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| Thursday,
May 16, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Telecom giants belittle MC Ludhiana, May 15 Earlier, it was the issue of granting permission for road cutting to Reliance Group and the HFCL which the MC had refused because the companies had failed to restore the dug-up roads to their original condition as agreed. Realising that the MC was in no mood to budge, the companies got a top bureaucrat in the CM’s Secretariat to tell the MC officials to allow the companies to go ahead with road cutting to lay the OFCs for basic telephone services. It was only after persistent lobbying by the administration that the government agreed to replace the clause of bank guarantee against the cost of restoration of dug-up roads with sufficient payment to cover the cost. The repair will, now, be done by the MC itself. For some time, the companies with licences for providing basic and mobile telephone services here were finding it difficult to erect network towers here because the MC considered it a construction activity calling for proper erection plans and following of structural-safety norms. The MC had asked all applicant companies to submit plans and seek its approval on these and pay a stipulated fee and penalty in case the structures had already been raised. According to a senior official in the building branch of the MC, 35 such towers have already been raised and the companies, between them, plan to erect 18 more here. The companies were asked to deposit Rs 1 lakh with the MC for each tower, but before the MC could take any further action, the government gave in to the pressure mounted by the companies and told the MC to let the towers be erected. The senior MC officials were told that a comprehensive state-level policy was being framed in this regard. The government told the MC to give the companies a free hand in tower-erection work till the policy was in place. It said the payments and penalties would be settled later. An MC official, on the condition of anonymity, said the government was curbing the powers of the MC, making it lose revenue and be a subject of ridicule. |
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Aman murder: SAD gen secy held Khanna, May 15 Mr Garcha said that during interrogation of the accused they revealed that the conspirator behind the murder was a neighbour of Aman Sood, Budh Parkash Walia, alias Kuki. Kuki was earlier arrested in this case on August 14, 2000, after one week of the murder and was release on bail. The SSP said the police had filed an application to cancel his bail. The SSP said the motive behind the murder was ransom. However, accused Ranbir Singh Raikhy alleged that the police had implicated him in the case under a conspiracy. He also alleged that the police had tortured him during police custody. Both the accused were produced in the court of the SDJM (senior division), Mr G.S. Dhillon, and court sent them in judicial custody till May 29. Six-year-old Aman Sood was kidnapped near his resident on August 1, 2000, while returning from the school. His body was found in a field at Kalal Majra village in Fatehgarh Sahib district. He was reportedly kidnapped in a red-coloured car. SSP Garcha said that both the accused had confessed that they had destroyed the schoolbag of Aman Sood by throwing it in a canal. He said the police parties had been dispatched to recover the car used in the crime. A large number of leaders and activists of SAD (B) were present in the court when both accused were produced in the court. One of the accused Ranbir Raikhy is general secretary of SAD (B) Ludhiana district unit (Rural). A former Technical Education Minister, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha was leading the Akali workers who raised slogans against the Punjab police and the Punjab Government. Both the accused were medically examined at the Civil Hospital Khanna by a team of two doctors. According to hospital sources, it was mentioned in Ranbir Raikhy’s medical report that there were injuries on his lips and neck. He had swollen thighs and he could not stand upon his legs.
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Sexual harassment: colleges keep their hands off Ludhiana, May 15 An inquiry revealed that a large number of local colleges were unaware of such a letter. The letter sent by Deputy Registrar, Harbhajan Singh (Colleges) was sent to all principals of the colleges affiliated to Punjab University. The letter said that the Registrar was sending herewith the recommendations of a committee dated October 5,1999 (approved by the Vice-Chancellor) constituted to set up a mechanism for the affiliated colleges to handle the problem for harassment of women in view of the judgement of the Supreme Court of India with regard to ‘sexual harassment at work place’. An advertisement issued by the Under Secretary, (Women Welfare) Department of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi appeared in the Tribune on September 27,1999 ( was enclosed) for discussion with colleagues for providing guidance and support to the students in this regard’. On August 13, 1997, the Supreme Court of India held that sexual harassment at work place included ‘unwelcome sexually determined
behaviour at work place’ and gave directions about both employers as well as employees responsibilities. The letter said that every college should have a grievance cell whose in charge should be a senior woman teacher. The UGC should be requested to allocate special grants to engage a qualified counsellor preferably a woman. Next the letter said ‘sexual harassment’ be included in the service and conduct of college employees (teaching and non-teaching) and in college prospectus as a ‘serious misconduct’ applying both to staff and students; verbal abuses/ vulgar talk in the presence/ hearing of woman staff or girl students should be treated as misconduct. The letter further directed that a standing committee of seven members may be constituted from among the teaching staff as also the students of the college and the parent teacher association (PTA-if it exists) to entertain complaints regarding sexual harassment. The committee may be headed by a woman and 50 per cent of its members should be women. The recommendations in the above paragraph should be placed before the appropriate authority as soon as possible ( not later than two weeks) from the date of submission of the report. Sadly two years have elapsed, but the colleges have probably pushed the letter under the carpet, then how could the committees be constituted. The girls only and boys colleges think that there is no
Ms Inderjit Kaur Gill Vashist, Principal of Government College for Women, had constituted a committee as soon as directives were received. She said that they had solved many cases of sexual harassment of girls outside the college. The college had a counsellor and other senior teachers who had helped girls deal with sexual harassment. Mr. A.S. Turna, Principal, Government College for Boys, said that they had recently constituted a three-member committee under the directives of NAAC ( National Assessment & Accredition Council) as it had become mandatory to have such committees if the college wanted to be graded. Mr Buddhiraja, Principal of Kamla Lohia S.D. College said that they received a letter from Registrar on March 13, 2002 about implementation of ‘code of conduct and discipline for avoiding sexual harassment’. They had promptly formed an eight-member committee. The letter specifically told them to create appropriate working conditions and how to deal with such complaints. But sadly the colleges have not taken this issue seriously, particularly in light of the cases of molestation in educational institutions on the rise. Ironically and sadly the daughters are not safe in the ‘temples of learning’. Only a bold Saru Rana, could fight with determination. Consequently the fall from grace of a Vice-Chancellor of a university. But for one Saru Rana there would be hundreds who may be suffering at the hands of the so called educated people who instead of being protectors of wards under their care turn predators. |
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Four teachers held for taking private tuitions Ludhiana, May 15 The four arrested teachers include a professor of mathematics at SCD Government College, a professor of chemistry at Arya College, a professor of physics at Malwa Khalsa College, Samrala, and another from Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College. Sources said teams of four DSPs, Mr Simranjit Singh, Mr Harmohan Singh, Mr Saroop Singh and Mr Charanjit Singh, under the directions of Mr R.P.S. Bajwa, SP (Vigilance), conducted raids on the premises of the four teachers and found them taking private tuitions this morning. The teachers were then arrested under the various provisions of law. Condemning the act of the Vigilance Department, Mr Satish Sharma, a Panjab University Senator, said since the Punjab Government had directed all the teachers from government and aided colleges to present their affidavits till May 23 for not taking tuitions, no raids should have been conducted till that time and the arrested teachers be exempted. |
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Godown roof lintel collapses, 11 hurt Ahmedgarh, May 15 According to information, the shuttering for the roof had been completed yesterday. The building, supposed to be a godown belonging to a local trader, was being constructed by Mr Joginder Singh. He was reportedly hesitant to work on the lintel which had been supported on a shuttering arranged by some other agency. The metal shuttering, which is not routine in the area, was already a matter of controversy among the local masons, who prefer to work on wooden shuttering. Mr Joginder Singh, who himself suffered a head injury, told Ludhiana Tribune that the present covered area of lintel was around 2,500 square yard, which was to be supported on required number of beams as per specifications. Jagtar Singh, Baldev Singh, Sativnder Singh, Tara Singh, Malkit Singh, Gurmel Singh, Dharamveer Singh, Harjinder Singh and Bharpoor Singh suffered minor injuries whereas Gurpreet Singh, Bahadur Singh, Charanjit Singh sustained serious injuries. As the area of the site falls outside Municipal Council limits, the council authorities were not aware of the plan or its sanctioning.
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Cop suspended on graft charge Doraha, May 15 According to Munshi Major Singh of Payal police station, Dev Singh of Darogewala, under police station Dhoori, had complained to the SSP Khanna, that on April 16, 2002, he had gone to the Payal police station to file a complaint and Karamjit Singh had blackmailed him to give Rs 11,000 if the former wanted his work to be done. It was on the basis of an inquiry conducted by the police, that Karamjit Singh was suspended under the Corruption Act. |
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CM fails to keep date with city Ludhiana, May 15 The Chief Minister had cancelled his Raikot visit also. He was scheduled to visit Raikot in the morning. Later a Congress leader claimed that the CM had got busy as a leading American business delegation was supposed to meet him today. It was a jam packed palace with the 70 candidates from 70 wards of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, who were asked to ensure maximum participation, ensuring that they were not found lacking in support. Initially, the Congress leaders kept on telling their workers that the CM could arrive any time. The function which started around 4 p.m continued till late in the evening with the District Congress Committee president, Mr K K Bawa, local MP, Mr Gurcharan Singh Ghalib, the MLA from Dakha, Mr Milkiat Singh Dakha, Mr Nahar Singh Gill, Mr Pawan Dewan, Dr Harbans Kaur and others addressing the candidates and their supporters. However, most of the candidates, who had put in lot of efforts to mobilise their supporters for today’s function felt disappointed after learning about the cancellation of the CM’s visit. Meanwhile, the organisers of the function said they were not sure whether the CM might be able to visit Ludhiana before the elections or not as only two more days of campaigning are left. |
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Cong sets up 45-member campaign committee Ludhiana, May 15 Mr Ghalib said in a meeting of the committee held here, final touches were given to the broad strategy for the party's election campaign. The Congress campaign, he informed, would focus on the ongoing war against corruption, development agenda for the towns and cities and the 'misrule' of the previous SAD-BJP government. Interestingly, the campaign committee, comprised more or less, of those party functionaries, who were strong contenders for party tickets for the municipal elections, but could not be accommodated due to one reason or the other. Activists of the District Youth Congress, including its president, Mr Parminder Mehta, were also sidelined while many other non-entities were included in the committee. Following are the members of the campaign committee, Dr Harbans Kaur, Ms Usha Malhotra, Mr Pritpal Singh Ghayal, Mr Sushil Parashar, Mr Ramesh Joshi, Mr Sat Pal Lamba, Mr Gopal Monga, Mr Nirmal Kaida, Mr Sham Sunder Malhotra, Mr Om Parkash Malhotra, Mr Harcharan Singh Dhir, Mr Tarlochan Singh Grewal, Mr Gurbhej Chabra, Ms Shashi Sood, Mr Sarbjinder Singh Bhullar, Mr Ashok Makkar, Mr G.S. Bhatia, Mr Almuddin Safi, Dr Janak Raj Sachdeva, Mr Harnam Singh Machhiwara, Mr Sushil Malhotra, Mr Ram Nath Malhotra, Mr Rajiv Gupta, Mr Ajaib Singh Chauhan, Mr Dalip Thapar, Mr Ajaib Singh Kalra, Mr Munish Tandon, Mr Sunil Kapoor, Mr Swarnjit Singh, Mr Jang Bahadur Singh Bindra, Mr Pawan Diwan, Mr Amarnath Bharti, Mr Ravinder Sehgal, Mr Mohinder Pal Saini, Mr Roop Singh Jassal, Mr Vinod Bharti, Mr Ravinder Kaushik, Mr Rana Mahindra, Mr Baljit Malra, Mr Surjit Singh, Mr Jarnail Singh Grewal, Mr Akshay Bhanot, Mr Ishwar Jot Singh Cheema, Mr Radhey Sham Ahuja, Ms Meenakshi Saini. |
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NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY DAY Ludhiana, May 15 National Technology Day is celebrated to coincide with the maiden flight of Hansa 3, marking the birth of civil aviation industry in India, test firing of Trishul and triple nuclear explosions at Pokhran. A large number of visitors from industries, associations of oil mills, machinery Manufacturers and United Cycles and Parts Manufacturers Association, developmental institutions and schools participated in the Open Day observed by MERADO A film, ‘Treasure of Technology’ highlighting various developments of the institute and video films on other developed machines were shown to the visitors. Other recently developed/machines or machines under development included Light Weight Power Tiller, Sugarcane Planter and 50 TPD Oil Expeller. The working demonstration of I TPD Oil Expeller for production of pungent oil was also given. Dr V.K. Sharma, Additional Director of Research (Engg) and Registrar, Punjab Agricultural University, delivered a lecture on ‘Technologies for Crop Residue Management’ on the occasion. Stressing the importance of managing high volumes of wheat and paddy straw due to the ten fold increase in the production of these crops since the 60s Dr Sharma said there is a need to provide viable technology, which is farmer friendly, in this area. Dr Sharma said the problem of handling paddy straw, especially required focussed attention since at present almost 10 million tonnes out of a total of about 13 million tonne straw produced every year is burnt. Dr Sharma discussed a variety of technologies which could offer solutions, however he stressed that these have to be made cost effective and farmer friendly and need to be handled in a holistic manner. The solutions to handle paddy straw have to be provided in such a manner so that these help in preserving or improving the soil health. Mr M.P. Dhupar, Head of the Business Development Group offered Mechanical Engineering expertise available at Merado, Ludhiana for be utilisation by PAU while developing the machines for crop residue benefit. Mr Dhupar informed that a Science Quiz was also arranged on the occasion to generate scientific temper among the participants. Earlier, highlighting the significance of the National Technology Day, Mr R Nigam, Scientist In charge said such celebrations help in generating scientific temper among the
society. |
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PSHRC serves notice
on Principal Secy Khanna, May 15 The complainant, Najar Singh, a resident of Sehgal street, had filed a complaint with the PSHRC that he was kidnapped and wrongfully confined by some persons for whole night. They also trespassed into his shop and damaged cable inside his shop. The accused had some business rivalry with Naresh Garg with whom the complainant has business relations. A case was registered under Sections 452, 506 and 34, IPC. But the police had not arrested the accused. The complainant further alleged that in February, 2002, again an attack was made at mishap by those accused and beat him up. The complainant apprehended danger to his life. The commission had fixed the next date for hearing on July 4, 2002. |
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Vigilance probe into fee scam sought Ludhiana, May 15 The demand was raised at a recent meeting of the sangh at its office in Rupa Mistry Street. The sangh urged the Director of the Vigilance Department to look into how government-aided private schools were charging tuition fee far in excess of what the government had stipulated. The sangh members said, though the Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered schools to charge only the stipulated fees, the schools concerned were violating the directive. Persons who attended the meeting included Mr Deepak Gupta, Mr Mangal Passi, Baba Gian Chander, Mr Subhash Kumar, Mr Inderpal Malhotra, Mr Kamaljit Gupta, Mr Jasbir Singh Bedi and Mr Chander Hans Aggarwal. |
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Social Welfare Dept employee threatened Khanna, May 15 The employees, including Balwinder Kaur, Senior Assistant; Harsharn Singh, Junior Assistant; Bhupinder Singh, Junior Assistant and Sheela Devi, Junior Assistant alleged that the appointments of 22 Tehsil Bhalai Officers were made ‘wrongfully’ and mostly kin of political leaders had been appointed on the posts. A writ petition had also been filed by Harsharn Singh in this regard. |
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Mentally ill commits suicide Doraha, May 15 |
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Shatabdi late by five hours Ludhiana, May 15 While the arrival time of the train at the Ludhiana railway station is 8.15 pm, the train reached here at 1.30 am. Passengers said that the train started on the right time from New Delhi but was stopped near Ambala for quite some time. Some problem in the cable due to rainy weather was supposed to be the reason for the delay, the passengers said. The passengers also complained that the AC of the train had become non-functional, which caused much suffocation.
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Man, sister confined and beaten up Ludhiana, May 15 According to the complainant, he had gone to the house of the accused, along with his sister, on Sunday to demand money which they owed to him. But the accused confined them to a room and beat up both of them. Beating alleged:
The complainant had alleged that the accused forced their way into his house on Sunday and beat him up. The accused also allegedly threatened him before making good their escape, he added. Fraud alleged:
The complainant had alleged that the accused had given him a cheque for Rs 50,000 which was not honoured by the bank concerned. The accused managed to get back the dishonoured cheque from him with the promise that he would pay the money in cash. But later, the accused, instead of making the payment, started threatening him. Held for eve-teasing:
Man throws acid:
Youth dies:
Cases of beating:
The Salem Tabri police has registered a case on the statement of Mr Sher Singh of Dashmesh Colony, against Bhalla, Deena, Karnail and Karma, residents of
Jalandhar. The complainant had alleged that the accused attacked him and his son Karam Singh on Monday and injured them. The Focal Point police has registered a case of alleged beating on the statement of Mr Ram Khair Yadav of Bhagat Singh Colony, against Balram and four of his friends. The complainant had alleged that the accused forced their way into his house on Monday, beat him up with the help of sticks and also threatened him. Theft cases:
The division number four police has registered a case of theft on the statement of Mr Shankar Dass of Chhawni Mohalla, against Malik Raj, Sushil Kumar, Baldev Raj and Rajinder Kumar, residents of the same locality. The complainant had alleged that the accused had made him unconscious by administering some intoxicant to him On Monday after which they allegedly stole away the registration documents of her residential property and some other important documents. The Salem Tabri police has registered a case of theft on the statement of Ms Davinder Kaur, a resident of New Azad Nagar, against unknown person(s). The woman had stated to the police that on the intervening night of May 12-13, burglars broke open the lock of her house and decamped with about 250 gm of gold ornaments and Rs. 60,000 which had been kept in the almirah safe. She had suffered total loss of Rs. 1.90 lakh , she added. Booked for theft:
When she declined to do so, Dikshit Mahajan in a fit of rage, stabbed her and stole away her gold ornaments which were lying in an almirah in the house. Fraud:
The woman had alleged on Monday that the accused had committed a fraud on her by giving her fake documents of a plot which belonged to someone else. |
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Globalisation ‘impacting’ SSI’s Ludhiana, May 15 He said the growth rate of the manufacturing sector has come down to 2.7 per cent. It clearly indicated the impact of globalisation and liberalisation on the Indian economy. Job opportunities too had declined considerably. He alleged that most of the Tiny/SSI units were on the verge of closure. The rate of basic inputs and electricity were going up and the margins had diminished, he said. |
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