinderpal Singh Walia . The complaint says the action had been taken against the students following submission of a report by a high powered committee constituted by the Vice-Chancellor which was headed by the Pro Vice Chancellor and included the Dean, Academics, Dean, Students and the Registrar. The trouble began on the campus on the night of October 18 when students of various hostels were not allowed to proceed to the residence of the Vice-Chancellor to watch a special cultural programme, which the authorities claimed was for guests only, being held there as part of the two-day Divali fair in the university which concluded yesterday. The police force posted at the spot swung into action and resorted to a mild lathi charge when students broke open a gate leading to the lane on which the residence of the Vice-Chancellor is situated . The students became agitated after this incident and some of them burnt four of five tents in which stalls for the Divali mela were to be opened . Yesterday they delayed starting of the
Divali mela by not letting stalls to be put up till noon. Though the mela started by noon some students continued to sit on dharna till the evening. |
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