The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Police plans drive to nab criminals
Main target migrant labourers
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 22 — Keeping in mind the rise in the incidents of crime in Ludhiana involving all segments, the police has decided to launch a drive to hunt out anti-social elements in the city. A massive combing operation is being launched in which criminal as well as those shielding such people would be rounded up.

Disclosing the modus operandi of these operations, Senior Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Singh told The Tribune that in the first phase all those landlords would be proceeded against, who failed to intimate the police station concerned about the details of their tenants. Migrant labourers would be a special target in this drive. Factory owners have been asked to give out details about their workers.

Mr Kuldeep Singh said; “It is not so much an employee who is our suspect, but his unemployed friends and relatives who have come to the city, but have failed to secure a job.” He said: “Those who do not get jobs, initially start doing petty crimes for bread and butter and later on become a big problem for society.” These people often commit a crime and go back to their native place in Bihar, Uttar Pardesh and Madhya Pardesh. The police remains helpless because they do not have the address to locate the accused. Sometimes, fugitives come here to dodge the police in other states, but end up in the city, creating problems.

There have been many incidents in the city that show that timely intimation about suspect migrant labourers has saved innocent people. Sometimes the police becomes helpless when domestic servants run away after committing crimes and the police does not have the address of the accused.

In the mega city crime is on the rise because people are not cooperating with the administration. The Ludhianvis are busy making money and ignore to take steps about their own safety. Police officials disclosed that in some areas on a plot several small rooms are occupied by migrant labourers. The rooms are occupied by five to 10 people at a time, and landlords generally do not inform the police. The landlords are unaware of the fact that a migrant labourer could be a criminal which could create problems for an ordinary citizen.

Mr Kuldeep Singh disclosed that the police was launching the operation based on a notification issued sometime back that required the landlords to intimate the police about their tenants. Mr Singh said that a case would be registered against the defaulters under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.

Telecom services disrupted
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 22 — The residents, shopkeepers, traders and employees in the area falling under the Mata Rani and Transport Nagar exchanges have been subjected to a lot of harassment due to inefficiency of the Telecommunication Department as the telephone lines in several areas under these exchanges have been disrupted for more than five days.

Most of the complainants of Bhadaur House, Chaura Bazar and Field Ganj said that whenever they dialed a number, there was a message saying "all lines in this route are busy, please dial after some time or it persistently gives an engage tone or there is no dial tone for 10 to 12 seconds or this number does not exist or the facility is not available on your telephone.''

Mr Rakesh Jain, General Secretary, Rashtriya Jagriti Sangh, Crime Prevention Bureau, complained that the numbers starting from digits 66 of the New Madhopuri area could not get through. Mr Jain also said that the telephone number of Mr Neeraj Jain, president of the bureau, was out of order for more than a week. He alleged that despite repeated complaints, no action was taken by the department.

Mr Jain said that the services of the Mata Rani and Transport Nagar exchanges had been deteriorating for the past few months and the department officials always gave unsatisfactory reply.

Ludhiana Tribune tried to talk to the official concerned at telephone No 701166 to seek some information. The attendant was not only rude but refused to comment on the issue and banged the phone.

GNGC Principal likely to quit
By Deepkamal Kaur

LUDHIANA, Feb 22 — The normal functioning of the Guru Nanak Girls’ College, Model Town, is likely to be hit once again, with the officiating principal threatening to quit. The ongoing tussle between the two groups of the management is once again said to be the reason behind the reported decision.

The principal has reportedly told some aides that she could no longer bear the conflicting pressure of the opposing mgt group and, therefore, has told the management that she would quit from the post in a day or two.

Informed sources in the college revealed that the decision of the principal had once again triggered panic among the teaching faculty, as the drawing and disbursing powers were also vested with Ms Paramjit Kaur. It may be recalled that owing to irregularities in payment of salaries by the two management groups, the entire teaching as well as non-teaching staff of the college had gone on strike in December last and the two management groups had reached an agreement that the disbursing powers be given to the officiating principal.

At that time, the students had also gone on strike as their half-yearly examination were re-scheduled at least thrice. Now with the final examination of the session about to commence, the students are a worried lot.

It may be recalled that Ms Paramjit Kaur is the second principal to be appointed in the past three months. Earlier, after prolonged illness, Ms Jasbir Minhas had gone on medical leave, following, which the senior-most lecturer, Ms Indu Kaushal, had taken over as the officiating principal in October. Owing to pressures from the two groups as well as for domestic reasons, Ms Kaushal had resigned from the post in December and Ms Paramjit Kaur had taken over.

Repeated efforts made to contact Ms Paramjit Kaur over the phone proved futile, as there was no response from the other side.

Kila Raipur games begin tomorrow
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 22 — Grewals Sports Stadium is all set to host the 67th Kila Raipur sport festival, commonly known as Rural Olympics of India to be held from February 24 to 26.

Mr S.K. Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, and Mr Jaskaran Singh, SSP, Jagraon, inspected the site. Mr Sandhu said that for smooth conduct of the games, six different committees had been set up to make the foolproof arrangements for the games.

The traditional rural disciplines like bullock cart race, which is considered as the main event including tent pegging, tug-of-war, sack lifts and dare devil performance by nihangs would keep the spectators on the edge of their rest on all the three days.A rich feast of cultural programmes by the renowned folk singers of Punjab would also be provided at the festival. A galaxy of prominent personalities including political bigwigs and sports persons would also be present to extend all kind of assistance. Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi, President, SGPC, would inaugurate the festival. Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Technical Education Minister, would be chief guest on Feburary 25 and the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, would distribute the prizes to the winners.

The schedule of the games is: February 24 — athletics: 100 m (primary), 200m, 400 m, 100 m and 800 m (under-19) cycle race 1500 m, bullock cart races, hockey, weightlifting jerk below 60 kg, 60kg to 75 kg, 75 to 90 kg and 90 kg and above, kabaddi (62kg section) mini cart race, dog races (final) tug-of-war. On February 25 — athletics: 100 m (men) 200 m (women) 800 m (women) 1500 m (men), long jump (men and women) 400 m (men), javelin throw (men), discus throw, bullock cart race, lifting of sacks (pairs), gymnastics and acrobatics, tug-of-war, martial arts show by Nihangs, kabaddi open, horse race, aero dynamic show, and deaf and dumb races; February 26 — athletics: shot put (men and women) 100 m women, high jump (men and women), javelin throw (men and women), 100 m men, 200 m men, 400 m women and men, 300 m men, cycle race 3000 m men, kabaddi open academics, handicapped events, bullock cart race, veterans (70-80 years), 80 years and above, shot put 70 to 75 years, horse race, tent pegging and tug-of-war.

Biased handling of Avtar murder case alleged
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 22 — Cutting across the party lines, members of various political parties staged a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office to protest against the biased handling of the case in which Avtar Singh was allegedly murdered by the former police cat, Gurmit Singh Pinki, and his accomplice Dhand.

After organising a protest rally, the leaders of various political parties sat on a dharna and later handed over a memorandum seeking punishment to the guilty. The leaders alleged that the manner in which Pinki was freely moving in the city with another ‘criminal’ Dhand, had created panic among the people and relatives of the deceased.

The leaders including Mr Surjan Singh Thekedar, Mr Tarsem Jodhan, Mr Charan Singh Lohara, Mr K.K.Bawa alleged that the criminals were enjoying the protection of senior police officials in the city. The leaders said as a government servant, Pinky enjoyed the status of an Inspector with having wealth worth crores of rupees and demanded inquiry for amassing wealth disproportionate to his status be held, apart from a high-level investigation into Pinki’s links with criminals and about his past criminal record.

The promise made by state officials and government representatives that family members of Avtar Singh would be adequately compensated, was not fulfilled yet.

The leaders added that law and order situation in the city was deteriorating day by day and police had failed to provide safety and protection to the citizens.

Meanwhile, a clarification made by Mr Kuldeep Singh Grewal and Mr Kuldeep Singh Arora, the counsels in Pinky’s case, said that they never offered any amount to the family of Avtar Singh as published in an English newspaper on February 20,2001. They said that the allegations mentioned in the news were false and frivolous. They alleged that the allegations were levelled just to defame them and to gain sympathy of the public at large.

Precautions can reduce kidnappings
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 22 — There has been a spurt in incidents of kidnapping of children in Ludhiana recently. In the past few months, there have been five such incidents, but parents have still not realised the seriousness of the situation. In most of the cases, kidnappers turn out to be persons known to children.

The kidnapper of Ashley, too, was known to the child. This man had picked up Ashley from his tutor’s house. The teacher, too, had allowed the child to go with the man without verifying from Ashley’s parents whether the child needed to see a doctor as the kidnapper had claimed.

Such incidents can be avoided if the parents, teachers and children cooperate with each other. It is difficult for children to imagine that their protectors can turn predators. Adults should teach them how to take care of themselves whenever they are away from home.

The district administration has not launched any drive to verify the antecedents of rickshawpullers who drive students to school. There are no policemen outside schools when these get over. The administration should have staggered school timings to avoid rush at break time. The police vigil has not been stepped up in the wake of recent incidents. School authorities have also not bothered to verify the antecedents of drivers of vehicles that bring students to school.

If the police is alert, kidnappers will not dare kidnap children in broad daylight. That Ashley’s kidnapper was shot dead might prove to be a deterrent for others like him.

“Heads of schools here should ensure that children learn safety precautions. Children should be taught how to recognise and deal with dangers in the street. They should be taught how to avoid strangers. Ms Sudarshan Jain, parent of a school kid, said, “Parents should not send children with any driver whose antecedents are not known.”

Tips for parents

Tell children not to leave school, home or tuition classes to go out with anyone who is not a member of the family.

Children should be told not to accept sweets, toys or money from strangers. Kidnappers usually lure children with gifts.

Children should not be allowed to leave the house without the permission of parents.

Children should not stray back in school after the break time. A lonely child in the street can be an easy prey for a kidnapper.

A child, who is out of the house, should know his telephone number and address, so that, in any emergency, he or she can contact home.

Children should also be told contact numbers of the police.

Parents should follow drivers of vehicles who pick up children from home, for some time. If the child is the last one to be dropped, parents should make sure that the driver is reliable.

Suicide attempt by lover
From Our Correspondent

KHAMANO, Feb 22 — Harpreet Singh (23), a resident of Khamano, tried to commit suicide by injuring himself with a knife after entering the house of his beloved.

According to the parents of the girl, Deepika, the boy came to their house at about 12.30 p.m. on a scooter (PB-49-0994). He threatened them if they would not agree to marry their girl with him, he would kill them and himself. When the father of girl, Mr Tilak Raj Arora, refused to do so, the boy injured himself with a knife. Kewal Kumar and Darshan Lal with the help of Mr Arora overpowered the boy and rang up the police. The parents of the girl contended that their girl had already been engaged.

The police has registered a case under Sections 453, 309 and 506, IPC, and arrested the accused.

The accused, when contacted, said that he had been having a love affair with the girl for the past four years. He also disclosed that the father of the girl and the girl were agree to the marriage proposal, but relatives of the girl were against this marriage. He also alleged that he was beaten up in their home and to save his life the injured himself with a knife.

Helpless father waits for daugher’s body
From Our Correspondent

DORAHA, Feb 22 — A helpless father, sitting on Gurthalipull, near Doraha, is in painful wait of her daughter’s dead body who reportedly jumped into the Sirhind canal with her two-year-old daughter, notwithstanding agony and harassment by her in-laws.

Mohinder Singh of Khatia village in Udham Singh Nagar district (Uttaranchal), father of Ravinder Kaur, has been sitting near the Gurthalipull for 48 hours to recover the body of his daughter and grand-daughter who disappeared from the house of her in-laws in New Janta Nagar on February 16.

Narrating the story, he said: “I married my daughter. I gave whatever I could in the form of dowry to my daughter, but I was not aware of the fact that I was carving a hellish future for my daughter by marrying her there. For some time everything went of well, but the husband and her in-laws soon returned to their true colours. Continuous physical and mental harassment to which my daughter was subjected was unbearable. So I tried to meet their demands in one or the other way. But their greed kept increasing day by day till they came with the demand of a Maruti car or Rs 2 lakh. I was not in a position to accept the demand. I along with my wife came to Ludhiana on January 27 and urged her in-laws not to compel her any more for bringing more dowry.

But the torture continued, rather increased. It was on February 16 that my daughter asked for money from her husband as she wanted to go to Uttaranchal and meet her parents. They threatened her that if she went there, the doors of her in-laws’ house would be closed for her. She made a phone call from a PCO at 11.34 a.m. that very day and insisted on coming.

I thought she had started for Uttaranchal. When she did not reach by night, I started for Ludhiana early in the morning and reached there at 10 p.m. I enquired about her from her in-laws but they seemed to be ignorant of everything. I then went to Avtar Singh, his brother’s son who also resides in Ludhiana, but to no avail.

Then I came to know that she was aware of the Sirhind canal nearby. So I came to Gurthalipull from where a shopkeeper told me that it is said that a lady had jumped into the canal along with her daughter on February 16 afternoon from the Rampur bridge, nearly 5 km from Gurthalipull. I have been sitting here since yesterday for the dead body of my daughter and granddaughter.”

An FIR has also been registered at police station Division No 6, Ludhiana.

According to Mr Joginder Singh, police station in charge, “raids were made at their house in New Janata Nagar but the husband and the in-laws, including her father-in-law Iqbal Singh, mother-in-law Manjit Kaur and brother-in-laws, have absconded.”

COMMUNITY

Peace and sanity go together

LUDHIANA, There was tension on both the sides of the Radcliff line more than half-a-century ago. Memories of the ghastly episodes of the period have now faded from the minds of persons directly involved. But some facts have become myths and these myths have now been interwoven into the texture of the mind. Some years ago, the Pakistani novelist, Intezar Hussain, wrote Basti in which he bemoaned the gruesome happenings during the days of partition. Now Rajee Seth has written a Hindi short story Ruko Intezar Hussain, which is a dirge of those times.

In this story, Roshan, an old man of sixty, reads the novel Basti, just to while away time. In its pages, he finds a reference to the Anarkali Bazar of Lahore. He is at once reminded of that fateful moment when he had heard the heart-rending cries of the girl he had loved. He had gone upstairs to warn her family, that lived two houses away, against hooligans in the neighbourhood. Nikki his beloved, had seemed in the grip of a monster. But at that moment Roshan’s father had pulled him back from the balcony, as they were to rush to a refugee camp in DAV college, Lahore. Just then, his grand-daughter, Sweety, passes through his room. He realises sudden that she is of the same age as Nikki was at the time they had to migrate from the land of their birth. He himself had been nineteen-year-old at that time.

While writing this, I am reminded of the World Punjabi Conference held in Chandigarh from December 22 to December 25, last year. There I met Fakhar Zaman, who had come from Lahore with a number of other writers, thinkers and artists.The warmth with which he had met me, infused a new hope in my heart. I told him about my article regarding his Punjabi novel, Sat Gawache Lok, (Seven lost persons), published in a journal more than two decades ago. He at once put down the sweet dish he was holding in his hand and embraced me. He must have seen the reflection of his long lost dreams in my beaming face.

The scenario in Kashmir is no less distressing than it was in the days when people on both sides of the border experienced temporary insanity. Now the snowflakes of goodwill waft around to settle down in the valley but the atmosphere is too sultry and humid to allow them to settle down. Nature is bountiful, but it holds back its boon when misled persons forget the concept of sanctity of human life. The joy of fellowship can be experienced only when the heart is purged of all feelings of jealousy, malice and acrimony.

Samaroh committee reconstituted
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 22 — The Punjab Government has reconstituted the State-level Maharishi Valmiki and Guru Ravi Das Janam Divas Samaroh Committee with Mr Vijay Danav, Advisor, Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Lachman Dravid, Convener, Bhartiya Valmiki Dharam Samaj, Mr Choudhry Yash Pal, President, Municipal Karamchari Dal and Mr Ashwani Sahota, Secretary, Bhartiya Valmiki Daharam Samaj, all from Ludhiana among its non-official members.

The committee, headed by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, Minister for Information and Public Relations, Minister of State for Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, Principal Secretary to the Finance Department, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Secretaries to the Government of Punjab, Departments of Higher Education, School Education, Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, Cultural Affairs and Information and Public Relation, as its official members. The Director, Information and Public Relations, will be the member secretary.

The other non-official members of the committee are Director, Doordarshan Kendra, Chairperson, Maharishi Valmiki Chair, Punjabi University, Patiala, Chairperson, Sri Guru Ravi Das Chair, Punjab University, Chandigarh, State President of Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Bhartiya Janata Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Punjab Pradesh Janata Dal, Secretary, CPI, Secretary, CPI (M), Mr K.S. Raju, Chandigarh, Mr Ram Lubhaya Gill, Batala, Mr Ashok Adya, Phagwara, Mr Ram Lal Jassi, Jalandhar, Mr R.L. Sabharwal, Chandigarh and Mr Bodh Raj Nahar, Chandigarh.

Punjab pensioners to gherao assembly
From Our Correspondent

SAMRALA, Feb 22 — In a joint statement to the Press here yesterday, Mr Prem Sagar Sharma (Samrala), President, and Mr Ajit Singh Bagri, General Secretary, said that the Punjab State Pensioners Maha Sangh had decided at its executive meeting held at Malwa Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, to hold a rally in the Bridge Market, Sector 17, Chandigarh, on March 20 and thereafter to gherao the Punjab Assembly.

The executive also decided to hold rallies at the treasury offices in the state on February 27 and 28 so that the Badal government may be awakened from its deep slumber. The maha sangh has been fighting for the acceptance of the recommendations of the Fourth Punjab Pay Commission concerning pensioners.

The maha sangh has held detailed discussions with the Chief Minister, and the Finance Minister, but to no purpose. The leaders have appealed to the pensioners all over Punjab to come in great numbers to make the gherao a success.

Cong, YC activists gear up for Delhi rally
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 22 — Thousands of Congress and Youth Congress workers from the city will participate in the national level farmers rally to be organised by the party in Delhi on February 25 and to be addressed, among others, by the AICC president, Ms Sonia Gandhi.

This was stated by the District Congress Committee (DCC) president, Mr Surinder Dawar and Mr Pawan Diwan, Chairman, Urban Development Cell of the All India Youth Congress, after a party meeting at Congress Bhavan here today.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Dawar, Mr Diwan and other senior party functionaries observed that Congress and its allied bodies had always been alive to the problems of the people and stood by the masses in difficult times. Farmers, all over the country, were having a tough time, with cost of farm inputs going up and agricultural produce becoming unremunerative. The governments at the centre and the state were castigated for mounting debts of the small and marginal farmers and for allowing the WTO and GATT to further add to the misery of the peasantry.

Prominent among others, who addressed the meeting were Mr Nahar Singh Gill, general secretary and Mr Krishan Kumar Bawa, secretary of the PPCC.

Meanwhile, the Urban Development Cell of Youth Congress held a series of meetings in different localities of the city to mobilise party workers for the rally. According to chairman of the district unit, Mr Akshay Bhanot, meetings were organised in Vikas Nagar, Model Town, Model Gram, Jawahar Nagar, Haibowal and Kundanpuri to expose the anti-people and anti-farmer policies of the government.

The speakers at the meetings focussed on the pathetic condition of the farmers and failure of the government to take timely preventive measures to protect the farmers from the adverse impact of WTO and GATT. Not only were the farmers being denied remunerative prices of their produce, the whole marketing network of the government had collapsed and farmers were made to wait for days and at times, weeks together to sell their produce, often at prices much below the minimum support price (MSP) fixed by the government.

Mr Bhanot announced that workers in large numbers would reach Delhi by buses and take part in the rally. Party functionaries were assigned duties for mobilising maximum number of workers from all of the district, he added.

‘Govt neglecting villages’
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 22 — Mr Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, SAD legislator owing allegiance to the former SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, has alleged that the state government was discriminating against the villages in grant of funds for development works.

Laying the foundation stone of a Rs 5.50 lakh drainage work in Chak Kalan village, near here, he said the government paid more attention to development of towns and cities, while the villages were neglected and the rural population was deprived of basic civic amenities. He called for making available more resources at the disposal of the villages for speedy execution of the development works.

Mr Khalsa presented a cheque for Rs 2 lakh to the village sarpanch, Mr Sukhwant Singh Chak Kalan, for development works in the village.

Mr Sukhwinder Singh Garcha, General Secretary, Sarb Hind Shiromani Youth Akali Dal, Mr Gurbaksh Singh Pudain, Member, SGPC, Mr Gurdev Singh Dakha, President, SHSAD, Jagraon, and Mr Sukhwant Singh Chak Kalan, District President of Youth Akali Dal, among others, addressed the function. Later Mr Khalsa, Mr Pudain and other dignitaries were honoured.

K.D. Mehta dead
From Our Correspondent

KHANNA, Feb 22 — Renowned politician and former chairman of the Punjab Poultry Corporation K.D. Mehta died here this evening of a massive heart attack.

Mr Mehta, who was known as Kuku Mehta in this area, was a close confidant of a senior Congress leader, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, and a close relatives of a former Governor of Punjab, Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber.

All political parties and social organisations and prominent personalities, including Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, MP, Mr Bachan Singh Cheema, MLA, and a number of municipal councillors, condoled the death of Mr Mehta.

Hundreds of people attended the funeral. They included Lieut-Gen Chhibber, Mr Upkar Krishan Sharma, President, SD College Management Committee, Mr A.C. Vaid, Principal SD College, Mr Devinder Singh Cheema, member, SGPC, municipal councillors and leaders of various political parties.

Flower show
From A Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 22 — The Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, PAU, will organise a flower show and competition on February 27 and 28 in the examination hall of the College of Agriculture, PAU.

The entries for the competition will be judged under three main categories — cut flowers, fresh and dry arrangement of flowers and foliage, pot plants, cactus, succulents, bonsai, etc. The garden material and plants will be available for sale at cheaper rates.