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| Sunday,
February 16, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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SAD promises justice to ’84 riot widows Alamgir, February 15 The meeting held at the historic Alamgir Sahib gurdwara this evening was chaired by party chief Parkash Singh Badal and attended by members of the party’s working committee, besides MLAs and senior leaders. The resolutions were read out by Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder and passed by voice vote. It was decided to extend the membership drive till March 31. The gathering warned the government against “targeting” party workers and leaders, otherwise the Akalis would come out on the streets. The members reiterated their commitment to ensure justice for the widows of the 1984 riots. The women have gone though a lot of hardship and trauma in the past 19 years and have been frustrated by the acquittal of all main accused in the case. Laying the blame for the carnage at the door of the Congress, the committee appealed to the widows to desist from self-immolation and wait for some more time so that their grievances could be redressed by the party. The meeting also condemned the MSP announced for wheat and termed it as a joke played on the farmers. Accusing the Congress of not pleading the case of the state forcefully with the Centre, the committee felt that the MSP would not even cover the costs of the farmers. The government had also discontinued the free power supply and raised the taxes on fertilisers and insecticides, adding to the burden of the farmers, it said. The party appealed to the Congress to get a price index linked renumerative price for the farmers. The committee demanded the resignation of the Punjab CM on moral grounds, citing the publishing of certain objectionable photographs in a section of the media. The PAC also expressed its concern at the decision of Punjabi University to relax rules for proficiency in Punjabi in the appointment of lecturers. The issue of securing clemency for Prof Davinderpal Singh in the 1993 bomb blast case too figured at the meeting. The execution of the accused would deal a blow to the peaceful situation in the country. The party appealed to the government to grant clemency to him since there was a general consensus among the people to do away with the death sentence in the country. The committee also demanded a judicial inquiry into the attempt on the life of former Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh during the ‘rasta roko’ stir at Zirakpur. The peacefully agitating workers at many places in the state were “cane-charged and humiliated”. The party demanded the suspension of Inspector Tehal Singh, Naib Tehsildar Pawan Kumar and police commando Surinder Singh, who allegedly fired at the minister. |
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SHO, ASI suspended, booked for extortion Sangrur, February 15 The police here registered a case under Sections 384, 506, 120-B of the IPC and 7, 13 (2) 88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act yesterday against Mr Darbara Singh, SHO; Anup Singh, ASI; Kewal Singh, Head Constable; Satnam Singh, of Dhapali (Bathinda); Darshan Kumar, car driver; and Ms Happy. They have absconded. Mr A.S. Rai, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Sangrur, said after the registration of the case, the SHO, the ASI, and the Head Constable had been suspended. Higher police authorities had been recommended to demote ASI Anup Singh as he had been holding an ORP rank of the ASI, he added. Mr Mandip Singh Sidhu, SP (Headquarters), Sangrur, inquired into the complaint of Mr Varinder Kumar, a resident, here against the accused persons, said that prima-facie all six persons, including the police officials, were found involved in the case. Even Sangrur SSP
A. S. Rai had also observed that “the matter is extremely serious and reflects badly on image of police”. After this, the SSP ordered the DSP, Sangrur, to register a case and investigate it, he added. Mr Varinder Kumar had complained that on February 3 last he along with his friend were coming from Malerkotla to Sangrur in a car. When they reached near Dhuri bus stop, a girl, Happy, sought lift up to Sangrur from them. They agreed to her request, but when they crossed Benra village, an Indica car overtook their car and stopped in front of their car. Satnam Singh of Dhapali village, ASI Anup Singh, Head Constable Kewal Singh and car driver Darshan Kumar alighted from Indica car and started beating them up. The accused also alleged that they (Varinder Kumar and his friend) had illicit relations with the girl, so they would be booked and paraded in the town. If they wanted to save them from such a situation, they should make a settlement for this, he added. Mr Varinder Kumar had also alleged that later they had been taken to the level crossing near CIA staff office, Bahadur Singh Wala. He further alleged that Satnam Singh and Anup Singh talked to Mr Darbara Singh, SHO, Sangrur police station, on a mobile phone. Later, the accused persons demanded Rs 2 lakh from them. During settlement of amount with him, Satnam Singh, Ms Happy and Anup Singh held conversation with each other. At last, the deal was struck at Rs 40,000 and Anup Singh took Rs 3650 from him which were in his (Varinder) pocket. Later, he (Varinder) came to Sangrur and collected Rs 20,000 from a friend and gave it to Anup Singh and promised to give remaining Rs 20,000 later. He also alleged that after receiving Rs 20,000 from him, Satnam Singh, Anup Singh, Kewal Singh, Happy and Darshan Kumar boarded the Indica car and left the spot. The SP (Headquarters) said during the inquiry, he had found that the accused persons had planned to get huge amount from the car-borne persons by blackmailing with the help of Ms Happy. |
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Amarinder
has betrayed people: BJP Chandigarh, February 15 The rally, which, among others, was addressed by Mr Rajnath Singh, general secretary, Mr Om Parkash Dhankar, secretary of the national body of the party, Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, president of the Punjab unit, and Mr Avinash Jaiswal and Mr Harjit Grewal, both general secretaries of the state unit of the party, was held at Matka Chowk immediately after the march that started from Nehru Park and terminated near the chowk. Mr Dhankar and Mr Rajnath Singh said that the Congress was trying to play the game of false promises in Himachal Pradesh also to deceive people there the way Capt Amarinder Singh had cheated the people of Punjab by making lofty promises. Such game would be no more successful, they added. Mr Rajnath Singh said that Capt Amarinder Singh had set a wrong trend of character assassination in Indian politics and the Congress would have to pay a heavy price for it. “By making a personal attack on Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal and ordering raids on his family members, Capt Amarinder Singh had played with the pride of people of Himachal Pradesh for which the people of the hill state would not forgive the Punjab Chief Minister,” he added. “I have told the party leaders not to make any counter-attack of character assassination on Capt Amarinder Singh,” he added. When asked about Mr Madan Lal Khurana, a senior leader of the BJP, levelling serious allegations against Capt Amarinder Singh, Mr Rajnath Singh said that Mr Khurana must had been provoked to do so by the Punjab Chief Minister. Mr Rinwa said that Capt Amarinder Singh had discontinued the shagun scheme, had not given jobs to SC and BC families as promised in the manifesto, had not taken steps to distribute surplus land among landless people, had not implementation the reservation policy and had not declared either his own assets or that of his ministers. Capt Amarinder Singh had withdrawn the facility of free power to farmers, had not introduced crop insurance scheme, had not abolished octroi and failed to remove sales tax barriers. Almost all senior leaders such as Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Mr Tikshan Sud, Pandit Mohan Lal and Mr Sat Pal Saini participated in the rally. Later, an 11-member delegation of the party led by Mr Rinwa submitted a memorandum against Capt Amarinder Singh’s government to the Punjab Governor. |
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Preserving
Punjabi Patiala, February 15 “Most of these manuscripts are rare and to safeguard our linguistic heritage for the coming generations what better than to store them permanently on discs. The manuscripts will, hence, be saved from the constant wear and tear of handling by research scholars,” says Mr Surjit
Khurma, library in charge of the department, while talking to this correspondent. Though the department claims that the manuscripts are chemically treated from time to time and kept wrapped in soft cloth, most of these manuscripts will disintegrate in the time to come given the callousness and constant usage. The discs, while safeguarding the manuscripts, will also ensure easy accessibility to specific portions or pages of the documents as the manuscripts have been scanned pagewise and catalogued accordingly. To improve upon the quality of the visual matter, a software by the name of Corel photo-paint had been used. The entire project is being carried out under the supervision of the Director, State Languages Department, Mr
M.L. Hasija, by Mr Khurma, in charge library, Mr Alok Chawla, research assistant, along with eight other colleagues. |
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Probe finds no truth in paddy seed ‘scam’ Ludhiana, February 15 Dr
S. P. S. Brar, Director, University Seed Farm, Nabha, had alleged irregularities and loss to the PAU following auction of paddy at Nabha seed farm. Vice-Chancellor Dr
K. S. Aulakh had ordered a probe by Dr Darshan Singh, Additional Director Research (Agriculture). Dr
H. S. Randhawa who had organised the auction of paddy was told to explain. Inquiry report has been submitted to the Vice-Chancellor by Dr
G. S. Nanda, Director Research of the university. He has found the allegations wild and baseless. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau had also started an inquiry into the seed scam. Dr Brar’s allegation that no notice on the site and date of auction was issued before the auction of paddy on October 16, 2002, it was found that a proper notice was issued and even the Managing Director, Punjab State Seeds Corporation was informed. On allegations of Dr Brar that foundation seed of PR-111 variety of rice was not downgraded and sold direct to seed traders without getting it declared surplus from the competent authority. It is a fact that the produce of PR-111 was the progeny of breeder seed sown at the farm. The inspection was done by the monitoring team. Tag of the foundation seed can only be put on to the produce after a laboratory test and packaging. Since the produce was not marked ‘foundation seed’, its downgrading was uncalled for. Evidence of Dr
H. S. Randhawa revealed that competent authority’s permission was obtained for open auction of the produce. Dr Nanda observed that the committee formed for the auction of the produce was present at the auction on the farm. Dr
S. P. S. Brar and other staff members were present when the produce was lifted and responsible for weighments. On harvesting and transport of PR 106 to new grain market Nabha, Dr
S. P. S. Brar had alleged that despite this instructions to farm staff to weigh all loaded trolleys on computer balance before taking these to the market, only six trolleys were weighed for which three computer weighment receipts are available while the other three receipts were taken away from him on instructions from Dr
H. S. Randhawa. He stated that four more trolley-loads of PR 106 were transported to the market without their pre-weighing on the computer balance. On this, it is stated that since paddy needed to be pre-cleaned (through fanning), only thereafter the weighments were to be made. Dr Randhawa said PR 106 produce was packed and weighed after pre-cleaning under the supervision of Dr
S. P. S. Brar in the market. However, Dr H. S. Randhawa, should have allowed Dr
S. P. S. Brar to follow procedures before taking the produce to the grain market and again weighment could have been done after pre-cleaning. Dr Nanda has further observed that Dr
S. P. S. Brar has alleged that voucher indicating the weight of 361.62 quintal of PR 106 variety was not issued immediately on 10.11.2002 since Dr Randhawa wanted to make some adjustments in the weight after negotiations with the buyer. Allegations seem to be baseless since Dr
S. P. S. Brar was competent to sign the voucher and issue it to the party concerned. The allegation is baseless for want of additional evidence. Dr Nanda has stated that no loss was caused to the university. He clarified that due to excess produce and shortage of space for storage surplus produce was sold as “grain” in the local market. Had the seed been stored even then there was no guarantee that it could be sold as seed because of overproduction and being in excess of the demand of the seed. In 1998-99 and 1999-2000, nearly 1000 quintals of seed had to be sold as grain in the market. Again in 2000-2001, the university produced 9750 quintals of paddy seed but could sell only 6850 quintals as seed. The rest had to be sold as grain for a lower price. It was similar in 2001-2002 when the university produced 9245 quintals of paddy seed of which 7200 quintals was sold as seed and the rest as grain. |
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Jilani’s kin cross over to Pak Wagah, (Amritsar), February 15 As many as 135 buses have been gifted to war-torn Afghanistan by India till now. This is the fifth consignment sent to Afghanistan. Despite plummeting relations between India and Pakistan, this time the buses were given quick clearance as Mohammed Akhtar, president of transportation arrangement, Afghanistan, accompanied them. Mr Akhtar refused to make any comments on Pakistan, but said Afghanistan would be forever grateful to India for its humanitarian gesture. The buses were received on the Pakistan side by Mr Mohammed Samim Hamraz, Second Secretary, Afghanistan High Commissioner in Islamabad. A BSF high official said probably the clearance to buses by Pakistan was given without any hitch this time to facilitate easy and smooth entry of the family of its acting High Commissioner. It may be recalled that the Pakistan authorities had delayed all earlier four consignments of buses to Afghanistan given under India’s aid programme. The convoy of buses started at 12 noon and was cleared by 1.30 pm. Following the convoy was the family of Mr Jilani. |
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Ashram mahant held
for rape Hoshiarpur, February 15 Mahant
Alkha Nand was arrested last evening. The complainant has stated
that she had been a devotee of Mahant Alkha Nand for 14-15 years and
used to go to his ashram for doing voluntary service. She alleged that
during a visit to the ashram one day, the mahant raped her and tale of
her woe started from that day. He used to allegedly call her at the
ashram and rape her regularly for about eight years. Whenever she
tried to revolt, the mahant threatened to defame her by telling his
devotees about her illicit relations with him. Meanwhile, the woman
married a nephew of Alkha Nand on January 27, 2003 and stopped
visiting the mahant. She further alleged that the mahant had illicit
relations with many other devotees. She alleged that he had amassed
huge wealth and property by cheating his devotees. |
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Corruption alleged in recruitment Bathinda, February 15 Mr Varinder Kumar, Mrs Manjit Kaur, Mr Lachhman Dass and some other petitioner today said that they had lost their jobs when these spinning mills were closed down and had been facing economics hardships since then. They alleged that the previous SAD-BJP government never considered their cases with compassion and they were forced to seek legal redress. They claimed that some petitioners who had served as senior officers in the now closed mills had been denied jobs while their juniors had been appointed. They said that during a meeting, the Punjab Cabinet had recently decided to fill 30 vacancies from the petitioners, who had filed a contempt petition in the state high court. They said that the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, had ordered that no discrimination should be made against these 39 petitioners and that those who had won the cases in the court should be given jobs on
priority. Housefed had conducted interviews for the post of secretary and other vacancies on January 3 and 4 and the petitioners were also interviewed. But when the results were declared the petitioners alleged 12 candidates, who had never been party to any court case, but were “favourites and relatives” of the Housefed officials, were given jobs and the petitioners who had won the cases were denied the same. The petitioners said that at least seven petitioners from Mansa district had not yet been given appointment letters. They claimed that the officials of Housefed had submitted on February 13, 2002, that 37 petitioners had been given appointment letters, which they (the petitioners) claimed was misleading. Eviction lamented that to pay heavy fees of legal advisers in the high court and the Supreme Court, they had to sell their assets and other valuable. She said they had written to the Chief Minister, urging him to look into the matter and order high-level probe into the bungling and corruption in the recruitment made by Housefed. |
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HC directive to DGP, SSP Chandigarh, February 15 In his petition filed against the state of Punjab and other officials, Giani Harjinder Singh of Dera Dharamshala in Sekhwan village in Ferozepore district had also sought directions for getting the case investigated by senior officer, besides providing him and his family with para-military security. Claiming to have been managing the dera affairs since 1991, the petitioner had added that he was tortured at a police station in Khanna after being picked up by five persons on February 25 last year from a dhaba on the Bathinda road. He was also threatened with implication in a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act if he did not handover 27 acres of land. Arguing before the court, counsel for the petitioner had contended on his behalf that the matter was reported to the police, but action was not taken against the officials. The case would now come up for further hearing on February 17. |
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Residents
block traffic on GT Road Phagwara, February 15 It was learnt that followers of Guru Ravi Dass were decorating the GT road with buntings by barricading it and diverting traffic. The barricading was done by throwing tyres and using apparatus employed by the police to put nakas. When the local DSP objected to this, an altercation followed. Protesters shouted slogans against the police and blocked traffic. They ended the blockade after the DSP removed the misgivings. The residents reportedly misunderstood that the DSP had used objectionable language against them while he had actually expressed his anger at the policemen for not removing the barricades. |
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‘Rasta
roko’: MLA among 50 booked Bathinda, February 15 Police sources said the case against these leaders and Akali activists, including sarpanches of various villages, was registered when the SHO of Nahianwala police station got information that a number of people, particularly members of the SAD (Badal), had jammed traffic on the state highway near Goniana town, 15 km from here, on February 10. |
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Police
course concludes Phillaur, February 15 A module formulated for the purpose, was discussed and interaction on issues like, what is gender and need of sensitisation of police functionaries, gender and its effect on behaviour, police perception of gender, crime against women, social legislations and laws related to women uplift, role of police for effective implementation of laws related to women and women police needs and scope was held during the course. |
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It was murder, not suicide: mother Amritsar, February 15 In a six-page complaint to the Chief Minister, the Health Minister, the Home Secretary, senior police officers and the Chairman, Human Rights Commission, the mother of Amritpal Kaur who was a student of the Guru Ram Das Institute here, alleged that the suicide theory about her daughter was floated by the institute authorities and others to save their skin. Amritpal was found dead and the institute authorities had said she had thrown herself in front of the Chhattisgarh Express. Ms Surinder Kaur demanded a case to be registered against the Principal of the institute, Dr Charanjit Singh Bal, hostel wardens, superintendents and two classmates of her deceased daughter. |
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Colourful
shobha yatra taken out Phagwara, February 15 Bands, bhangra and gatka parties and tableaux highlighting the life and message of Guru Ravi Dass marked the procession. PHILLAUR:
A colourful religious procession was taken out in Phillaur town. Punjab Social and Welfare Minister Santokh Singh and local SDM Sandeep Hans were among those who attended the yatra. |
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Farmers block traffic Sangrur, February 15 The farmers blocked the road for about two hours, demanding the restoration of free power to farmers, payment of arrears of sugarcane crop, hike in the MSP of wheat and no privatisation of the Punjab State Electricity Board. Among others who were present or addressed the farmers were Mr Darshan Singh Kunran, district secretary of the Kirti Kisan Union; Mr Darshan Singh Uppli, leader of the Punjab Kisan Sabha, Mr Kiranjit Singh Sekhon, representative of the All-India Kirti Kisan Sabha, and Mr Gajjan Singh Duggan, leader of the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha. NAWANSHAHR:
Activists of the district units of various farmers’ organisations took out a protest rally here in the town and blocked traffic at the Chandigarh chowk on Saturday to protest against the ‘anti-farmers policies’. Mr Kulwinder Singh Warraich, Mr Lal Singh Bains and Mr Surinder Singh Bains, among
others, while addressing the dharna demanded the withdrawal of the free power facility to farmers and waiver of loans of farmers. MOGA:
Hundreds of farmers blocked traffic for two hours of the Moga-Barnala road here, demanding resumption of free power supply to the farm sector and remunerative price of agri-produce, particularly wheat. Addressing the protesters, Mr Jarnail Singh of the Kirti Kisan Union rejected the minimum support price of Rs 620 per quintal of wheat, saying that Rs 10 per quintal relief on account of last year’s drought was too meagre to compensate the high input costs and losses suffered by the farming community due to drought. |
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BKU shifts dharna to Gurdaspur Gurdaspur, February 15 |
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2 Pak teenagers
arrested Tarn Taran, February 15 A police official told here today that
the accused had been identified as Sagar Deen (15) son of Deen
Mohammad, and Sawar (16) son of Asharaf, both residents of Kasoor. A
case under Sections 3, 34, and 20 of the Indian passport Act and 14 F
had been registered against the accused. A wrist watch, a purse and
Rs 50 (Pakistan) have seized from their possession. The accused have
been sent to the Judicial Juvenile Court, Gurdaspur. |
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Criminal
case against Cong
councillor, kin Bathinda, February 15 Police sources said Mr Bhola Generator along with his father and brother were booked on the complaint of Mr Ved Parkash, a resident of Aggarwal Colony of the city. Mr Ved Parkash, who is brother of Mr Rikhi Ram and relative of Mr Bhola Generator, in his complaint to the police, alleged that the accused illegally possessed a piece of residential plot belonging to him. He alleged that the latter had placed idols of various gods and goddesses at the plot last evening. |
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Five cricket bookies held Bathinda, February 15 Police sources said that five bookies — Manoj Kumar, Dinesh Kumar (Bathinda), Sanjeev Kumar of Rampura Phul, Pawan Kumar of Sangria town of Rajasthan and Chander Shekhar of Abohar town of Ferozepore district — were arrested while they were booking the bets on one-day cricket matches on mobile phones. Sources added that a case
had been registered. |
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