 |
|
| Wednesday,
September 11, 2002,
Chandigarh, India
|
|
||||
|
Special police team on Pherurai’s trail Ludhiana, September 10 Police sources said the team would be headed by Jagraon SSP Mukhwinder Singh Cheena and would include SP(D) Ludhiana G. S. Toor, SP(D) Ropar S. S. Grewal and DSP Jagraon Harjit Singh, besides several policemen to assist him. Police sources said arresting the former SSP was a daunting task as the state police had definite information that he was in the shelter of some political big-wigs in a neighbouring state. A Jagraon court issued arrest warrants of the absconding accused, Gurcharan Singh Pherurai, last evening. He was booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act by the Raikot police yesterday. He is accused to have amassed wealth worth Rs 15 crore, well beyond his known sources of income. He is also accused of giving a bribe of Rs 1.5 crore to the Punjab Public Service Commission authorities to get a job for his son and daughter as DSP and a PCS officer, respectively. His son and daughter have also been booked by the state Vigilance Department in the PPSC scam. Police sources said the Jagraon police had joined Vigilance sleuths on the trail of the former high-profile police officer, whose proximity to Akali leader, was well known. Sources said the senior officers would concentrate entirely on nabbing the accused till he was put behind bars. Police sources said the Punjab police might take help of other state police personnel in nabbing the absconding officer. Some parleys to get political support for his arrest in a neighbouring state or at least to stop his sheltering by some powerful politician close to the Akali leadership in Punjab had also been initiated. The case against Pherurai was registered yesterday on the recommendation of Mr Amarjit Singh, SP (HQ), Jagraon, who after an inquiry, found evidence against the former police officer of amassing huge wealth beyond his known sources of income. The FIR said the former SSP had been booked under Section 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. It said there was enough evidence that the former police officer had property in his name as well as benami property in Ludhiana, Jagraon, Chandigarh and SAS Nagar. Its total value was estimated at Rs 15 crore or more. The FIR said the former SSP had just over six acres as ancestral property, but in his 30 years of service, he had allegedly amassed huge property. |
|
Train commuters’ nightmare Ludhiana, September 10 The train, which used to reach Ludhiana at around 8.45 a.m. so far, had been a favourite with hundreds of office-goers, workers and businessmen who commute everyday between Ludhiana and various stations such as Gill, Kilaraipur, Ahmedgarh, Malerkotla, Dhuri and Sangrur. These commuters, who could easily reach their respective places of work on time earlier, are now a harassed lot. And as if to add insult to injury, the train, even if it is running late by an hour or more, is detained at the outer signal near Miller Ganj for as long as half an hour before it is allowed to enter the railway station. The commuters, who were already harassed a lot by the late running of the 2LJ train since July 1 last for the journey back home, are at their wits’ ends with the morning train also running late by hours. The 2LJ train, which used to leave Ludhiana at 5.40 p.m., has been running late ever since July 1 after the revision of the
The commuters, instead of occupying a seat in the parked rake and relaxing a bit after a hard day’s work, have now to cool their heels waiting for the train to arrive from Ferozepore which is seldom on schedule. The commuters lament the fact that even if the train arrives at Ludhiana on time or a little behind the schedule, precious time is wasted and the rain does not leave before 7 p.m. or so, late by about 90 minutes. Because of this harassment, several workers are skipping work to catch the 4.10 p.m. train which enables them to reach home before it is too late in the evening. While there are commuters who favour slogan-shouting outside the office of the Station Superintendent at Ludhiana everyday to bring about an improvement in the situation arising out of the late running of these vital trains, others suggest the use of the complaint book at Ludhiana railway station for the purpose. Unless and until the late running of these trains is brought to the notice of the higher railway authorities through the complaint book, things would not improve, they argue. Nothing would be achieved by demonstrations alone, they add. Mr Ashok Sharma, president of the Daily Passengers Association , told Ludhiana Tribune that after having failed to get the departure time of the evening train changed, the association was now planning to send a memorandum to Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa at Delhi who might help their cause by taking up the issue at the highest level. |
|
Irate ex-sarpanch opens fire at crowd Baddowal, September 10 A Block Development and Panchayat Officer had gone to the village to record statements on charges of corruption levelled against the reigning sarpanch Surinder Singh. The charges were levelled by former sarpanch Bikram Singh. When The Tribune team visited the spot the villagers gathered on the spot said that they rallied around the present sarpanch which angered the former sarpanch. They said that the BDPO had just finished recording statements when, Bikram Singh fired at the crowd, allegedly in sheer frustration over losing people’s support. People fell on the ground and ran helter skelter after the first round was fired. Fortunately, no one was hit. He then ran away from the spot. ‘‘He ran in the direction of his house. We did not try to catch him as he was carrying a rifle and was in rage. We thought that he would fire at us. So we let him escape,’’ said a villager. Police sources said the accused was absconding. A case has been registered against him. The incident gave a violent turn to the week-long controversy brewing between the Congress and the Akalis in the village. The inquiry against the present sarpanch, affiliated to the Shiromani Akali Dal, was ordered on the complaint of the former sarpanch Bikram Singh, who belonged to the Congress. On his complaint the Director, Rural Development and Panchayat Officer, Chandigarh, had directed the BDPO- Ludhiana-II to go to village today and record statements. Villagers who were gathered on the spot on the condition of anonymity said the moment the BDPO left the village after recording statements of some villagers regarding the inquiry, a heated exchange took place between the two parties. As most of the villagers were with Surinder Singh, the originally complainant Bikram Singh opened fire. Some neutral villagers suggested that Bikram Singh could have opened fire to save himself fearing mob’s fury. This could not be confirmed from the police sources. Senior police officers rushed to the site. The police force was deployed in the village to prevent any further law and order problem. BDPO sources said the allegations levelled against the present sarpanch Surinder Singh included that he had sold off some trees in the village without any auction,
The Rural Development and Panchayat office sources had, reportedly, commented in news reports that sarpanch Surinder Singh had given old-age pension to those people who were well-to-do and were not eligible. Surinder Singh had termed the inquiry as malicious and politically motivated, having ‘‘ its basis in the present anti-Akali movement launched by the Congress leadership in the state’’.
|
|
Dispensary
sans first-aid kit Lohgarh, September 10 The pharmacist in the dispensary, Mr Sohan Singh, admitted that there was always a shortage of medicines in the dispensary. “For the past 4-5 years, we have been running short of medicines and other equipment. Except for one or two medicines for stomach-related problems, we have no medicines. But we cannot be blamed for that. This shortage is because of crunch of funds. We are ready to devote our time. The duty hours are from 8 am to 2 pm, but sometimes we go back without seeing even a single patient”, said Mr Sohan Singh. Government Ayurvedic Dispensary, Shaheed Major Gurjinder Singh, Lohgarh, was set up in 1975. The dispensary used to get medicines from Patiala Pharmacy, but five years ago, the supply was halted for some reason. “We have written a number of times to the department to restore the supply of medicines but to no avail. At times, we cannot even cure minor ailments of the villagers. Surprisingly, all these medicines are available in the city, where other facilities are also available, but here we have nothing for these villagers”, lamented Mr Sohan Singh. Gurjinder Kaur, an elderly woman of the village, said the population of the village was around 2,000. “These dispensaries do not have antiseptic lotions, cotton or bandages, which are the basic requirements, let alone any medicine for ailing patients”, she said. Some villagers complained that they rarely saw the doctor in the dispensary. One of the villagers on the condition of anonymity stated that since the doctor resided in the city, he rarely visited the dispensary. “We are forced to take patients to the city in case of emergency. And the city is about 25 km from here. We have no alternative. Small children always suffer from viral and other stomach ailments. So we are forced to administer home-made medicines,” maintained the villager. The doctor and the District Ayurvedic Officer, however, could not be contacted for their comments.
|
|
No ban on jeans in college Ludhiana, September 10 The college is in the centre of a controversy for the past two days after reports appeared in an English daily that the ban had been imposed on the campus. It was imposed as it was a revealing dress and secondly, it gave inferiority complex to girls from rural areas, the reports claimed. But when the team visited the college today there was no sign of the imposition of the ban. The students scoffed at the reports and said they were shocked to learn that the ban was imposed. The students were quite agitated at the very thought of the ban and said they would oppose any such move. A group of students roaming casually wearing trousers and jeans could be spotted on the campus. Vidushi, Prerna and Rashi, all students of third year, said: “Last year there was an understanding between the students and the authorities that we may wear the jeans for last three days of the week. But this year there were no orders to stop us from wearing jeans”. The Principal, Ms Varinder Kaur Thind, was also perplexed at the news item. She said: “Ask any student in the college if they have heard of the ban. Moreover, the paper claims that a fine of Rs 50 is levied on the students defying the ban. Can anyone show me this written on the notice board of the college. I assumed charge as Principal on August 1. The paper refers to the prospectus which says that girls are allowed to wear only salwar kameez and dupatta. This clause did not get changed as shortly Ms Dhillon retired. By the time I took over the admissions had closed and naturally all prospectus were sold. No one came to check with me whether there has been a change in dress code. When we have not issued any notice, then how can we levy fine?” |
|
Confusion
over DM’s ‘orders’ to meat shops Ludhiana, September 10 Certain newspapers reported today that as per the orders of the DM, slaughter houses and meat shops would remain closed. But meat shop owners were surprised as they claimed that they had not received any verbal or written orders. The reports had stated that as Acharya Samart Shri Shiv Muniji Chaturmas Samiti had submitted a request to the Deputy Commissioner stating that the Jains were celebrating Samvatshri Mahaparv (World Forgiveness Day) today, so keeping in view the religious sentiments the orders were passed. Officials at the Deputy Commissioner’s office said there were no such orders. The District Public Relations Officer, Mr Darshan Singh, said there were no orders issued by the Deputy Commissioner. Many meat shop owners said although they had not received the orders, they closed the shops fearing action. Mr Gurinderjit Singh, owner of shop in Malhar Market, who kept his outlet opened, said he had not received any such orders. He said: “I have come to know only from you”. The Ludhiana Tribune office today received many telephonic calls from owners who wanted to inquire about the orders. One of the owners said he had kept his shop closed the entire day. When he was told that there were no such orders, he said: “Somebody told me this morning, so I closed it. Most of the meat has been wasted”. |
|
Ludhiana being vibrant is no big news. But when sound and fury is added to its vibrant life, it turns wild. In total mad pursuit, everybody seems to rush towards a single point, no matter what its worth and significance is. Recently, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder head of the Art of Living Foundation was here to make Ludhianvis celebrate the ‘anandmahotsav’. While those who were followers of the guru, mostly belonging to the elite and the affluent classes, had all the reasons to feel excited and enthusiastic about the visit, there were others who were also keen to see the guru. So it turned out to be a made evening at the sprawling lawns of the Government College for Women, opposite the Guru Nanak Stadium, with thousands of people converging to have a glimpse of the guru and to listen to him. The excitement seemed to fizzle out soon, as the guru was slightly late. A number of people left without seeing him or hearing him, while most of the remaining waited for him to speak. By the time the guru completed his address, a good number of people kept on sitting and listening to him. Back to roots It was the unbound love of Ludhianvis for Kapil that made them wait for hours to have his glimpse. The joy and excitement of the children who played and bowled to him was unlimited. At no point of time could one make out that it was the legendary Kapil playing in the streets of Ludhiana with small children and explaining to them various techniques of fast bowling.
Thodi curiosity The much-talked about film ‘Ek chhoti si love story’ is reportedly running to a packed hall in Ludhiana. The movie, which came into the limelight after its heroine Manisha Koirala protested to some shots and moved courts and the National Commission for Women, was doing good business in spite of some other films also running at other cinema halls. People have been talking that the movie has a different theme and does not subscribe to Hindi cinematic stereotypes. It is mostly the young boys and some girls, who have been making a beeline to the ticket counters. Most of them admitted that it was the much-talked about shots that made them more keen and curious to see the film than the story and the plot.
Cops clueless Mystery continues to shroud the discovery of an amputated foot and some smithereens of flesh near a cinema a couple of days ago. The police has failed to locate its source so far. The foot could either be the result of cold-blooded murder or the negligence of hospital staff which might have thrown the foot in the garbage can. The foot, was wrapped in a polythene bag, fell off a fast-moving garbage truck as it crossed a speedbreaker. Nobody noticed the foot till the polythene bag burst open under the pressure of vehicles on the road. The shopkeepers in the area became scared and several of them downed their shutters. For the city folk, it was a novel thing.
Traffic blues In almost every crowded street and markets traffic jams are common. No doubt, increase in vehicular traffic is, to a large extent responsible for the jam. But thoughtless parking by the motorists compounds the problem. At most strategic points of the road, cars are parked haphazardly. Traffic comes to a stop and rehriwalas stop and start selling items. Soon a crowd collects and add to the jam. Ludhiana will never be able to stop traffic jams unless people bear some discomfort and park cars where these should be parked.
Small sells Almost every shop selling women’s garments stock tops in small and medium sizes. With girls getting obsessed with remaining painfully thin, manufacturers are making clothes to cater to this particular section of girls — lean and petite. If they have 50 designs for this class, they have only 10 or 15 designs for well-built girls. It gets to be very frustrating for girls who are well built. Most of them really lament to find good designs of their size. Most of them are getting frustrated on this account.
Beggar menace Beggars at crossroads here are a menace and can pose a threat as the children make thier way between cars at red lights, cars that are awaiting the green signal. With the children becoming adept at stealing mobile phones and any thing that is left unattended, the problem of beggars accosting car drivers has increased. It has been often seen that the traffic police posted at traffic crossings remains passive. The problem becomes more acute on Saturdays. Sentinel |
|
Hike in perks gets precedence
over development Ludhiana, September 10 A supplementary item has been issued to this effect, to be added to the already circulated agenda for the general house meeting, slated for August 24, but postponed at the last minute without assigning any reason. The proposal for hike in allowances and honorarium says these have been fixed in 1991 and prices have gone up manifold and a proportionate increase in the honorarium and allowances paid to the councillors, the Mayor, his deputies, members of the Finance and Contracts Committee and the House Tax Assessment Committee is called for. Other than the proposal for increase in allowances and perks, the agenda for the general house meeting has nothing else to write home about. Other insignificant items to be laid before the house include a few individual cases for remission of house tax on compassionate grounds, approval of public auction of plots out of municipal land and refund of an earnest money deposit for a plot sold in auction almost two decades back. The vice-president of the district unit of the BJP, Mr Pran Bhatia, taking strong exception to the proposal for a hike in the allowances of the councillors, said development works had been pushed on the backburner and ill-equipped sanitation staff was proving unable to cope with the task of sanitation and routine cleaning of sewer lines and clearing of blockades. Mr Bhatia demanded that before pleading their case, the councillors should pay attention to other crucial issues like water supply, sewerage, drainage and preventive measures against diseases. |
|
Park panels refuse to accept MC terms Ludhiana, September 10 The innovative scheme of involvement of area residents in the proper maintenance of parks was launched with much fanfare in 1999, and more than 400 parks in different city localities were handed over to some 123 PMCs, who were promised a payment at the rate of Re 1 per square metre per month. However, in the wake of government instructions that the monthly payment for this purpose should not exceed Rs 1000 per park and that a part of the cost of maintenance should be borne by the PMCs through contribution by the residents, payments to PMCs were stopped by the Audit Department from October 2001. With payments due to the PMCs running in arrears for almost a year now, quite a few committees had turned defunct and persons engaged for the maintenance and development of parks had to be sacked for want of funds. Moreover, those at the helm of PMCs were of the view that with an upper ceiling of Rs 1000 on monthly payment for maintenance, it would be practically impossible to engage the required number of persons for this job and in most cases of the residents being unwilling to share the cost, the very purpose of formation of PMCs would be defeated. The Finance and Contracts Committee of the civic body had deliberated on this issue at its meeting on August 16 and had recommended that for the time being, the payment of arrears be made to PMCs on revised rates as intimated by the government and the matter should be taken up with the government at the appropriate level for the restoration of the payment at the rate of Re 1 per square meter based on actual area of the park. While the horticulture wing of the MC has already issued a circular letter to all functional PMCs in the city to collect information on the amount spent on maintenance each month and the number of persons employed for this purpose in order to release outstanding payment, the representatives of PMCs convened a meeting here on Sunday in which they pressed for continuation of the scheme of participation of the people in the maintenance of parks. According to a spokesperson of the representatives of PMCs, the meeting apprehended that through imposition of a ceiling of Rs 1000 per month, certain vested interests in the government were out to scuttle the plan. “Rather than scaling down the amount for maintenance, the MC ought to enhance the rate to Rs 1.20 per square meter, being the minimum CSR rate for this work,” the meeting emphasised. |
|
MCPI flays hike in power tariff Ludhiana, September 10 In a statement here today, MCPI state secretary Kuldip Singh said the SERC which comprised only PSEB officials and bureaucrats, had failed to take care of consumers, who would be hit the hardest if the recommendations were implemented. He said the recommended hike in the power tariff by the SERC was yet another attempt to cover up the follies of the PSEB management and wrong policies of successive government in the state. According to the MCPI functionary, rather than burdening the common people, the government and the PSEB should check massive pilferage and theft of power which was estimated to be responsible for 25 per cent to 30 per cent of the total losses of the PSEB. “The consumers are already being made to pay more for power consumption on various pretexts like load-extension, surcharges, sundry charges and other levies while there is no guarantee of power supply.” Similarly, subsidy being given to farmers for free power to tubewells was meagre as compared to the concessions and exemptions being given to the industrialists and traders in the shape of sales tax exemptions and remission of loans. The Punjab MCPI called upon the state government not to withdraw free power facility to the farmers, otherwise the farm economy would suffer an irreparable damage with adverse effects on other sections of the people as well in the state. Mr Kuldip Singh urged all pro-people parties and other organisations to raise their voice against anti-people recommendations of the SERC and cautioned the government against their implementation. He further said the Punjab MCPI was stoutly opposed to the policy of disinvestment being pursued by the Union Government under the dictates of the IMF, the World Bank and the WTO. The policy being pursued at present would generate more unemployment apart from dismantling the public sector undertakings. The state committee of the Punjab MCPI, added Mr Singh, had taken serious note of the US-led attack on Iraq, The remarks of U.S. President George Bush amounted to open interference into internal affairs of Iraqi people and a gross violation of international law. The party appealed to all democratic and peace loving forces to raise their voice against the attack on Iraqi people. |
|
Modi’s remarks decried Ludhiana, September 10 Mr Amrit Lal Aggarwal, president of the BEC, said in a statement here today that the speech of Mr Modi at the commencement of the so called “Gourav Rath Yatra” was a desperate move to draw political mileage with an eye on the elections in Gujarat. He said the Chief Minister had virtually made attempts to incite the five crore people of the state through his histrionics to “destroy the Congressmen”. “His statement is highly provocative, damaging and is tantamount to intent to murder. It is all the more damaging when the state is still smouldering with communal disharmony,” Mr Aggarwal said. Stressing that Mr Modi’s statement should be condemned and a criminal case registered against him and other BJP functionaries in Gujarat, the BEC president questioned the purpose of the “rath yatra”, which he dubbed as a political stunt, aimed at befooling people and diverting the attention of the electorate from his utter failure in governance. He said the timing of the “rath yatra” left nobody in any kind of doubt about the purpose of the ruling party in the state. “Where was Mr Modi and other government functionaries when innocent people were being butchered ? Why did he not take out a rath yatra then to wipe the tears from the eyes of the victims ?” Mr Aggarwal further observed that the words and deeds of the Gujarat Chief Minister and his close associates were a warning to all nationalist and secular forces to join hands and give a befitting reply to such disruptive and communal elements in the larger interests of the country and to safeguard communal harmony and national integration. |
|
Award for local astrologer Ahmedgarh, September 10 While talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Pt Pabbi said he was inspired by his uncle to Krishan Ashant to persue his studies in astrology. It still seems a dream to him that his research work of mere seven years has earned him the laurel at an international conference, where as many as 315 astrologers and numerologists from the world over vied for the honours. He was the only one from Punjab to join 80 Indian astrologers who were invited to participate in the third International Jyotish Conference-2002 organised by the Sri Lankan Chapter of the International Federation of Astrology and Spiritual Sciences. Pt Pabbi said he had started his research on the subject seven years ago. One of his friends had taken him to a practising astrologer for seeking some answers. But his predictions failed. Then he decided to work on the subject and found that a large number of “impostors” had tarnished the image of astrology. “It is the lack of scientific temper among practising astrologers that frustrates their clients,” says Pt Pabbi adding, “But if we interpret and evaluate deeply, instead of adopting hit and trial method, then certainly astrology, palmistry and numerology would prove a benefiting stock of knowledge inherited from our ancestors to help plan our future efficiently.” Counting his achievements, he said after becoming a registered member of the All India Institute of Astrology and Palmistry, Bangalore, he was given a status of “superclass” that entitled him to participate in an international conference on the subject jointly organised by the USA and Mauritius governments last year. |
|
|
Memorandum submitted
Ahmedgarh, September 10 Mr Sikander Singh Jartoli, tehsil president, PSSF, told Ludhiana Tribune that federation office-bearers, led by district president Harbans Singh Cheema handed over the memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner at Sangrur. The federation demanded that the state government should withdraw the ban on the LTC and DA. Frozen vacancies should be filled on merit and seniority and attempts to privatise government and public sector departments should be stopped. Mr Karam Singh Bihla general secretary, Mr Jasbir Singh Pandher general secretary, PWD Field and Workshop Workers Union, Mr Sher Singh GTU and Sukhdev Singh Chamgali Wala, vice-president, were present. OC
|
|
Man claims attempt on life Ludhiana, September 10 The
victim, Chanderbhan, was admitted to the civil hospital today. Police sources said a case of attempt to murder had been registered on the victim’s complaint. However, it doubted the man’s version, saying the wound did not seem to be inflicted by a bullet. DORAHA According to the investigating officer, the truck (JK-01-6414) hit them from behind, injuring the two. A case under Sections 279, 337, 338 and 427 of the IPC had been registered against the truck driver, Manzoor Ahmed of Jammu and Kashmir, who reportedly absconded. JAGRAON Poppy husk seized:
SAHNEWAL
|
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Recently, Kapil Dev was in the city to play ‘gali’ cricket with the children of the city for promoting the game. It was a journey down memory lane for Kapil. He said he had played many Ranji Trophy matches in Ludhiana, the fastest pitch in the country. During his
interaction with the cricketers, he assured them that they had a good future in the game.
