 |
|
| Saturday,
December 7, 2002, Chandigarh, India |
|
||||
|
Bloodbath over piece of land Phullanwal (Ludhiana), December 6 The incident took place at 3 pm when one of the groups, led by Bobby Sharma of Shiv Puri, came to the village to take possession of the land. The piece of land, measuring 5,500 yards, falls in two villages — Dhandra and Phullanwal. Around 50 persons are said to have been involved in the clash. Many of these, however, fled immediately after the clash broke. Swords and axes besides lathis were used in the melee. One of the youths who was killed in the clash has been identified as Rakesh Kumar (26). The identity of the second youth was yet to be ascertained. Two other members of his group, Anil Kumar and Pawittar Singh, were also wounded seriously in the incident. Zora Singh, belonging to the other group, was also wounded in the clash. All were admitted to the Satluj Hospital. However, the police rounded up Zora Singh late in the evening claiming that he had allegedly feigned injuries and got himself admitted to the hospital. The police said the land belonged to an NRI, Bhajan Singh, who also belonged to Shiv Puri. He had allegedly sold off the land to Bobby Sharma. However, there were other claimants of the land as well. Today, Bobby Sharma along with around 15 persons went to the disputed land to take its possession. However, around 40 persons of the other faction had gathered at the site when they reached. The moment Bobby Sharma and his group reached the site, the clash took place. The police said it was in the process of recording statements of the wounded as well as the villagers to know what exactly had happened. So far, no case has been registered as there were conflicting reports about the incident and the claims of the land. The city has witnessed quite a few bloody clashes involving land disputes in the past few days. As many as four major incidents have occurred in the recent past — first at Bhupana village, second at Garcha village, and third at Jaspal Bangar village. |
|
Ray of hope for Kuliewal residents Ludhiana, December 6 Referring to a notification by the state government regarding the allotment of provincial and Central Government land, the local administration has asked the residents of four colonies — Baba Jiwan Singh Nagar, New Puneet Nagar, Swantantra Nagar and Sawan Vihar — to submit their applications for the allotment till December 31. Sources in the administration told Ludhiana Tribune today that the government’s decision had come as a great relief to the residents who were fearing demolition during the latest drive of the administration. The sources said after the receipt of the applications, the cases of these people would be scrutinised and if the government decided in their favour, the land on which they had constructed houses would be allotted to them. Sources further said even though the applications would be submitted with the local administration only, the decision to regularise the encroachments would rest with the government. The announcement has brought a ray of hope for the residents who had bought plots from some private persons, who had sold off the land belonging to provincial government allegedly in connivance with revenue officials. The residents had been facing uncertainty as the state government had not cleared its stand on whether the plots would be allotted to them or not. The residents had to bear the brunt of the situation as they were ‘‘mislead’’ by certain private persons as well as some officials of the Revenue Department who had allegedly impressed upon them to buy the plots on installments. The residents , who largely belong to poor strata of the society, chose to purchase the land as it did nor require them to shell out huge sums of money in one installment as they were told to pay in monthly instalments over the years. Moreover, owing to lack of awareness they could not check the truth about the possession of the land and were forced to fall in the trap of some musclemen and other persons who made lakhs of rupees by selling the government land to them. |
|
ST staff
seize goods worth Rs 15 lakh Ludhiana, December 6 The ST staff seized the goods on the railway station premises when the persons transporting the goods tried to dodge the ST men posted at the check post by speeding their vehicles. As soon as they reached the railway station premises, the ST staff seized 54 parcels of hosiery goods. According to Mr S.C. Vashisht, Excise and Taxation Officer, the persons had brought their parcels in three Maruti vans and two Tata 407 vehicles and were trying to evade Rs 80,000 as sales tax. The ST officials also impounded the vehicles used of carrying the goods. Mr Vashisht said the tax evaders would have to pay a penalty of Rs 1.25 lakh to the department for trying to evade sales tax. He said the department would write to the District Transport Officer also to take action against the
traders. Interestingly, while the ST staff had faced such cases of trespassing at the railway station in the past, no such case was registered against them. The sales tax evasion at the railway station is quite rampant, as the traders, after speeding their vehicles, enter the railway station and the railway authorities “protect” them on the plea that the ST Department is not authorised to nab them from the railway station, as it amounts to trespassing. In the past, there have been confrontations between the two departments over this issue. Sometime ago, railway officials had even got a case of trespassing registered against some ST officials but was later withdrawn after persuasion at the top level. Sources in the ST Department told Ludhiana Tribune that local traders were successfully evading the tax by following VIP route to the station to transport their goods, hoodwinking the ST staff posted at the exit of the station in the process. While the gates of the route were most of the times locked and opened only for the VIP vehicles, traders were allowed to move out of the gates without any hiccups. Moreover, railway officials do not allow ST men to check the goods even after the packets are delivered to the traders. They claim that it is their responsibility to save their customer from unnecessary harassment. |
|
Id celebrated with fervour Ludhiana, December 6 The day began with people, thronging mosques to offer namaz at the stipulated time which differed at various idgahs. Namaz over, people rushed home for the festivities. Congratulations and sweet rice preparations were exchanged and distributed among friends and relatives. Little roadside melas were held outside the idgahs and mosques. Today being Friday, cinema houses in the city with new releases witnessed the typical rush of Id revelers throughout the day. The SC/ST Cell of the National Congress Party (NCP) organised a function at Kuldip Nagar in Basti Jodhewal here to offer Id greetings to the Muslim community. Speaking at the occasion, the NCP activists urged the people to celebrate all festivals together to strengthen the bonds of communal harmony and mutual respect for all religions The party functionaries, including Mr Darshan Singh Kutbewal, state general secretary, Mr Mohan Lal, general secretary of district unit, Mr Mohinder Singh, Mr Kesar Singh, Mr Ram Das, Mr Tej Pal, Mr Ramji Chauhan, Mr Varinder Rai and Mr Hari Ram Saini later visited several Muslim households to offer their greetings. Reports of Id celebrations have also come in from Mandi Ahmedgarh, Malerkotla, Raikot, Jagraon, Doraha and Khanna. |
|
Nagar kirtan taken out on Gurpurb eve Ludhiana, December 6 Led by panj piaras and Guru Granth Sahib, the nagar kirtan started from Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib and passed through main commercial centres, including Old GT Road, Chaura Bazaar, Division No 3 Chowk , Baba Than Singh Chowk, CMC Road and Field Ganj before concluding at the starting
point. The entire route of the nagar kirtan had bhandaras and langars and sweets were distributed among the participants at many places. At Gian Sthal Mandir, prominent participants were offered ‘siropas’ and prasad as a gesture of goodwill. The city residents had turned out in large numbers and stood on both sides of the roads to welcome the nagar kirtan. |
|
Income tax raids scare traders Ludhiana, December 6 While the Income Tax officials are reluctant to divulge anything, sources revealed that the raids were being conducted on the premises of leading tax payers. This comes as a follow-up to the instruction number 10 of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) guidelines that directs the Income Tax officials to verify and scrutinise assets of top 250 tax payers in each region every year. The guidelines were issued this year and these came into effect from October. The traders and industrialists have been ruthlessly opposing these guidelines, particularly the instruction number 10, arguing that these would place them at the mercy of the Income Tax officials and would encourage corruption. "Nobody would like to deposit more tax and it will certainly lead to greater evasion", observed Mr Mohinder Aggarwal, general secretary of the Pradesh Beopar Mandal. Among those industrial houses raided during the past three days include Mahavir Silk Store, Sona Rupa, Arora Fabrics, HB Forgings, Dhamija Electronics and some others. While the CBDT instructions ask for the scrutiny of the top tax players, most of these trading and industrial houses are learned to be counted among middle or small-level tax payers only. A taxation official said during the two-day raids conducted on around 20 business premises, some of them had declared their additional assets also. The official refused to give any further details but claimed that the raids had yielded the desired results. The official maintained that these were routine raids conducted every year to meet the estimated revenue collection targets. The current raids are learned to have yielded a few crores of rupees and all the money has been surrendered voluntarily. However, none of the industrial and trading houses were prepared to say anything on record. But they claimed that the taxation officials found nothing wrong in their documents and records and they had all made the disclosures voluntarily. One of these argued that since he himself wanted to declare additional assets, he had brought everything on record. Otherwise, according to him, he could have "very conveniently concealed his assets". The taxation official did not rule out more such raids in the city in the coming days. This has made traders and industrialists feel panicky as they apprehend Income Tax officials’ knock anytime. |
|
‘MC chief embezzled funds’
Khanna, December 6 In a complaint sent to the Chief Minister, Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh, signed by Khanna MC Vice-President, Mr Nirmal Singh Jassal, Mr Vijay Diamond, Mr Jaspal Singh Lotey, Mr Mohinderpal Jassal, Ms Amrit Rani and Ms Daljit Kaur, it was alleged that Municipal Council in its resolution no 38/8 dated December 31, 1996, passed an estimate of Rs 2,58,000.00 to construct an ‘mumtee’ (a dome on the roof of the stairs) and a tank and a staircase on the first floor of the council office building. Tender for the same was invited on February 17, 1997, and as per conditions of the work order the work was to be completed within six months. The agreement between the contractor and municipal council was executed 10 months later on December 2, 1997. The work was to be started within seven days from the issue of work order. The complainants said that they were astonished to know that the president in connivance with the staff had shown completed the ‘mumtee’ on paper only and the payment was made to the contractor. They alleged that the president knowingly committed the fraud and had misappropriated the MC funds. They demanded a vigilance inquiry from a senior officer and stern action against the president. OC
|
|
Muslim leaders for consensus on Babri row Ludhiana, December 6 Addressing the annual congregation, the president of the state unit of the Indian Muslim Council, Mr Atiq-ur-Rehman, said the dispute should either be settled according to the judgment of the Supreme Court or both parties, — Hindus and Muslims — should sit together and find a mutually acceptable solution to the problem. Mr Rehman said Muslims in India had full faith in the secular and democratic principles of the Constitution and they were confident that their sentiments would not be hurt. They said communal forces should not be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere by raising the issue once again. He observed that the saner elements in India were themselves apprehensive of the rise of sectarian forces, who were threatening the unity and integrity of the country. The Muslim Council leader maintained that Muslims were not opposed to the construction of the Ram temple. He said either it should be the Supreme Court which should take a final decision and which should be accepted by everyone, or there should be a mutual understanding for settling the issue. He argued that confrontation from any quarter will not help in any case and everyone was bound to suffer. The speakers, who included a number of non-Muslims also, pointed out the importance of Id, which is observed after 30 days of fasting. They maintained that every religion, including Islam, preaches peace and amity. Although there were some sporadic shouts about the reconstruction of the Babri mosque, the Muslim leaders, including the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid Maulana Habib-ur-Rehman, refrained from any provocative remarks.
|
|
Tangris
‘getting VVIP treatment’ Ludhiana, December 6 The present trust chief, Mr Pawan Kumar Sharma, in a press release today said that the father and son duo were even sending threat messages to them from the jail. Even the witnesses in their case were also being threatened, he claimed. However, Jail Deputy Superintendent G.S. Rai refuted the allegations. He said no doubt the accused had been kept in a separate cell but this had been done for security reasons and no special facilities were given to them. He said the two accused faced threat perception from the other undertrials and were thus isolated. He said all allegations regarding the special facilities were wrong. No VCR, TV or mobile phone was given to the accused. Mr Pawan Kumar Sharma claimed that the father-son duo were feigning ill-health for the past four months. They had got themselves admitted in the jail hospital. He has also complained to the ADGP (Prisons), Mr R.S. Chalia, in this regard. Releasing copies of his complaint, Mr Pawan said he had demanded a high-level inquiry into the case.
|
|
YC men pay tributes to Dr Ambedkar Ludhiana, December 6 Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mehta recalled the significant contribution of Dr Ambedkar in framing the Constitution of India, which paved the way for a secular and just governance in the biggest democracy of the world. The DYC Chief urged the partymen to work relentlessly for the empowerment of the Dalit community so that the weaker and repressed section of the society could get its due place in the social and economic set up of the country. Prominent among others present at the occasion were Mr Balbir Singh, Mr Inderjit, Mr Sat pal
Ghai, Mr Ravinder Arora, Mr Malkiat Singh and Mr Arun Bedi. In a function organised by Bhartiya Valmiki Sabha at Valmiki Dharamshala in Shahi Mohalla here, its national president, Mr Kala Hans, and state president, Mr Chander Shekhar
Sahota, exhorted the Dalit community to work unitedly and channelise its energy to fulfil the dreams of Dr Ambedkar. Among others, Mr Sudesh
Gharu, Mr Dina Nath Sidhu, Mrs Pushpa Sahni, Mr Sachdev Nahar, Mr Som Dutt
Sahota, Mr Roshan Lal Vaid, Mr Raj Kumar Raja, Mr Varinder Gandhi, Ms Sandhya James and Mrs Charanjit Kaur Nikki addressed the function. Rich tributes were paid by activists of Dr Ambedkar Sangharsh Morcha on 46th anniversary of Dr
B.R. Ambedkar at a function held in Jawahar Nagar here. Mr Naresh
Dhingan, Mr Nirmal Kaira, Mr Surinder Kumar Binder, Mr Inderpal Chauhan and Mr
I.S. Bharti, among others, paid tributes to the architect of the Indian Constitution. |
|
Khangoora’s nomination to PPCC hailed Ludhiana, December 6 In a joint statement, the leaders of the youth Congress observed that the PCC President had given adequate representation to different sections of the society including the youth and women. They said Mrs Khangoora had returned to India after staying in England for a long time. |
|
2 held on charges of burglary Ahmedgarh, December 6 According to Mr Amandeep Singh Rai, SSP, Sangrur, the gang has been active in this area since 1997. It had robbed six houses in the town recently, which had created a sense of insecurity among local residents. The district police had then formed a special team led by Mr Kamikar Singh, SHO, and Mr Rajbachan Singh, DSP, at Malerkotla, to check the activities of this gang. This team nabbed Bruce Lee and his companion Varinderjit, along with stolen gold jewellery and cash totalling Rs 38,000 which the accused later confessed to have stolen from Mr Surinder Goyal, a correspondent, Mr Rajinder Kumar and Mr Vijay Kumar. Mr Rai said that preliminary investigations revealed that the gang had been active in the area since 1997. Bruce Lee had been getting information about location of valuables in houses through housemaids to whom he had easy access. He disclosed that he had been selling
jewellery to Ashok Kapoor and Raj Kapoor, two Ludhiana-based jewellers. The police was yet to recover
jewellery from those jewellers who could not be traced, said the police. |
|
Five booked in dowry death case Mandi Gobindgarh, December 6 According to Mr Malkit Chand, his daughter Rani Devi was married to Gurcharan Singh, son of Dhani Ram, and at the time of marriage he had spent huge amount of money besides giving dowry articles. He alleged that after the marriage his daughter was subjected to harassment and maltreatment by her in-laws for dowry. He managed to meet their demands by borrowing the money from his relatives and friends. He alleged that the in-laws had once threatened to kill his daughter if their demands were not met. He further alleged that the in-laws had murdered her after administering poison to her. |
|
Body found
in gunny bag Ludhiana, December 6 The body was found by some morning walkers who saw some dogs standing near a gunny bag from which blood was oozing out. Thereafter, the police arrived and opened the bag. While the body was in a half naked state, a shirt and a sweater were packed in the bag. Personal enmity could be the reason behind the murder, police sources said. |
|
Handbag
snatched from lecturer Ludhiana, December 6 The woman, a lecturer with GGN Khalsa College, was returning home when the youth, wearing a helmet, on a scooter snatched her handbag. The bag contained her salary cheque, debit card, identity card, a mobile phone and Rs 500 in cash. A case has been registered at Division No. 5 police station. |
|
|
Woman elopes with tantrik Ludhiana, December 6 Dalbir Singh, husband of the woman, alleged in his complaint that the tantrik and his wife had been missing since November 21. |
 |
| 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 | |
