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Daler’s two old passports recovered Patiala, December 27 The pop star, who had earlier been remanded in police custody, was taken to Delhi yesterday. Police sources said the police had checked Daler's office in Laddoserai, besides his residence in Vikaspuri. According to the police, information about the activities of Daler's troupe members, including what they were doing presently, was also collected. The police has also taken a statement about the accounts of the pop star. However, it is likely to go in for more verification about other accounts of Daler, besides those of his company. Details of the properties sold by Daler recently are also being collected, the sources said. |
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Ahmadiyyas flay ‘Shariat’ law Amritsar, December 27 Mohammad Inam Ghuari, national secretary, Ahmadiyya community, today criticised the “Shariat” law which orders “an eye-for-an-eye and a hand-for-a-hand” and other such punishments in the name of justice. He said before implementing such laws the real teachings of the Islam must be considered. “Some are ignoring the real message of the Islam which calls for brotherhood and love on all levels”, he added. The convention started with the recitation of the Koran and a nazm followed by a speech of Mirza Wasim Ahmad on the teachings of Hazrat Mohammad that laid emphasis on equality of women with men as advocated by the Prophet. The session was attended by Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, PWD Minister. Eight translators translated speeches in languages like Tamil, Malayalam, Oriya, etc. However, grievances came to the fore regarding the situation faced by Ahmadiyyas in Pakistan. Mr Mobasher Ahmed, a Pakistan national settled in Germany, talking to The Tribune said Ahmdiyas faced discriminations in Pakistan. He cited the instance when the body of an Ahmadiyya was refused to be buried in a burial ground and when an Ahmadiyya was thrown out of a restaurant after his identity was known. Originally from Sialkot and Sahiwala, Mr Ahmad said the community had made its own graveyards in Karachi, Faizlabad, Lahore and Rabwa. The province of Punjab was where the discrimination was the highest, he added. In Sind an Ahmadiyya eye specialist was brutally shot dead. He said Pakistan's declaration of “happy minorities” on its state-run television were merely a propaganda. “Every atrocity on an Ahmadiyya was brought to the notice of the UNO, Amnesty International and the World Human Rights Watch,” he said. This had facilitated that no aggrieved Ahmadiyya seeking asylum in any developed country faced any problem. The German Ahmadiyya said the community in Germany published literature on its ‘plight’ regularly. However, Mohammad Abdullah, a computer expert from Pakistan, was guarded in his response and hailed the Musharaff regime as being “lenient” towards them in comparison to previous governments. |
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15 rape cases registered Bathinda, December 27 During investigation carried out by the police, it was found that the complaint and the accused were known to each other and the complainant, in fact, had eloped with the accused. Similarly, Vinderjit Kaur (name changed), a resident of one of the semi-urban towns of the district, alleged that she had been raped by a resident of the same town and an other woman, resident of the same area, facilitated the accused in raping her. During investigation carried out by the police, it was found that the complainant and the accused were known to each other and the complainant had eloped with the accused. In the investigation of about 15 rape cases, which have been registered in the district so far in the current year, the police authorities have found that a new trend had been emerging in such cases where the complainants and accused are known to each other and in most of the cases, the complainants had eloped with the accused. The study carried out by the police authorities in connection with the rape case revealed that the increase in rape cases was attributed to free registration of criminal cases. In most of the rape cases, the victims and the accused were known to each other before the commission of the crime. In many cases, illicit relations and extra-marital relations were being carried on for some time between the two parties and the cases were registered only when their activities became public. In some cases, the victims or their kin were not ready to register a case for obvious reasons. Information supplied by the police authorities revealed that in this year so far 15 cases of rape had been registered in different police stations of the district and in almost all the cases, the victims and accused were known to each other. Out of 15 cases of rape, elopement of the complainant with the accused had been found in nine cases. The information revealed that out of 15 cases registered in the district so far, two cases, had been cancelled while challans in
seven cases had been presented in the court. The remaining six cases were still under investigation. In 2001, the district witnessed 13 cases of rape, that went up to 14 in 2002. In the current year up to December 20, total number of cases reported and registered in the district were 15. Mr Shiv Kumar Verma, SP (Headquarters), Bathinda, when contacted said during investigation, whenever it was found that the complainant was major and had eloped with the accused to get married with him, case under rape was cancelled. |
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The woman who alleged rape ‘untraceable’ Abohar, December 27 A newspaper reported yesterday that a woman with her face covered was sitting at the bus stop of Ghallu village 12 km from here, on the Fazilka Road alleged on Thursday that she was raped by three persons inside Government Senior Secondary School building on Wednesday night. She allegedly said that she had been cheated by a person who she identified as “Babbu”. Her husband was a Gurdwara employee at Patiala. She has two children there. After raping her “Babbu” left her at the bus stop of Ghallu village on the National Highway 10 on Wednesday evening, she had alleged. A Dhaba owner at the bus stop reportedly confirmed that she was short of woollens and was shivering due to cold. He offered her food and took her to his house, but his mother refused permission to give shelter to an unknown woman, so the dhaba owner left her back at the school. He had noticed three boys moving near the woman. He asked them to go home and not to harass her. The watchman of the bus stand market confirmed that he had found the woman being chased by dogs at 2 a.m. When he shooed the dogs she started weeping and said that three boys had raped her inside the school complex. She appeared frightened. The incident was brought to the notice of elders in the village. The Police station Khuikhera was also informed of it, residents claimed. Ghallu and Khuikhera are parts of Fazilka subdivision but in the police records the Police Post of Khuikhera village actually located in Bodiwala Peetha village in the Panchayat Ghar is connected to police station Khuiyansarwer that is a part of Abohar sub division. Policemen on duty at both police stations, said no complaint in this connection had been received in writing, so there was no need of visiting Ghallu village. Senior officers said they had no information about the alleged rape. Social activists recall that a woman was allegedly gangraped near the local railway station two years back by a Home guard jawan and his friends. She disappeared two days after the incident. The police closed the file. |
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Government to provide job opportunities Hoshiarpur, December 27 He said an Information and Technology Park was being set up in 5,000 acres at Ropar which would provide employment to about one lakh youths. He said many industrialists of foreign countries had agreed to set up units in Punjab. The Project Approval Board of Punjab had granted permission for setting up industrial units of Rs 7,000 crore in state during the past month. Permission for setting up more industrial units of similar amount was being given by it during this month. With the setting up of these industries, the economic growth of Punjab would certainly improved, he said. He said a four-lane road had been completed from Jalandhar to Bhogpur which would further be extended to Pathankot. Over bridge at the Dasuya railway crossing would soon be constructed. A deep tubewell would be installed at Dasuya town and financial assistance would also be provided to its municipal council for providing basic and modern civic amenities to its inhabitants. He said the government would provide financial assistance for setting up a physics laboratory for MSc at JC DAV College, Dasuya. He gave away prizes to the winners of various events. Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, Minister for Public Works, Mr Romesh Chander Dogra, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Mr Kirandeep Singh Bhullar, Deputy Commissioner, Mr Dinkar Gupta, DIG, Jalandhar Police Range, Mr Lok Nath Angra, SSP, Hoshiarpur, and local Congress leaders were present on the occasion. Mr V.K. Sharma, Principal of JC DAV College, while briefing about the college activities said more than 1,200 students from 110 colleges participated in the Inter-Zonal Youth Festival. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister charged the BJP with trying to destabilise Congress government in various states keeping in view the forthcoming Lok Sabha poll. Addressing a press conference at Dasuya, the Chief Minister said that the BJP was doing it to gain power at the Centre. He alleged that the BJP was encouraging dissidence in Congress Legislature parties in seven out of the 11 Congress-ruled states, including Punjab, with the aim of toppling governments. Replying to a question, he said there was not a single written complaint of corruption against any member of his Cabinet. |
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NRI helps set up school in village
Bilga (Jalandhar): To realise the dream of their mother to see this area developed, as a centre of education, Mr Ashwani Tangri, a Canada-based NRI, and his wife Neena, one of the 10 top policy makers of the Conservative Party of Canada, and their family members have been regular visitors to this village. They are also financing Sheela Devi Tangri DAV Public School, named after Mr Tangri’s mother. Mr Tangri, who runs an insurance business in Ontario, was here for the school fete recently. The family has donated about two acres of ancestral land for setting up the school in this village, the only CSE-affiliated school of the area in which students of affiliated schools of the area in which student of about 35 villages of the area are enrolled. “Our next dream is to set up a technical education wing to provide education to students in the fields of IT and mechanical engineering. For setting up a library in the school, we will give 50,000,” said Mr Tangri. He was seen mixing up with student along with his son. “I remember our days and education of those times and compare it to the one day whenever I come to this school. Though this year’s fete was a very colourful event, what I liked the best was depiction of life of rural people by the kids,” said Mr Tangri. Jalandhar-based industrialist Sheetal Vij has also been making a financial contribution towards the school, it is learnt. “The school was started in 1995 with just about 200 students and shifted to this new building in 1998. Now it has more than 800 students,” said Mr Tangri happily. Mr Ravi Sharma, Principal, said the school needed more resources for further growth and expansion. |
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Bhatia writes to Yashwant on
French legislation Amritsar, December 27 Mr Bhatia in a letter to the minister a copy of which was released to press here today said that the banning of turban was a serious issue which was a direct interference in the Sikh religion. He said that such a ban would hurt the Sikh community and requested the government to take up the matter at the highest level. He said India enjoyed good relations with the French Government and they must respect the feelings of Sikhs and withdraw the legislation immediately to assuage the feelings of the Sikh community. |
Kainth seeks CM’s resignation Jalandhar, December 27 Addressing a press conference here, Mr Kainth alleged that the ongoing cries in the Congress would cause serious implications in the development of the state as major industrial houses were planning to postpone their investment plans due to political uncertainty. “The Chief Minister should tender his resignation to end month-long impasse as he has already lost faith of the majority of his MLAs and ministers,” he said, while dubbing the Congress government as anti-Dalit. He announced that the BSM would be holding 20 rallies in different parts of the state from January 27 to March 23 next year to expose the Congress government. “The government has failed to initiate developmental works in the state in the past about two years. Besides, the government has withdrawn existing facilities granted to Dalits during the previous SAD-BJP regime, which is highly deplorable,” he added. |
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Resumption of Samjhauta Express opposed Amritsar, December 27 Addressing a press conference here Mr Bitta said the government
should not undertake any steps to initiate a comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan till it handed over the terrorists wanted by India. He said that Pakistan had always backtracked on the Simla and Lahore agreements by supporting terrorist activities in India. He said Pakistan continued to train militants on its territory in the camps situated in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Earlier, Mr Bitta visited the Bainka Blair village where two mentally deranged brother and sister had been kept chained since 1991 when their father Amarjit Singh was killed by a group of terrorists. |
Sergeant cremated with military honours Patiala, December 27 Ranjot, who is survived by his father, mother and a 12-year-old sister, died, ambushed by militants, while he was returning after patrolling at Mammar Camp, about 40 km from here. Ranjot’s cremation was done with full military honours with Brig Ashok Sirohi representing the Army and Deputy Commissioner Tejveer Singh representing the district
administration. A large number of other dignitaries, including Patiala MP Preneet Kaur, PRTC Chairman Ved Prakash Gupta and city Mayor Vishnu Sharma also attended the cremation. Ranjot had been recruited into the Cavalry in 1999 and was presently posted in Srinagar in a Rashtriya Rifles unit. |
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Collecting donations for road repair
Nangal (Ropar), December 27 In what was more of a symbolic protest than a serious effort to carry out the repair of the 20 km stretch of the road, some residents and social workers of Nangal collected donations recently. About 20 persons gathered at the truckers’ union office carrying banners, flaying the government for failing to carry out the repair of the said road for the past more than two years. Mr Kuldeep Chand, a patron of Arpan and local NGO, told this correspondent whenever they approached the authorities concerned for the repairs, they were told that no funds were available. Mr Prabhat Bhatti said the donations collected would be deposited in the government treasury along with the memorandum seeking the repair of the road. The 20 km stretch of the state highway linking Anandpur Sahib with Nangal is in a pathetic state. The entire stretch of the road has potholes. In the past six months about 50 accidents of heavy and light vehicles have been reported as a result. The sources said the number of accidents was much more than what was reported. All suffer due to the poor condition of the road. The reason for the poor state of the road has been lack of maintenance for the past three or four years. As the PWD did not carry out even the minor repair work on the road its condition has deteriorated to the extent that it would have to be relayed again. The PWD authorities who spoke on the condition of anonymity said no aid had been received for repair work. The Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, Ms Seema Jain, had directed the local council to give loan to the PWD for constructing the road. The council, through a resolution, agreed. However, the Department of Local Government refused the permission. The Deputy Commissioner, when asked about the current status, said the government had applied to NABARD for a loan to relay the road. The NABARD team would soon conduct a spot survey of the road and sanction the loan. However, the loan and tender formalities could take another year. Till then the people would have no choice except to bear the inconvenience of a bad road. |
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Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan Jalandhar, December 27 Known as the “Mahakumbh” of classical music, the event took off with rendition of a bandish, “Madan Gopal,” in raga jog, which was adorned by alaap jor and jhala. Dr Sanyal, who was accompanied by Sri Kant Mishra on the Pakhawaj, mesmerised music
lovers for over one hour with his velvety voice. He earned a rich applause when he came
out with another bandish, “Tero man mein kitne gun re”. Dr Sanyal, who has been teaching music
at the Benaras Hindu University for the past about 22 years, showed his rigorous training
in the dhrupad-dhamar genre of the Indian classical music by comfortably the intricacies of the dhrupad rendition. The performance of sitarist
Purbayan Chatterjee, who was accompanied by Ustad Yogesh Samsi on the tabla, was equally impressive. Chatterjee won the hearts of music lovers with an
alaap in raga bihag of “Kalyan thata.” He went on to start a
bandish, “Jhoom jhoom ghoom Ghoom kar aayi gokul ki nagri,” with third matra and concluded it on the same matra, which is
considered to be a tough task. Later, he presented a pahari dhun, “Nazar na sanwaria
laage re” in “Kehrwa taal”. On the occasion, “Hariballabh Darpan”, a book written by noted music teacher and presenter Ustad Joginder Bawra, was released by Mr Avtaar Henry, Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister, and Mr Balbir Singh, local MP, in the presence of Mr Shital Vij, Chairman of the Harballabh Sangeet Mahasabha. Mr Balbir Singh and Mr Henry announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh respectively, to the mahasabha. Mr Shital Vij said the sabha
had made elaborate arrangements for free langar and night stay of music lovers for all three days of the event. Others who were present included Kamlesh Raghuwanshi, Editor of Dainik Jagran, Ms Poornima Beri, general secretary of the sabha, a former MP Iqbal Singh, Mr Arun Mishra, Dr Vayas Kalyan, Deepak Ball, music director Kuljit, Ustad Lachman Singh Seen and his sitarist son Manu Seen, and
Phagwara-based advocate Shiv Narayan Chopra, vice-president of the
mahasabha. |
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A year of revivals — cultural and political Patiala, December 27 The Heritage Festival held in February recreated the Patiala of yore for a
week. The festival, which was aimed at generating tourism in the city, saw the lost era being recreated. The year later saw the start of real-time development in the city after decades, besides the completion of both Mini Secretariat and the judicial complex, acquisition of land for a 300-acre integrated township project and the inclusion of the Quila Mubarak in the list of world monuments by UNESCO. Patialvis got a chance to see top notch performances during the Heritage Festival. Artists like Pandit Jasraj, Sonal Mansingh and Birju Maharaj, besides others, performed against the backdrop of the Quila Mubarak Durbar Hall. Thousands also attended the Arts Mela organised at the Sheesh Mahal where artisans came from all over the country. Though the festival is yet to put Patiala on the tourist map, private entrepreneurs are moving into the city with a number of new hotels and eateries opening up this year. Development at both macro and micro-levels took place. At the macro-level the integrated township development project has started at Baran village on the outskirts of the city. The township, which has received funding from the Centre, is expected to focus on information technology and agro- projects. Besides this, work also started at 15 different places with regard to the Rs 127-crore sewerage project. Other projects include beautification of the Baradari gardens, augmentation of the water supply in the city, covering of the Ganda nullah and creation of a habitat centre. The fate of some these projects could depend on the fate of Capt Amarinder Singh. The Municipal Corporation got all major roads recarpeted. Dividers and streetlights have also been installed on these roads. Other changes include installation of road signs, cleaner roads and better garbage collection system. Citizens and government employees benefited from the completion of the Mini Secretariat and the new judicial complex. Government offices, which were spread all over the city, have now been housed in the new Mini Secretariat constructed on the Jail road. On the political front people missed their representative Capt Amarinder Singh. Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra suffered a massive heart attack but managed to bounce back. He was back in mainline politics with SAD President Parkash Singh Badal reuniting with him. The Badals were put into jail in Patiala for possessing property
disproportionate to their known sources of income. Meanwhile, even as Quila Mubarak got into the list of world monuments the junk market, vegetable market, dairies and even butchers still remained in the city despite numerous claims. The Government Rajindra Hospital, once a premier institution, could not even get a makeover on its
fiftieth anniversary, despite promises. |
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Anti-pollution rally by NSS volunteers Patiala, December 27 The Principal of the college, Mr Kanwarjeet Singh, flagged off the rally. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kanwarjeet Singh, said there was a need to create awareness about environment among students. He added that people should be encouraged to use ecofriendly products. The programme officer, Mr Juginder Singh, urged students to plant saplings at suitable places to keep the city green and clean. |
People unhappy with Municipal Corporation functioning Bathinda, December 27 To celebrate the event a big function was organised then. It was presided over by Punjab Local Bodies Minister, Jagjit Singh and attended by the local MLA, Mr Surinder Singh, Chairman, High-Powered Finance Committee, Punjab. However, the euphoria among the residents has started fading. Now many residents feel that Municipal Committee should not have been replaced by the Municipal Corporation. Residents find it difficult to get genuine work done without a number of rounds of the Municipal Corporation office. Residents, including traders, organised protests against the Municipal Corporation authorities. Even senior Congressmen criticised elected representatives during these agitations. “Ever since the Municipal Committee has been replaced by the Municipal Corporation, the town has started witnessing unprecedented growth of unauthorised structures. The Municipal Corporation authorities have become a mute spectator to violations of bylaws and development in the town has come to standstill,” alleged Mr Narinder Mittal, a senior BJP leader of the town. Mr Jagdish Rai Bansal, President, Punjab Retired Municipal Employees Union, alleged specifications laid down for development works were not followed. The residents who have applied for sanction of site plans of house alleged that Municipal Corporation authorities took undue long time for sanctioning the same and they had to visit its office several times for it. The residents alleged that the authorities had allowed unauthorized constructions by
influential persons. Mr Kewal Krishan Aggarwal, Member, Advisory Committee, Municipal Corporation, admitted that site plans, sanctions were delayed. He said that in January 2004, a lok adalat would be organised by local MLA, Surinder Singh and all work of people sanctioning of site plans would be cleared. Mr
D.K. Tiwari, Commissioner and Mr Kamal Kant Goyal, Executive Officer, Municipal Corporation, Bathinda were not available. |
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Vigilance Bureau to get office in Mohali soon Mohali, December 27 Although the Phase VIII police station complex has a VB police station, but it exits only on paper. All cases registered by the VB are thus filed on record at the “VB police station, Mohali,” but other than a barely legible directional board there is no sign of a police station. The VB police personnel function from the Punjab Police headquarters in Sector 17, Chandigarh, but now a move is being made to shift part of that office to Mohali. The office will be headed by Mr Siddharth
Chattopadhyaya. |
Punjab police’s help sought in murder mystery Abohar, December 27 Mr Bawri was killed with a sharp-edged weapon. His body, wrapped in a blanket, was recovered from a ditch inside his residence in Keshav Colony on Tuesday. Experts said the murder might have been committed during last week. Four of his children, who resided with him, were missing since then. A senior police officer said today that Bawri had been repeatedly interrogated by the police in connection with cases of thefts and burglaries during past few months. Earlier in 2001, he was booked for offences under Prevention of Prostitution Act. Bawri’s wife was staying with her parents in Muktsar district. |
College teachers not paid for
eight months Barnala, December 27 Prof Darshan Kumar, President, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union
(PCCTU) Guru Gobind Singh College, Sanghera unit yesterday regretted that it was very difficult to be without salary of eight months. Prof Kumar informed that this grievance was brought to the notice of college authorities many times that salary had to be paid by 10th of every month as per Punjabi University calendar but in vain. He alleged that college authorities were not giving annual statements of Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) along with interest despite requests. Prof Kumar said that the Managing Committee of the college was not making any effort to find a solution to the non-payment of salary to the teachers. |
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Guru Nanak varsity open on December 29 Amritsar, December 27 |
Sudanese delegation visit coach factory
Kapurthala, December 27 The delegation was impressed by the working of the factory and its modern manufacturing technologies. The RCF General Manager, Mohammad Sirajuddin, and engineers of the RCF and RITES explained different stages of coach manufacturing and showed the second class AC three-tier coach refrigerator van and new German design of AC two-tier coaches to the delegation. Sudan is looking for enlarging railway infrastructure and the import of large varieties of coaches.
Sudan an oil rich country wants to enlarge railway network in Sudan as the oil is transported through road transport only because of poor railway network. |
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