Board to probe case of missing NSCs
Cops sitting over case: postal department
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 26
In a surprise move, the city police today ordered the constitution of a board of senior police officials to inquire into the mysterious disappearance of 200 national savings certificates (NSCs) amounting to Rs 20 lakh even as the city postal department accused the police of inaction.

More than an year has passed since the certificates went missing and over seven months after the postal department informed the police that a local businessman had approached a post office for verifying 10 certificates belonging to the disappeared lot, but the police has not made any progress.

According to letters written to the DGP, Punjab, and the SSP, Ludhiana, by Mr A.S.I.S. Paul, Chief Postmaster-General, Punjab, and Mr M.K. Khan, Senior Superintendent of Police, the police was sitting over the case. They said though the postal department had lodged an FIR about the disappearance of the NSCs in March 2000, the police registered a new FIR into the case only two days back.

While the police had registered a case of lost NSCs last year, it registered a case of fraud against the post office on April 23. Perplexed at the latest development of the constitution of a board, the officials of the postal department said they failed to understand why the police was following a circuitous route in the case. They argued that the police should have questioned the businessman about the source from which he got the certificates and then the case could have led to the man responsible for the disappearance of NSCs.

Mystery surrounds the failure of the police to question the businessman, a resident of Civil Lines, whom the police has not been able to contact in the past more than seven months.

The DSP, (EO) wing, Mr Satish Malhotra , when contacted, said the case was registered at the kotwali police station at the directions from senior officials in Chandigarh. He added that the EO wing received the file yesterday and was about to start investigations into the case when the orders of the constitution of the board were received. According to him, the board would be headed by SP, Headquarters, and would include CIA staff, an inspector from the EO wing, besides him. He said the board would meet shortly.

The case of the missing NSCs came to light on March 30 last year. The postal department lodged a complaint with the kotwali police station that a large number of NSCs were being sorted out in the Central Post Office, Mata Rani Chowk. After counting, 200 certificates from number 2EE-774601 to 774800, each worth Rs 10,000, were found missing.

The police and the postal department were clueless for several months. The case took a new turn on September 21 last year, when a businessman approached the Civil Lines post office for verification of 10 certificates. The certificates he possessed were bearing the numbers 774711 to 774720, which were from the missing lot. The man claimed that his wife had bought these certificates, amounting to Rs 10 lakh, from some person, but he doubted the authenticity of the certificates and had thus come to verify them.

According to Mr M.K. Khan, they informed the police immediately about the man and his address. He said the department did not suspect the businessman and it seemed that someone had duped his wife. The sources in the kotwali police station said they had gone to question the businessman, but he was not available. 

Farmers, pensioners flock to sangat darshan
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 26
Some farmers of Pohir village near Ahmedgarh have been running from one authority to another to get compensation for their crop, which was damaged by fire.

According to Ranjit Singh and Harbans Singh, their crop was burnt due to sparking from the high-tension wires running over their fields on April 21 around 2 p.m.

They approached the Deputy Commissioner at the sanghat darshan programme today seeking compensation for the damage to their crops. However, they were reportedly told by the DC to approach the Punjab State Electricity Board for compensation.

Bibi Harbans Kaur, the 75-year-old widow of Joginder Singh, former sarpanch of Jodha village, has been running from pillar to post for the past seven years to get the magisterial orders regarding the payment of her retirement dues implemented. She was working as a lady health visitor. After completing service, she was not provided any of the retirement benefits, not even the pension.

In 1993, the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, ordered the payment of all the benefits to her. However, so far she has not got any, despite a lapse of eight years. Harbans Kaur has nobody to fall back upon, with both her daughters married off.

Residents of Sant Nagar, in their representation to the DC, sought the shifting of the godown of a gas agency from their locality. They said the presence of such a godown was dangerous since it was located in a residential area. The DC said, the matter had been referred to the licensing authority.

Ms Naseeb Kaur, wife of ASI Jagir Singh, has not been paid the compensation for the damage caused to their house due to the fire allegedly set to their house by militants in 1991 in Binjal village in Raikote.

In a separate complaint, Jagir Singh of Yari Kallan village in Sadar Police Station, alleged that the police was not taking any action against his younger son, Darshan Singh, who beat him and his elder daughter-in-law Charanjit Kaur. He alleged that on Baisakhi, Darshan Singh and his wife, Harjinder, along with some other persons entered their house and beat them mercilessly. While he suffered injuries in his hip, Charanjit’s right arm was fractured. Charanjit’s husband is suffering from cardiac problems.

Although they complained to the police, no action was taken. They alleged that the village sarpanch, Amarjit Singh, was supporting Darshan Singh with the result that the police was not taking any action against him.

Woman branded by tantriks
Surinder Bhardwaj

Fatehgarh Sahib, April 26
In a heart-rending incident, the district police saved the life of a young woman, who had been branded with red hot iron rods by alleged “witch doctors” of Allian village 2 km from here. The police had admitted her to the local civil hospital, where she is struggling for life with multiple burn injuries. The incident proves that even in the age of technological advances in every field, there are many pockets where people are caught in the web of superstitions.

While talking to “The Tribune” at the Civil Hospital today, Rakesh Singh, a visually handicapped resident of Buchre village said that his sister was married to one Dilbagh Ram of Allian village and had three children. She had been ill for some time and her husband had been getting her treated from a quack. As she showed little sign of recovery he took her to some “exorcists” of the village. The women exorcists said that Balbir Kaur, the victim, was under the spell of some evil spirits and would not recover till these were driven out. The husband consented to the treatment.

Balbir Kaur said that she was gripped tight by a number of men and women and the alleged witch doctors applied red hot iron rods to her feet, back, arms, thighs and neck. All her screams fell on deaf ears. Unable to bear the pain, she fainted.

Her brother, Rakesh Singh, said that he and his family came to know from someone that his ailing sister was being “treated” by a group of tantrik women. He said when they went to her in-laws house, they did not permit him to meet her. Suspecting foul play, the family reported the matter to the SSP, who marked the complaint to SHO Fatehgarh Sahib for necessary action. The SHO rescued his sister and brought her to the hospital. He demanded action against the alleged tantrik women and also against her husband.

The doctors attending her at the emergency said that she had multiple burn injuries on most parts of the body. Ajay Pal Singh, SHO, told that the police had registered a case U/S 326, 34 IPC, but no arrest had been made so far.

Though the incident has shocked the entire district, but surprisingly, no rationalist organisation has come forward to expose the misdeeds of the so called “tantriks”.

Forum directs PSEB to pay Rs 4,000
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 26
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) to pay Rs 4,000 as compensation on account of deficiency in services to Mr Davinder Singh, a resident of Industrial Area. The forum has also quashed the demand of the board seeking Rs 11,009 from the complainant as charges on account of his electricity bill.

According to the complaint, Mr Davinder Singh had not received any bimonthly bill since the time of installation of his electricity connection. The complainant stated before the forum that he had received a provisional bill in March, 1999, which was not in accordance with the reading on the meter. It was alleged that the bill was in excess and without any details. After that the consumer had requested the PSEB vide a letter on March 18, 1999, to send the correct bill as per the exact reading of the meter. The PSEB had directed a Junior Engineer (J.E.) to give the report. The J.E concerned reported after the inspection that the meter reading was 191 units only and that the seals and glass of the meter were intact. After the report, the Board had cancelled the bill.

The consumer stated that he again received a bill of Rs 11,009 on September 20, 2000, without any date or mention of the period for which the bill had been issued. He further stated that even the meter number was not mentioned in the bill.

The Board pleaded that the bills had been regularly issued to the complainant, but he did not deposit the bills. The respondent further stated that if there was any discrepancy in the bills, the same could be corrected. However, the Board denied the issue of any provisional bill in March, 1999, as alleged by the complainant. It was also denied by the PSEB that the consumer had approached it and the provisional bill had been cancelled on the basis of the report of the J.E. concerned.

The forum observed that as per the documents produced, it was not clear as to whether the bill was sent on the basis of consumption or on the basis of minimum charges. The forum further stated that the bill lacked details. It was not clear as to how the demand of Rs 11,009 had been calculated, and as such the disputed demand was liable to be quashed, the forum held.

The forum further stated that it was a clear deficiency on the part of the PSEB as it had not been sending the bills regularly and accordingly the forum directed it to pay Rs 4,000 on account of deficiency in services.

Where education takes a backseat
Dr Rajeev Gupta

Ludhiana, April 26
Twentyfour-year-old Sunita, a postgraduate, went into severe depression when she was informed by her parents that she was to be engaged to a boy from a business family who had studied only till Class XII. Twentytwo-year-old Kamini, who had an MBA degree, was sent to a medical clinic in a state of depressive stupor when her family decided to fix her marriage with a boy running his business who had studied upto BA part I. Both girls suffered a nervous breakdown. It is common in Ludhiana for a graduate or a postgraduate girl getting married to an undergraduate or matriculate boy.

Sunita’s businessman father says, “When the boys grow up, it becomes a family compulsion to take their help in business. Once they get taste of the business, they start losing interest in studies.

To begin with, boys are asked to attend business work after school or college timings. Gradually they stop studies and only attend to business. On the contrary, girls keep on studying.” Many business families in Ludhiana do not lay premium on formal school or college education.

Most of the local business families want their daughters to be married to well-settled businessmen, professionals or Class I officers.

They believe that most of the government or private employees have limited earnings while an average business gives reasonable earnings.

Most of the girls from business families are used to comfortable lives which only a limited number of employees’ families can afford. A medium-level shopkeeper or businessman can easily earn between Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000 a month.

Kamini’s mother found it strange that her daughter should become so touchy on the issue of her fiancee’s education.

She says, “If the boy, when assessed, scores nine points out of ten, educational qualification and general intelligence are pushed to the background.

I always gave importance to the boy’s family and his earning capacity. How can one attach undue importance to the boy’s education?”

Most of the units in Ludhiana are in the small-scale sector. Locals are highly enterprising and keep on expanding their business.

Most of them have a knack of making money. Ludhianvis think that these abilities cannot be learnt in classroom settings.

That is why most families give less importance to the education of their boys. The city is full of rags-to-riches stories.

The city is witnessing a recent change. Thanks to the effects of globalisation and the open market economy, city businessmen are understanding the importance of education and make efforts to send their boys to universities in the UK, the USA, Canada and Australia.

Many business families make it a point to send their boys to the best schools and colleges in the city, outside the state and even abroad. Mr Narinder Mahajan says the new era belongs only to the educated.

Babbu Maan’s song evokes strong protests
our correspondent

Ludhiana, April 26
The song Kabza from Babbu Maan’s new album Saun di Jhari has evoked protests from social, cultural and educational organisations in the city, with activists calling for an immediate ban on the song and withdrawal of cassettes and compact discs from the market.

The song, penned by Maan, open with the words Khedange jatt aj khoon diyan holiyan, chak lo rivolver raflan ve kabza laina hai (The jats will have a bloodbath today, pick up revolvers and rifles as we have to take possession). Maan further tells the listeners to pick up double barrel guns and assault rifles (dunalian and santalian) and also wants an attack on a witness with a sharp-edged weapon (khich ke gandasa ik jarh de gawah de).

The Lok Sangharsh Forum, in a memorandum submitted to the district administration, has sought immediate intervention of the State Government and the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for imposition of a ban on the objectionable song and its withdrawal from television channels. The forum president, Mr Arun Katyal, says the songs and music leave a deep impact on the minds of the Punjabi youth and such a song, propagating violence in its worst form, will pollute the minds of the Punjabi youth and draw them towards brawls and taking the law in their own hands.

The District Youth Congress (DYC) has threatened to launch an agitation if the district authorities fail to act and the audio cassettes and video CDs of the song are not withdrawn from the market. The DYC president, Mr Parminder Mehta, has urged the State Government, the Union Home Ministry and the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry to take notice of the song and ensure that it is not screened on television channels.

FENG SHUI TIPS
Practical applications

ANYONE can apply Feng Shui. It is not a very difficult subject either to understand or implement. Feng Shui practice can be applied in almost every phase of the living and working conditions. It has to do with enhancing the engergies of the surrounding environment as well as immediate living and working place. It functions on the promise that if one lives — breathes, sleeps, sits, eats and works — surrounded by healthy, vibrant energy, then they will be enveloped by an aura of good vibrations that attract excellent good fortunes. On the other hand, if one is surrounded by bad energies, the environment brings grave misfortunes. Good luck comes in many different ways and is made up of all the material and spiritual aspirations. Bad luck also manifests itself in many ways like from getting sick, to losing money, to missing opportunities, constant failure and having everything go wrong with your life. Enjoying good Feng Shui gives you edge over others. Sustaining bad Feng Shui, puts you at a very big disadvantage. Feng Shui principles should be incorporated into the design and layout of homes and offices. If you are in business, Feng Shui can enhance your turnover and your profits. If you are a professional Feng Shui will bring you opportunities for profitable recognition, and if you need love and marriage Feng Shui can do that as well.

Harshna

AT THE CROSS ROADS
Beauty of a book
N.S. TASNEEM

“IS there anything more beautiful than a good book?”
Obviously a beautiful idea, clothed in a beautiful language and presented in two beautiful covers has no challenge from any quarter. It has eternal attraction and perennial value. Over the ages, good books have been produced and these are indeed a thing of beauty and a joy for ever.

The government has decided to observe 2001 as the Year of the Book. The aim is to underline importance of reading habit and absorption of knowledge. In the recent years, reading habits have taken a back-seat. The focus now is on the television and computer screen. Things have changed a lot since the invention of the idiot box and the opening of the window on the Internet. Yet the book continues to have an upper berth in this fast-moving world.

The media opens a storehouse of knowledge, but the books carry the readers to the threshold of wisdom. Everyone cannot cross this threshold with a book in hand. This can be done only when the mind is attuned to the harmony that pervades the universe. The mind at ease is a precondition for the establishment of link with the thoughtful persons behind the books. It is the thought, coupled with imagination, that germinates a book that seldom allows dust to settle down on it. Other works are generally consigned to the dust bin of neglect, else they are dumped in the amnesia of indifference.

I would like to celebrate this Year of the Book with great fanfare. There is need for book fairs on small scales in towns and cities. There should be some sort of screening of books by the publishers as the poor stuff pollutes the mind. Those who are out to make a fast buck can easily branch out to other trades as book publishing is more of a sacred duty than a cheap trade. New writers should consult the established authors who know better. There should be no hurry to hog the limelight, on the mere publishing of a book never ensures that.

COMMUNITY

A woman’s tale of woe
Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 26
Her story has all the elements of a pastoral tragedy. Thirtyfive-year-old Gurpreet Kaur of Kanija village near Machhiwara was married about 15 years ago to Jeet Singh of nearby Bandowal village. But for last about five years she is staying perforce with her elderly father as Jeet Singh has deserted her. He is alleged to have already married another woman whom he has brought to his home, without getting a legal divorce from Gurpreet.

According to Gurpreet, she was married to Jeet Singh about 15 years ago when she was about 20. She seemed to live happily with her husband for some years. However, soon she learnt that Jeet Singh had already started ignoring her. “Over a period I realised he had lost interest in me”, Gurpreet said, with all the rustic innocence, adding that he would remain away from home for days together.

The unsuspecting Gurpreet believed Jeet Singh, who would tell her that he had to remain away on work. While Jeet Singh used to be away, she would work at home and look after his (Jeet Singh’s) family “like a house maid”. Subsequently Gurpreet learned that her husband was already staying with some other woman. Although he denied it for some time and tried to convince his wife that she was ill-informed. “I believed him, as I had no other option although I did have some doubts”, she said, while adding, “I thought that he may not stay with her for long”.

She tried to reconcile to her fate when she was convinced that her husband was staying with another woman. “Where could I go? I decided to stay as I knew that my father was a poor man and could not feed me”, she expressed her helplessness. “I thought if such were my fate, I should reconcile to it and suffer it”, she said, with tears in her eyes.

Soon she realised that Jeet Singh wanted to get rid of her as she was unable to bear a child. It became difficult for her to continue with Jeet Singh in his house. “I was treated like a slave and humiliated time and again”, she recalled, while adding, “only then I returned to my father’s house about five years ago”. Since then she is staying there and Jeet Singh never bothered to enquire about her. Gurpreet does not know whether Jeet Singh has any child from his second wife or not. “Who knows?”, she remarked with all indifference.

Gurpreet waited for him to come some day. Even when her father and brother wanted to initiate legal action against Jeet Singh, she opposed it. She hoped against hope that some day her husband may accept her again. After five long years passed off, her elderly father Darshan Singh decided to initiate legal action. To his surprise nobody is prepared to listen to him.

Darshan Singh has only one son, who plies a cycle rickshaw to feed the large family, including five daughters. Darshan Singh has made several representations with the authorities seeking maintenance for his daughter. But his efforts have not yielded any results so far. Today he almost broke down while narrating his tale of woes to the Deputy Commissioner at the weekly sangat darshan. The DC assured him of full justice.

Cinema owner encroaches upon govt land
Kanchan Vasdev
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 26
A local cinema is using public land, earmarked for pavement, as a paid parking space. However, the authorities concerned are not taking any action.

In disregard of instructions issued by the Improvement Trust, the owner of Orient Cinema in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, besides misusing the land is also generating money by charging parking fee.

The trust, which owns the land, has not been able to check its misuse. It has been mentioned clearly in the layout map of F-Block market complex prepared by the trust that the area on the four sides of the cinema is earmarked for pavement. A visit to the cinema yesterday confirmed that the pavement was being used by the authorities as parking space on three sides of the cinema. The front and right side was being used for car parking and the back area was being used for scooter parking.

Interestingly, the construction of the pavement by the trust seems to be done to give advantage to the cinema owner.

Mr Madan Mohan Vyas, Chairman of the trust, said,“When I visited the site at the time of construction, the pavement on the front side was already completed. It was, however, a slant as the plinth level of the cinema was higher than that of the road. In order to join the both ends it was constructed in such a way. The rest three sides were also constructed in the same way so that water could not stagnant in the area”. He denied that the area was being used as a parking and maintained that it was not misused. He said, “I had asked the owner to put up a board in the area so that it can be used by pedestrians and not for parking”.

When the Chairman was told that there was no such board, he said he would ensure that the board was put up immediately. He said if it was being used as parking space then it was an encroachment.

An owner of a shop-cum-flat in the area, Major Kuljit Singh Sidhu, had written letters to the authorities. He even took the matter to the sangat darshan where the Deputy Commissioner said it was only a pavement and could not be misused.

Summer brings cheer to many faces
D.B.Chopra

Ludhiana, April 26
Though the sudden spurt in heat wave over the past few days is causing physical discomfort to many, it has proved to be a boon for those involved summer-related business activities.

Untolerable as it may be for some people, the summer season provides employment to thousands of seasonal workers who have all the reason to eagerly look forward to a scorching season.

Ice factories are working to capacity as a large number of ice-sellers have put up their platforms in every nook and corner of the town.

Go to any market of the town, especially the Chaura Bazar, and you will find an array of fans displayed outside shops. Decked up shops selling air-coolers, air-conditioners and refrigerators beckon prospective buyers with various bargain offers.

To cope with power-cuts, the residents this season are going in for power inverters rather than generators. Pollution, after all, is becoming a cause of concern among the residents.

The sale of ‘matkas’ and ‘surahees’, which are the best natural water coolers, is also brisk as there are thousands of poor men who cannot afford the luxury of a refrigerator. Among the affluent people too, there exist a good number of ‘nature lovers’ who prefer a glass of ‘matkola’ to any other cold drink. Ghumars in Killa Mohalla and elsewhere are indeed very busy these days.

The sale of water bottles which are mostly used by school-going kids is also picking up. Visit the local railway station or the bus stand and you find hawkers selling hand fans, summer caps, towel-hankies, kulfis and cold drinks which along with ice-cream form the bulk of the summer business running into several crores.

Visit Gur Mandi and you find retailers from the city and surrounding towns and villages buying various mosquito repellents and nets in big lots. Body deodorants and sprays are also in big demand. The wholesale business of bottled squashes and various flavoured concentrates and soda makers of all kinds is picking up with every passing day.

The business of summer wear for all age groups, particularly the kids, is also fast catching up. So are the businesses of sun-goggles and fancy umbrellas.

Sugarcane juice sellers are already doing brisk business all over the city. It is another matter whether you become strong or fall ill after taking the stuff. Then there are those who sell sweetened and coloured ice-balls which are equally relished by children and the grown-ups. The only thing that is out of place is the doubtful quality of colours used.

Otherwise too, the town is gearing up to meet the summer season in a cool way.

The oldest swimming pool of the town, the one in Rakh Bagh, has been cleaned and filled afresh in anticipation of a good swimming season ahead. Various roadside sellers have put up shades of different kinds ranging from tarpaulins to colourful beach umbrellas. ‘Chhabeels’, where passers-by can quench their thirst, are being put up by various religious, social and business organisations.

According to old-timers, the summer this time is most likely to be very severe on account of insufficient rainfall last year. Whatever may be the case, the city seems to be fully geared up to weather it.

Nightmare for phone subscribers
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 26
The breakdown in the Mata Rani Exchange has become a nightmare for BSNL subscribers as telephone lines are dead several times a day.

Senior telecom officials maintain that they are helpless as the exchange had outlived its utility and a permanent solution lies in replacing the outdated equipment in the exchange. Several telephones of the department have been faulty for the past many days. A senior official of the department says nothing much can be done to revive the telephones till equipment is changed.

“We are fed up with the workings of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited. We are forced to pay the rent, but the department is unable to provide us any facilities,” says Mr Sumit Gupta, a subscriber in Bhadaur House area.

The General Manager, Telecom, says they are aware of the complaints and the problem will be solved within three or four days, when the main pulse code modellation will be changed.

A subscriber says he is surprised to see the list of complaints with the department officials, who are ready with the answer that they will soon get the work done.

Mr Arvind, a subscriber, complains that it takes six hours to get through a number. Many persons say they are unable to listen to the voice of the person at the other end, not to mention the frequent disconnections.

“Some or the other fault develops every second day. The officials are not able to find where the fault lies,” rues Mr Amninder Singh, a businessman in the Field Ganj area.

Helping society, the ‘milky way’
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, April 26
To see the enthusiasm of youth in the service of mankind, you can visit CMC and the adjoining Civil Hospital at 6 a.m. every day. You may be pleasently surprised to see members of Youngster Welfare Society distributing free milk to the needy patients of these two hospitals. Come rain, hail, summer or winter, their interest has not waned and they are there, at six sharp to distribute milk.

On July 7, 1992, three young men got together and decided that they wanted to do something for society. They decided that supplying milk to the needy patients of CMC hospital was a good way of serving humanity. One generally thinks that caring for the sick and the suffering would be the last thing on the minds of youngsters, but members of Youngsters Welfare society have proved that wrong. Early on, they procured 15 kg of milk and with a smile on their lips and joy in their heart started serving many of the needy patients wanting milk. The society’s president, Prem Singhal, said they decided to distribute 250 gm of milk to each patient. After one year, they decided to distribute milk to the needy patients of Civil Hospital too.

Mr Singhal emphasises the word ‘needy’ and begs not to confuse them with the ‘poor’. As he says, “At times patients in private rooms are left unattended and need milk. They are grateful to us for the help and donate money which helps us in replenishing our stock. We generally buy 50 kg of milk nowadays and distribute the same to about 240 patients everyday.”

The member into two groups, wheel around huge milk trolleys. The CMC has given them a room to store the material and gas cylinders etc. Some members go to the wards of CMC while others do the rounds of Civil Hospital.

Surprisingly, they started attracting donors soon. So they decided to ask those willing to contribute Rs 1,100 each or more. Now, according to Pushpinder of the society, “We are booked throughout the year. People, instead of celebrating birthdays and anniversaries decide to give us money for the noble cause. We buy Verka milk only. Mr Harnam Das Johar, and Lala Lajpat Rai, MP, have lauded our efforts, which has motivated us further.”

They also organise distribution of food for flood victims. They volunteer to buy medicines for poor patients on the recommendation of doctors. They organise ‘family planning camps’. In fact, all the members are happy with their contribution to the cause. “Though our services are a drop in the ocean, yet the satisfaction of helping others makes us feel good,” says Pardeep Gandhi, another dedicated member. 

15 shells found from canal
Our Correspondent

Doraha (Ludhiana), April 26
Fifteen shells were found by a bomb disposal squad and divers of the Army yesterday late in the evening from the Sirhind Canal from under the Khatani Kalan bridge. Eight of the sells, found to be live, were destroyed on the spot.

Only two live shells could be recovered on Tuesday due to the high water-level. It was only when the water-level decreased yesterday that the divers could recover the shells. According to police officials, the shells might have been smuggled into the country with the scrap filled in containers which had been unloaded at the dry port of Dhandari Kalan near Ludhiana and thrown into the canal to avoid any complication.

CRIME

Kidnapped child returns home
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 26
A seven-year-old child kidnapped from Chotti Haibowal three days ago returned home today morning after the two alleged kidnappers left him near his house.

The SHO, Haibowal, Mr Waryam Singh, said police parties had been sent to Delhi and a couple of other cities to arrest the accused.

According to the statement recorded on the basis of the facts given by the child, Jagan Nath, alias Rinku, the kidnapping was allegedly done by Pappu and Surinder, alias Lambu.

Narrating the sequence of events Chanderpal, the child’s father, said the alleged accused Pappu used to work with him. He had financed a new TV to Pappu.

However, last week both had a tiff when Chanderpal demanded the money.

Pappu had taken a leave of one day. He returned on the evening of April 23 at Chanderpal’s house and took away Rinku on the pretext of going to a movie. As Rinku knew them he went away with them.

However, the two persons took Rinku to Delhi from where he was taken to a village.

However, today the kidnappers reached to the city and left him near his house.

Sarpanch booked, suspended
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 26
The Punjab Government has placed under suspension Hari Singh, sarpanch of Jarkhar village in Dehlon block of this district, for his alleged involvement in criminal activities and for committing various irregularities.

The sarpanch allegedly misbehaved with and threatened the headmistress of a local school, took away wood cut from the trees in the school compound and disrupted the construction work of a computer room in the school.

According to an order issued by Mr J.P. Singla, Deputy Director (LG), exercising powers of Director, Panchayats, Punjab, a case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered against Hari Singh in police station sadar, Ludhiana.

The order further observed that since charges against the sarpanch were of a serious nature, his continuation in office was not in public interest, as defined under Section 20(3) of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.

The sarpanch has been directed not to participate in proceedings of the village panchayat. He has also been told to immediately hand over the property and record of the panchayat, if any, to an authorised panch.

The Chief Executive Officer, Zila Parishad, Ludhiana, has been asked to conduct an inquiry into the charges levelled against the sarpanch and submit his report within one month.

Man commits suicide
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 26
The alleged illicit relationship of a woman of Muradpur Colony allegedly led her husband to commit suicide.

Jagtar Singh, husband of Jaswinder Kaur, allegedly consumed some poisonous substance last night. He was admitted to the local Civil Hospital, where he died in the afternoon. The body has been sent for postmortem.

According to the police, a case of abetment to suicide, under Sections 307 and 34 of the IPC, has been registered against Jaswinder Kaur and her alleged paramour, who is a transporter.

According to the FIR, the relationship between the couple was tense for the past few months due to the alleged illicit relationship. The panchayat of the colony helped them reach a compromise. According to the police, they still continued with the illicit relationship.

Medical store burgled
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 26
A medical store in Kitchlu Nagar area was burgled by some unknown persons at about midnight last. The burglars decamped with an amount of about Rs 49,000 kept in a locker. The Shop owner complained to the police that he found the locks of the shop broken in the morning. A case has been registered.

Fraud alleged
A resident of Model Town, Mr Kuldeep Singh Bhullar, has accused M/s G.E.Capital Company of playing a fraud on him by not entering in his name the 36 instalments of a car loan paid by him. The police has registered a case and the Economic Offences Wing is inquiring into the allegations.

Three booked
Three persons, including a Nambardar, have been booked by the city police in a fraud case. Ms Kiran Bala, a steno-typist with the District Town Planner Office has lodged a complaint with the police that the persons, Ram Chand, Suresh Kumar and Gurcharan Singh, had prepared fake documents of a plot owned by her.

She also alleged that the three persons later took loan from the Punjab and Sind Bank for construction of a house on the plot. The complainant said she had bought the plot in 1995 and had started construction over it by taking loan from her GPF account. She learnt about the forged sale deed of her plot last week when officials of the bank approached her for payment of the bank loan. The Economic Offences Wing of the police is investigating the case.

Attempt to murder
The Haibowal police has booked four persons on the charge of attempting to murder a woman. According to a complaint lodged by Ms Sarbjit Kaur, a resident of Sunet village, she was married to Paramjit Singh of New Tagore Nagar and was being constantly harassed for dowry.

She alleged that on April 24 her husband Paramjit Singh, father-in-law Mukhtiar Singh, mother-in-law Manjit Kaur and a relative Arjan Singh forced her to drink some poisonous substance. She fell unconscious and later found herself in the Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital. No arrest has been made so far.