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Two injured in fire incident
Ludhiana, September 5 They were rushed to the Civil Hospital where they are under treatment. They received burn injuries on the legs, arms, face and abdomen. Their room in which the incident took place had no signs of fire. Eyewitnesses said the duo were cooking at 10:30
a.m. when one of them lighted a gas burner but the entire room caught fire. They said that gas had leaked from another cylinder kept in the room . When they lit the burner the gas in the room caught fire at once. Neighbours thought that there was a cylinder blast. But when they controlled the fire they found that all six cylinders in the room were in tact . the duo, who sold pav bhaji in Model Town area, had stored many cylinders in one room despite the specifications by the authorities that more than one cylinder should not be stored in a room. Police sources said that a committee constituted by the gas company would visit the site to inquire into the cause of the fire.
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3 teachers honoured
Ludhiana, September 5 Bursting with pride and joy, all three teachers were surrounded by their family members and admirers. Mr Jagdev Singh said: “I am overjoyed. I have worked with dedication during the past 29 years and I am going to retire in December this year and so I feel I have received the award just at the right time. I started my career as a teacher in Khalsa High School, Gill, in 1966 as a science and maths teacher. I was sent to PAU school in 1975”. He had received the best teacher award from the Punjab School Education Board in 1981-82. Mr Santhok Singh had started his career 12 years ago. It is due to hard work and honesty that he had been selected for the award. He said during his career he never thought of any award. “Work is my reward”, he said. He started working in Government School, Jakhar, in 1982 and later he was sent to Dadhaoor. He said: “I wanted the school building to improve. So with the help of staff, students, panchayat members and NRIs, we collected Rs 24 lakh and tried to provide all facilities to the students. The school was declared ‘model school’ in 2000”. He urged the government to fill vacancies in the school. Ms Harpal Kaur started teaching at Government High School, Katran, Sangrur district, in 1980. Then she joined as a lecturer of Government Senior Secondary School, Malound, and then as Principal, Government Senior Secondary School, Karamsar. Mandi Ahmedgarh:
Staff and students of Government Senior School, Karamsar, have organised a function to honor Ms Harpal Kaur, Principal. Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Ms Harpal Kaur said she had been honoured for her achievements during the past five years. Enthusiastic about her achievement she said: “Without the help of my colleagues and other associates I could have never thought to seek such a prestigious award”. Besides good academic record, the school has performed well in extra-curricular activities.
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Student complains against in-laws
Khanna, September 5 According to the FIR lodged, the complainant alleged that he fell in love with his classmate Ramanjit Kaur of Moti Nagar, Khanna. They got married on February 4 at a gurdwara in Sector 47 and started residing in Panchkula. He added that soon after he started getting threatening letters from his in-laws. He said he complained to the human rights commission on February 5. On February 13 he approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court for security in this regard. The court directed the SSP, Khanna, to provide security to the couple. He said on March 15 he went to the university and on returning did not find his wife and all documents of their marriage missing. He lodged a complaint at the Panchkula police station. Following the complaint SSP, Khanna, directed SHO, Khanna police station, to trace his wife. On May 2 a meeting was got arranged to reach a compromise at Fatehgarh Sahib between the affected parties. Nachatar Singh, his father-in-law, and some other persons who had come there for the meeting in two cars, took him to a house of a man named Raj. There he was allegedly beaten up. On September 1 he was found in an unconscious state on the Patiala- Sangrur Road near Jhur Majra village. A case has been registered.
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Bank conference discusses wage issue
Ludhiana, September 5 This was stated by Mr C.H. Venkatachalam, Secretary, All-India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), while inaugurating the 8th Annual Conference of the Punjab Bank Employees Federation at Nehru Sidhant Kender here today. Dr Arun Mitra, chairman, reception committee, welcomed the participants. Other speakers included Dr Sucha Singh Gill, Professor of Economics, Punjabi University, Patiala; Ms Amarjit Kaur, secretary, All-India Trade Union Congress; and Mr Rama Nand, joint secretary, AIBEA. More than 800 delegates from all over the state attended the conference. Congratulating bank employees for display of solidarity during the recent one-day strike, Mr Venkatachalam remarked that the last wage revision settlement in banks had taken place in 1997, which was to remain effective for five years. Discussions between bank unions and the IBA had been on for the past two years but these turned out to be inconclusive, giving rise to widespread resentment among bank officers. “At the time of last wage revision in 1997, when banks were not doing that well, we were given a wage increase of 12.25 per cent over the wage Bill of the banks. Now that almost all banks are doing well and profits have gone up, the IBA is willing to offer only 9.5 per cent increase in wages, which is not acceptable. Further, the bank managements are putting a condition that this increase will be accepted to them only if unions agree on total freedom to the management to transfer employees from one place to another.” Mr Venkatachalam asserted that the trade unions had no objection to the transfer of employees from surplus to deficit areas with proper safeguard and compensation. But the demand of the IBA for a free hand to transfer employees was irrational and hence unacceptable. He further regretted that while the government had been maintaining a stand that public sector banks would not be privatised, attempts were still being made to dilute the government capital in banks. “We shall oppose the dilution of government equity in nationalised banks and the foreign direct investment (FDI) in banking and insurance sectors. Alleging that during the past one year, more than Rs 12,000 crore of new bad loan had been added, Mr Venkatachalam termed it a serious development. The government should take urgent and stringent measures to recover these NPAs in the banks. Willful default of bank loans should be made a criminal offence and action should be taken against bank loan defaulters with publication of their names. Among other points raised by him were increase in interest rate on bank deposits, introduction of tax concessions on banks deposits to boost savings and cut in interest rate on agriculture and rural credit to help the rural economy. Dr Sucha Singh Gill presented a paper on “Effect of WTO on Agriculture in India” during the conference.
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Man killed over Rs 5!
Ludhiana, September 5 The Division No. 7 police booked Vinay Mishra, contractor of a liquor vend, and his gunman, Harbans Singh, for allegedly killing Rajinder Singh. Harbans Singh had allegedly fired at him leaving him injured on Friday evening. He was admitted to the CMC Hospital, where he succumbed to injuries last night. The police had earlier registered a case under Sections 307, 436, 323 and 34 of the IPC, but after rajinder Singh’s death, he was booked under Section 302 of the IPC on the statement of Mr Kuljinder Singh, a resident of Khaasi Kalan village. He had claimed that an altercation took place between him and Vinay Mishra as he did not return Rs 5. He had purchased a quarter of liquor. He further claimed that following altercation, two of his relatives, Rajinder Singh and Parminder Singh, also tried to pacify the angry vend contractor. While the argument was going on, Harbans Singh opened fire from his .12 bore gun. The shots hit Rajinder Singh in the abdomen. He was rushed to the CMC Hospital. But he could not survive. The police has arrested the accused.
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Police station building in a shambles
Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 5 Sources in the police confirmed the bad situation of the building and maintained that funds were awaited for reconstruction of the building. Though made up of thick walls, a look at the building reveals that it has become unsafe for the human inhabitation. Most of the walls have developed cracks. Some rooms have roofs. The SHO’s room, Munshi’s hall, Maal Khaana and barracks are all in worst condition. The condition of the police station has not reached this state over a short period. Perusal of records showed that even a century back the condition was not satisfactory. Report by a gezetted officer on September 27, 1905, noted that there were “Large cracks in the two lock-ups, one wall was cracked and repairs urgently needed.” Besides accommodating bad elements during annual events like Mela Chhappar, the police station has been detaining a number of accused and notorious persons, whose escape could have invited trouble for the staff and public. Recently a hardcore terrorist was lodged here for investigations. The police had to take an extra care during his detention. Mr Rajiv Ahir, Senior Superintendent of Police, Jagraon, confirmed the state of building and said a proposal for its repairs had already been forwarded to the authorities concerned. Though a communication in this regard was still awaited the police was hopeful that its reconstruction would soon start.
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Controversy over Adi Granth irrelevant: ex-Pro-VC
Ludhiana, September 5 Commenting on the controversy raised by certain Sikh scholars that the Adi Granth was not complete Granth Sahib and the full Granth Sahib was not installed on September 1, 1604, Prof Kapoor maintained Guru Gobind Singh added the bani of Guru Teg Bahadur in the Adi Granth compiled by Guru Arjan Dev. It was at Nanded that Guru Gobind Singh, before his assassination by a pathan, declared that Gur Gaddi had been abolished and there would be no next guru in human form and Granth Sahib would be the next guru.
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MC records burnt
Doraha, September 5 The Executive Officer of the Maloud Municipal Council complained that some miscreants had broken into the committee office on the intervening night of August 30 and 31. The outer lock of the entrance was broken, the locks of the almirahs were also broken and all important documents and papers were set ablaze. “It was only in the morning, when the sweeper entered the office, that he found the record destroyed. The miscreants might have committed the crime in the wee hours of the morning as the fire had still not extinguished till the time the sweeper entered the room,” he added. The MC officials are of the view that the records have been ‘intentionally’ destroyed. According to the EO, “We had immediately complained about the matter to the Payal police, but a case could be registered only after knowing the exact position and the nature and quantity of papers destroyed. To our astonishment, on verification we discovered that the record of house tax right from its implementation in 1993 had been destroyed. Papers relating to voter lists, date of birth and death certificates, pension scheme, court case files, street light records, Sawaran Jayanti Rozgar Yojna etc were also damaged.
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September on, rain gone?
Ludhiana, September 5 During this period Ludhiana received 63.8mm of rainfall against a normal of 55 mm in the second week and 76.8 mm against a normal of 38.3 mm in the third week as a result of disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir and monsoon easterlies. According to Dr S.S. Hundal, Prof of Agronomy and Agro-meteorology, Punjab Agricultural University, July exhibited deficient rains but August received rainfall which was close to normal. These rains which were widespread in the state provided necessary moisture for kharif crops. Dr Hundal says that the central part of the state on an average experiences 102 mm of rainfall in September but so far no significant rainfall has taken place.
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Dalits hold corner meetings
Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 5 They would attend a rally at Jalandhar their long- pending demands, said the dalit leaders.
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BJP activists held in assault case
Ludhiana, September 5 Mr Gurbax Singh, a resident of model Town, had stated to the police that he was the owner a plot in Phase V of Dhandari Khurd village. He went there on Friday. The accused came there and beat him up because of an old enmity. The accused also threatened him before leaving, added the complainant. The accused were arrested on the spot, the police said. Assault cases: The complainant had stated that he worked in a factory located opposite the factory owned by the accused in Phase-1 of Focal Point at Dhandari Kalan. The accused barged into his factory, damaged his office and smashed the telephone and took away Rs 34,750 on Friday. No arrest has been made so far. The Shimla Puri police on Saturday registered a case under Sections 323, 324, 506 and 34 of the IPC on the statement of Mr Wazir Singh, a resident of street number 3 of Gobindsar mohalla, against Kartar Singh, a resident of the same locality, and three other unidentified persons accompanying him. The complainant alleged that the accused accosted him outside Indian Public School, Sunder Nagar, on September 1 and beat him up. They also threatened him before going away, added the complainant. No arrest has been made so far. Minor raped: The girl had stated that the accused entered her house on Thursday afternoon while she was alone and raped her by turn and fled. No arrest has been made so far. Cop manhandled:
The Division No. 3 police, on the statement of PCR cop Jarnail Singh, on Saturday registered a case under Sections 353, 186 and 34 of the IPC against Bobby Deol and his brother. The cop stated the accused, who were transporting some goods to the railway station in an auto-rickshaw, came to the checkpost where he was posted and scuffled with him on Saturday afternoon The accused also tore his uniform, added the PCR cop. The accused were arrested and later bailed out. Woman duped: The woman had stated to the police that she had purchased a plot from the accused for Rs 10 lakh and made full payment to him. But the accused kept on dilly-dallying whenever she asked him to get the plot transferred in her name. The accused neither got the plot transferred in her name, nor returned her money, added the complainant. No arrest has been made so far. Firm accused of fraud: The complainant had stated to the police that the accused had purchased cotton from his firm which was valued at Rs 2.41 crore. The accused had given a cheque towards payment. But the cheque was not honoured by the bank concerned. The accused had thus committed a fraud on his firm, added the complainant. No arrest has been made so far. Poppy husk seized: Liquor seized: The Division No. 7 police arrested Jyoti Garg, who lives in street No. 6 of Hargobind Pura at Jagraon, and seized 12 bottle of whisky from his possession and booked him under the Excise Act. The accused was arrested from near Police Colony, Jamalpur, said the police. The Jodhewal police arrested Harbhajan Singh, a migrant from UP living behind Nirmal Marriage Palace on the Daba road, and seized 24 bottles of whisky from his possession and registered a case under the Excise Act against him. The accused was nabbed from Kirpal Nagar, said the police. Knife seized: Motor cycle stolen:
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3 booked for not disclosing tenants’
particulars
Ludhiana, September 5 The Civil Lines police arrested Davinder Singh, who lives in Gurchetan Park in Model Gram for not registering the names of his servants in the police station of the area. He was later bailed out. The Sarabha Nagar police registered a case against Darshan Singh, who lives in Mahavir Nagar and the Haibowal police registered a case against Ganesh Lal, who lives in Kehar Singh Nagar.
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Traders resolve to
oppose VAT
Ludhiana,
September 5 It further made it clear that if the government went ahead with the VAT, members of trade and industry would launch a nation-wide agitation under the banner of Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal. A meeting of the steering committee of the mandal, which met here under the presidentship of Mr Amrit Lal Jain, discussed the details of the meeting with Mr Aseem Dasgupta, chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers, at Delhi on the proposed VAT system of taxation. Giving details of the deliberations at a press conference which followed the meeting, Mr Jain said the trading community disagreed with the government contention that the VAT regime was operational in 120 countries with a great degree of success. "What the government did not make clear was that the taxation in those countries is at the national level and not implemented by states." The Congress- led UPA government, which had advocated a central VAT system, was now backtracking and the states were to give effect to the new tax regime now Mr Jain and other members of the steering committee felt that the proposed VAT system being projected by the Punjab government was a draconian, arbitrary, anti-trade and counter productive act which granted unlimited powers to the bureaucrats with the floor rate of taxation going up from 8per cent to 12.5 per cent. Moreover, there was no apparent move to bring uniformity among the states on the VAT regime and abolition of sales tax, central sales tax, excise duty, octroi, entry tax, service tax and purchase tax, which were sought to be replaced by VAT. The mandal apprehended that the government intended to maintain other taxes and levies along with the VAT regime, which, if permitted to take effect, would lead to utter chaos and harassment to traders while multinational companies and the corporate sector would thrive at the cost of the small sector. "If the government honestly wanted to bring about reforms in the taxation system, it should follow the recommendations of Kelkar Committee which has suggested a radical system of taxation under which all goods and service providers will be brought under a single VAT regime in place of all state and central taxes and levies."
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2 city motorists win motor rally
Our Correspondent
Ludhiana, September 5 The rally was part of a series of special activities hosted by the company across India under the Chevy banner. The winners and runners up in both categories received cash prizes of Rs 21,000 and Rs 15,000, respectively. The average fuel mileage in all 47 cars was 19.8. kmpl.
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