Tangri remanded in judicial custody
Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 29
Shiv Sena leader-Jagdish Tangri and his son Sunil Tangri were today remanded in judicial custody till November 11 by a court here. They were arrested in connection with a case registered against them for attacking two shopowners of Gur Mandi yesterday.

The duo were produced before the Court of Judicial Magistrate Jasbir Singh today afternoon. The prosecution sought police remand of the accused, with the plea that other co-accused were to be arrested and they wanted to know their whereabouts from the accused.

But the counsel of Tangris opposed the prosecution version. He said that a false case has been registered. Moreover, nothing was to be recovered from the possession of the accused and the plea of police remand be declined. Convinced with the arguments of defence counsel, the Judge declined to grant police remand of the accused.

Meanwhile, bail application was moved by the accused in the same court. Terming the registration of case to be politically motivated, the accused pleaded that they were falsely booked. In their bail application they alleged that earlier also the local police had framed them in several false cases. The Judge adjourned the bail application for October 30, for hearing arguments and issued notice to the state for producing their record.

A case was registered yesterday at Division No: 3 police station, under Sections 452, 323, 324, 148,149 of IPC, against the duo and several other persons allegedly for attacking the owners of Sanjeev Jain Agency situated at Gur Mandi. As per prosecution, Sanjeev Jain and Naveen Jain were injured in the attack and their shop was damaged. They were given first aid at Civil Hospital, Ludhiana. An old enmity is said to be the cause of the clash.

Daughter ‘gets father killed’
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 29
A case of death of a farmer, reportedly killed with the connivance of his daughter, has come to light in Butahri village of the district. The farmer had to lose his life reportedly because he could not tolerate his daughter’s relationship with a man, who used to visit their house.

Sources revealed that the farmer had married his daughter to the son of a farmer of Maherna village a few years ago.

The girl could not adjust in the family of her in-laws for long and started creating problems for both families.

A series of meetings were held to bridge the gap between the girl
and her husband but nobody could smell the hidden agenda of a brick-kiln owner of Ludhiana, who ultimately succeeded in getting the girl divorced even though the divorced couple had a male child.

The brick-kiln owner, who is said to be an office-bearer of an association of his business fraternity, started frequenting the woman, who had started living at her parents’ house.

The two foiled all attempts of the family to remarry her.

Meanwhile, the farmer got a whiff of their relationship and tried to intervene, but to no avail.

When the father reportedly threatened to disown the girl from his property, the two allegedly conspired to remove the “hurdle” from their path and eliminate him.

On the night of October 22, when the farmer was preparing to retire, the two forced him to swallow some “tablets”.

After some time, the victim started vomiting and crying with pain, raising suspicion of foul play among neighbours.

After the incident was brought to the notice of village leaders, the accused had to take the farmer to the DMC, Ludhiana, where he died the following day.

Interestingly, self-contradictory statements were made by relatives of the deceased at the hospital and at the police station.

Where as the daughter submitted at the police station that her father had died of some gastroenteritis ailment, records of the hospital in Ludhiana showed that he had reportedly consumed some “tablets” and was brought there due recurrent vomiting.

The hospital authorities had also sent a written message to the police station concerned requesting them to record the statement of the patient. However, the patient was declared dead before the police could record the statement.

Though the police has registered a case under Section 174 of the CrPC, no action has been taken so far.

Meanwhile, SSP Jagraon Rajiv Ahir said nothing unusual had been brought to his notice by villagers or relatives of the deceased.

“But we will review the status of the case after the viscera report is received. The post-mortem examination has been conducted to corroborate the girl’s statement.”

Child rescued, abductors arrested
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 29
The police, working in coordination with its counterparts in Uttar Pradesh, recovered a three-year-old child Abhishek, who was abducted from here on October 17. The police has apprehended the alleged abductors, identified as Munshi and Anil.

Giving details at a news conference here today, the SSP, Mr Narinder Pal Singh, said the child had been restored to his family, staying in the Hargobindpur locality, and the accused were being interrogated.

Preliminary investigation had revealed that the child was abducted by the accused who had allegedly demanded a ransom of Rs 7 lakh.

The SSP said continuous surveillance of the telephone of the victim's family had revealed that the abductors were making the calls from different towns in the adjoining districts of Meerut and Muzaffarnagar district in UP.

On October 24, a police party from the city, headed by SI Navdeep Singh, had gone to Muzaffarnagar and sought assistance from the police there to rescue Abhishek.

"The last call made by the accused to Abhishek's parents was traced to a PCO in Mansoori town in Meerut district and a joint police team rushed to the PCO. Mr Sushil Kumar, father of the victim, who had accompanied the police party recognised Munshi, who was employed at a tailor’s shop in Hargobindpur Colony.

The Police in plain clothes, followed Munshi who went to a sugarcane field where his accomplice, Anil was present. The two were overpowered and the child was found from the spot," the police said.

The SSP claimed that the accused had decided to kill the child after receiving the ransom. Several others were suspected to be involved in the crime and the police was investigating the matter.

4 booked for rape
Our Correspondent

Jagraon, October 29
A female member of a musical group has alleged rape by members of her troupe in the vehicle in which they were travelling. According to SSP Jagraon Rajiv Ahir, Madhu, a resident of Street No. 39, Preet Nagar, had sent the female artiste for a programme with Jaswant Singh, alias Tota, of Sekhon Musical Group. But while on the way, Jaswant Singh and his two accomplices raped her.

The Dakha police has registered a case under Sections 376 and 120B, IPC, against the three men and Madhu on the statement of the victim.

Poppy husk seized: The local police has seized 64 kg of poppy husk from Jagdev Singh, alias Jaggi, Daya Singh of Kothe Pone and Kuldip Singh of Bopa Rai Kalan and arrested the three. Three were arrested in the Kothe Khazanan area of Jagraon.

A case under Sections 15, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered against the three.

Confusion prevails over service tax
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 29
Confusion over the issue of service tax on job work is creating concern among industrialists with only three days left to get registered under the service tax. The Apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry has even urged Mr S. Chandra, member, service tax, to get the last date for registration extended.

“We apprised chief commissioner S.S. Bedi of the situation at a meeting last week. he had assured us that the department will not take any precipitated action till the issue is resolved,” said Mr P.D. Sharma, president, Apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Industrialists say that manufacturing is out of the purview of service tax as manufacturing is a process that involves various minor and major processes. Since the entire line of manufacturing up to the final product is manufacturing only, this merits exemption from service tax, they said.

Mr Sharma said the chamber had sent an illustrative note as asked for by the excise and customs chief commissioner during their last meeting. “He assured us over the telephone that he would send his comments to the Central Board of Excise and Customs immediately,” he said.

The chamber said the department appeared to have misconceptions on the issue of job work. “In fact job work is gradually becoming a normal pattern of working of industry due to high cost of industrial inputs. Even major processes like re-rolling and forging are working on job work basis. As such job work should not qualify for service tax,” said Mr Sharma.

He informed that the Central Excise Department official had also visited a few industrial units to see manufacturing processes and a reports regarding the same is being sent separately.

DC orders timely release of retirement benefits
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 29
Deputy Commissioner Anurag Verma has directed district heads of various departments to ensure strict implementation of the directions of the government to provide retirement benefits to pensioners of the state government within the stipulated period.

Mr Verma gave these instructions after presiding over a meeting of the District Pensioners Advisory Committee at Bachat Bhavan here today.

On points raised by representatives of pensioners regarding delay in the release of benefits by some offices and banks, in violation of the directions of the Punjab Government, the Deputy Commissioner assured the pensioners of providing all rightful facilities to them.

At the meeting, problems of pensioners relating to different government officers were discussed.

It was decided to review follow-up action on the decisions taken at the meeting during the next meeting of the committee.

Referring to a point pertaining to pending cases with regards to release of pension of some recently retired pensioners, the Deputy Commissioner said the state government had issued directions to all departments to positively move pension cases for sanction at least six months prior to the date of retirement of the employees.

He asked the representatives of pensioners to submit the list of such cases within a period of 15 days and assured of clearing these at the earliest.

Regarding the delay in reimbursement of pending medical bills of many pensioners, Mr Verma asked representatives to give him details of cases that were not cleared within the fixed period of three months till November 15, 2004 and assured them of taking up the cases with the Health Department to expedite these within a period of one month.

The pensioners complained that 50 per cent DP, as decided by the government, was not merged with the basic pay by some banks.

The Deputy Commissioner directed District Lead Bank Officer to take up the cases with the banks concerned and ensured the passage of the benefit to the pensioners.

The Deputy Commissioner also directed the displaying of orders of the state government regarding latest decisions in connection with the pensioner’s benefits on the notice board in Mini Secretariat. He also asked for sending a copy of all communications to the pensioner association to display these in the Information Centre of Pensioner’s Bhavan.

He asked the officers to accord priority to pass on pension benefits to retired employees as per the directions of the government so that they could smoothly meet their financial obligations in the old age and get proper and timely medical treatment.

Mr Verma also asked PWD XEN to look into the seepage of water from the roof of newly constructed Pensioner Bhavan and submit a report with in 15 days.

Among others who attended the meeting were Assistant Commissioner (G) Ajay Sood, District Treasury Officer Tarlochan Singh Bhatia, District Lead Bank Officer Gurmit Singh, PSPC president B.R. Kaushal, Punjab Police Pensioner’s Association chairman Sardool Singh and Gurcharan Singh.

Workers’ union ultimatum to govt
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 29
The Punjab Field and Workshop Workers’ Union has served an ultimatum to the Director, Local Government, Punjab, for acceptance of outstanding demands of Local Bodies employees within one week, failing which the union would hold dharna at the Directorate on November 3 and 4.

In a statement here today, Mr Sukhdev Singh Saini, general secretary, and Mr Gurdeep Singh, joint secretary of the union, said the demands of the Local Bodies employees had repeatedly been taken up with senior government officials but without any positive response.

Leaders said if the authorities continued with their negative approach towards the genuine grievances of the employees, the union would be left with no other alternative but to intensify the agitation.

The demands put forth by the union included regularisation of 54 work charge PUDA employees sent to Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana; regularisation of contractual workers of the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board; grant of pension; due promotions and other benefits to employees of the Water Supply and Sewerage Board; absorption of staff employed for execution of water supply and sewerage schemes; and regularisation of employees of the Water Supply and Sewerage Board deployed with municipal bodies.

Per capita milk production highest in Punjab
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 29
Punjab is producing 210 lakh metric tonnes milk per day which is the highest in terms of per capita milk production in the country. With the adoption of new techniques of semen improvements, the state will be benefited and milk production will increase further. This was stated by Dr B. S. Sidhu, CEO, Punjab Livestock Development Board-cum-Joint Director, Animal Husbandry, Punjab while addressing the concluding session of a three-day ‘training-cum-orientation programme for CEOs of State Livestock Development Boards and heads of semen banks of northern states at the PAU here today.

The programme was conducted by a team of the National Dairy Development Board, led by Dr Roy Burman, General Manager of NDDB, and the purpose was to improve the working of semen banks with regard to the preparation, storage and supply of quality semen and improvements in artificial insemination programmes. Delegates from states including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, J and K, Uttar Pradesh, Uttranchal and Rajasthan attended the programme.

Ms Neeta Chowdury, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Agriculture, presided. She stressed upon the adoption of new technologies in the field of animal husbandry.

Training programme
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 29
The Department of Food Science and Technology, PAU, will organising a training programme on “Value-added meat and dairy products” from November 8 to 11 for entrepreneurs, educated unemployed youth, housewives, etc.

Giving information, Dr G.S. Padda, Professor-cum-Head of the Department, said during the training programme, preparation of eatables like meat pickle, patties, koftas, kebabs, egg products, milk products, curd, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, kulfi, “chana kheer”, etc. will be demonstrated.

Two-hour walkout by insurance staff
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 29
Protesting against management’s “negative approach”, insurance employees today staged a two-hour walkout.

On a call given by the Northern Zone Insurance Employees Association, the employees raised slogans against the management.

They alleged that despite requests regarding the wage revision due since August, 2002, the management had not paid heed to the matter.

They demanded an immediate revision of wages. The association also condemned increase in FDI limit in the insurance sector and also demanded withdrawal of service tax on insurance premium.

Addressing the protesting employees, branch secretary P.P. Singh said the association had presented a charter for wage revision in August, 2002 to the management but no concrete steps in the direction had been taken.

On the FDI limit issue, the association alleged that private players concentrated on profit making and urban areas, ignoring rural areas in the process.

The employees also demanded fresh recruitment in the LIC.

Ladies’ clubs celebrate Karva Chauth
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 29
Since Karva Chauth falls on October 31, ladies’ clubs are arranging Karva Chauth functions for its members. Gayatri Ladies Club celebrated Karva Chauth here today. The function started with puja dance and the diya was lit by Ms Shewta Verma, Chairperson, Indian Red Cross Society. A bridal show was presented on the occasion.

Members’ directory and a souvenir of the club was released. The club made donations to SOS villages, Nirdosh School, Shree Geeta Bridhhram and Ashirwad Spastic Children. Niharika Ladies club also celebrated Karva Chauth. A competition of brides of all states was held and members dressed as brides of different states. Karva queen contest was also held.

A skit was enacted by Ms Jasbir Sahni and Ms Bindra and a help line was started for poor patients being treated in the Civil Hospital.

CRIME

Police fails to book cop for power theft
Our Correspondent

Liquor shop owner attacked, robbed
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 29
Two unidentified miscreants shot at a person at the liquor shop at Dhulkote village and looted the cash late night yesterday. The Dehlon police has registered a case. Sources revealed that Sohan Singh, a resident of Kalakh village was shot at by two unidentified miscreants yesterday night when he was about to close the liquor shop situated at the periphery of Dhulkote village. The miscreants fled with cash worth Rs 6500.

The miscreants, two in number came to the wine shop at 8.30 pm on Thursday and asked Sohan to give them a half bottle of the liquor.When he ejected his arm from the window to hand over the bottle to them, one of the miscreants dragged his arm and asked him to hand over the cash he had collected during the day. On his resistance the other miscreant fired two shots from his pistol on Sohan , one in his left arm and the other in the groin. They fled in after snatching cash Rs 6500.

Bleeding Sohan was first taken to the civil hospital, Dehlon but was shifted to CMC hospital at Ludhiana later in the night. The Dehlon police registered an FIR no 138 under Sections 382, 307, 34 of IPC and 25, 54, 59 of Arms Act as the injured was not declared fit for giving statement earlier.

Mr Rajiv Ahir SSP, Jagraon, said he had directed Mr Jatinder Pal Singh Khaira DSP Mulanpur to investigate the case. Preliminary investigations revealed that the contractor had not made enough security arrangements at the liquor vend which was situated at a deserted place on the periphery of the village. The miscreants had struck on the shop probably because they knew that the contractors used to collected cash late in the night.

Service tax on job works flayed
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 29
Imposition of service tax on certain job works like electroplating, heat treatment, drilling, punching and short blasting by the Central Excise Department has come under criticism with the plea that it had created panic and confusion in the engineering industry, particularly in the small scale and tiny sector.

In a statement here today, Mr G.S. Kahlon, and Mr Charan Singh Kohli, president and general secretary respectively of the Ludhiana Motor Parts Manufacturers Association (LMPMA) remarked that this short-sighted step by the Union Government would affect not only the units, engaged in job works but also the manufacturers, who were already suffering heavily due to the continuous hike in prices of steel for the last one and half year. Imposition of service tax would further add to their difficulties, they claimed.

The association maintained that the processes, brought under the purview of service tax, were integral part of manufacturing and hence already covered under central Excise levy.

Jewellery exhibition begins
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 29
Zak Jewels 2004, a jewellery exhibition, began here today. More than 20 jewellery manufacturers and designers from across the country are participating in the four-day exhibition, which showcases gold, diamond and platinum jewellery, besides gems and pearls.

“The tremendous response that we received last year encouraged us to organise jewellery exhibition for the second time in Ludhiana,” said Mr Satish Sharma, vice-president, Zak Trade Fairs and Exhibitions, while addressing a press conference.