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ADGP Virk accused of threatening man
Chandigarh, December 14 A complaint in this regard has been made before the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC), in which Mr Pannu has prayed that Mr Virk and the Punjab Police be restrained from implicating him in a false case. He has also sought the Commission's intervention to save his life. In his complaint, Mr Pannu has accused Mr Virk of misusing his authority to make life difficult for him and his family. The complainant has alleged that Mr Virk's relative D.M.S. Grewal owes a lot of money to him and has also allegedly cheated him. He has also named another person, Mr Kuldip Singh, who owe money to him. The complainant has claimed that on some occasions, Mr Virk summoned him and told him to settle the issue and threatened him that in case he did not do so, he would be implicated in false cases under the NDPS Act. Alleging that in order to stop him from repeatedly seeking his money back, both Mr Grewal and Mr Kuldip Singh have been filing false complaints against him at different places, Mr Pannu has also accused them of forging the signatures of his wife. He has also claimed that police teams have been visiting his houses in Chandigarh, Tarn Taran and Jabli near Solan to put pressure on him to forget his money. The complaint is likely to be taken up soon.
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Accused dies in police custody
Tarn Taran, December 14 Mr Ashok Bath, SP(D), told this correspondent here today Tara Singh was taken into police custody on December 12. Soon after his medical examination at the Civil Hospital Tara Singh complained of a heart problems. On the advise of the hospital doctors he was shifted to Guru Ram Das Hospital, Amritsar, where he was declared dead. The SP said that on the orders of the District Magistrate, Amritsar, Mr Gurdeep Singh Momi, local Tehsildar, was deputed Duty Magistrate and the police lodged a complaint under Section 176, Cr.P.C. A post mortem was conducted by a board of doctors here today. Mr Bath said that the whole proceeding had been videographed and the matter had been reported to the National Human Rights Commission.
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Link crop prices with price index: farmers
Sangrur, December 13 Almost all speakers criticised the state government for not fulfilling the promises made with the farmers during Assembly elections. They also criticised the government for its alleged “anti-farmer” policies, due to which farmers were passing through a financial crisis. They said earlier this year the Union Government had hiked the MSP of paddy just by Rs 10 per quintal, and now the Union Government had hiked the MSP of wheat by Rs 10 per quintal only, which was a cruel joke on the farmer community. They asked the Union Government to link the prices of crops with the wholesale price index to give relief to the farmers. The farmers also lashed out at the state government for the sale of DAP fertiliser, allegedly in black market by the traders recently. They also criticised the government by saying the arrears of the sugarcane to the tune of crores of rupees had also not been paid to the farmers by the sugar mills for the past two years. They also held the state government responsible for acute shortage of power for their tubewells nowadays. Among others who addressed the dharna included Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal, general secretary of the BKU (Rajewal); Mr Baldev Singh Mianpur and Mr Sukhdev Singh Jhaner, president and vice-president, respectively, of the Punjab unit of the BKU(Rajewal); Mr Gurjant Singh Magwal, district president of the union; Mr Sher Singh Bhinder, Mr Dalip Singh Bhullarherri, Mr Ghuman Singh Rajgarh, Mr Lakhmir Singh Kanjhla and Mr Gurmit Singh Kapial, all farmer leaders.
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Giani Gurdit summoned to Akal Takht
Amritsar, December 14 Though Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar, Patna Sahib had announced that he won’t attend any meeting of the Sikh clergy till Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti continued to be Jathedar, yet he participated in the marathon meeting held at the Akal Takht secretariat here. Earlier, Giani Iqbal Singh had levelled serious charges against Giani Vedanti and his personal assistant, Mr Prithipal Singh Sandhu, including tampering with the proceedings of the meetings . He had also charged Jathedar Vedanti with not summoning Ms Surinder Kaur Badal, wife of Shiromani Akali Dal President, for visiting the dera of Ashutosh Maharaj . Bibi Jagir Kaur, however, was instrumental in bringing rapprochement between the warring jathedars on the personal request of Mr Badal, who found himself in a piquant situation following the charges. The Sikh clergy also banned any discussion on
‘Raagmala’. The joint directive of the Akal Takht signed by the Jathedars of all five Takhts, including Giani Rattan Singh, Deputy Jathedar Hazoor Sahib . The participation by Jathedar Iqbal Singh gave a clear signal that he had accepted the supremacy of the Akal Takht. However, Jathedar Vedanti and Jathedars of Takht Damdama Sahib and Kesgarh Sahib have virtually lowered their position as they backed out of the edict that the Takhts other than the Akal Takht could not take any decision on Panthic issues. By maintaining tankhah on Giani Gurdit Singh it was understood that other Takhts could also declare any Sikh as
‘Tankhahiya’. Meanwhile, Giani Rattan Singh, has admitted that the ‘Maryada’ approved by the Akal Takht was final and it could be followed by other Takhts in due course of time through persuation . The directive of the Sikh clergy mentioned that Takhts Patna Sahib and Hazoor Sahib had already imposed a ban on controversial book
‘Mundavani’, authored by Giani Gurdit Singh. The directive had given a clear indication that the ban on the book would continue. In yet another significant development, the meeting failed to take up the issue of partaking langar at a gurdwara in Yuba City in violation of the edict which prohibited the serving of community kitchen on chairs and tables. It is learnt that Giani Iqbal Singh had visited the gurdwara in violation of the edict.
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Ambedkar Sena holds protest
Phagwara, December 14 Mr Nirmal Singh, a lecturer in commerce, who otherwise was on leave today, denied the allegations. He saw a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by vested interests against him. “I treat all schoolchildren equally and as my own children”, asserted Mr Nirmal Singh. Incidentally, he is an office-bearer of the General Categories Welfare Federation Punjab. It was learnt that the DEO recorded the statement of Satnam Kaur in the presence of School Principal Gursharan Singh and office-bearers of the Ambedkar Sena, including Mr Harbhajan Suman, Mr Surinder Dhadda and Mr Dharminder Singh. Satnam Kaur had also lodged a complaint with the Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes. The sena leaders claimed that today’s inquiry was done by the Education Department separately while the commission had asked the Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala, to probe the matter and submit the report within a fortnight. Satnam Kaur of the Gali No 3 of Bhagatpura mohalla alleged that Mr Nirmal Singh had used abusive language against her and misbehaved with her on October 7 while enquiring about the whereabouts of two other girl students. She told the DEO that only Mr Nirmal Singh had used a foul language. She admitted that the two girls, about whom the teacher had enquired about, had gone outside the school and were proceeded against by the school authorities. She demanded an apology from Mr Nirmal Singh and punishment to him under the provisions of the SC/ST Act. However, Mr Nirmal Singh asserted that at least 10 teachers, besides the Principal, were present when he and others had enquired about the whereabouts of the two girls whose school bags were lying with Satnam Kaur but were themselves playing a truant. I had used no caste-centric language, he added. It may be mentioned here that already an agitation was going on in the local Tehsil Complex for the past one week against Mr P.S. Passi, President, All India Anti Corruption Forum, and his aides for using a foul language against Mrs Seema Singh, Naib Tehsildar, Phagwara, on December 6. Revenue officers and ministerial and revenue staff had been on strike since December 7. Today’s issue involving the girl student had catapulted another volatile caste-centric issue to the fore in Phagwara, it may be added.
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BSP upset over remarks by
Kanshi Ram’s family
Jalandhar, December 14 At the same time, the BSP also categorically denied that Ms Mayawati had ever detained Mr Kanshi Ram, who, according to the party, was getting best of treatment at his Delhi residence, where he was staying at his own will. “The family of Kanshi Ram had not even gone to see him when he had a heart attack in 1994 and again in 2000 when he fell seriously ill. Now they are making ‘anti-Mayawati’ statements at the behest of the Congress and the BJP. Both these parties want to harm BSP politically. This time they are using Kanshi Ram’s family against the party,” said Mr Avtaar Singh Karimpuri and Mr Pawan Tinu, the president and General secretary, respectively, of the state unit of the BSP. “It is a deeprooted conspiracy hatched by the Congress, the BJP and other anti-BSP forces, who want to weaken the BSP at any cost and they had meted out same treatment to Dr Ambedkar. Since they have no other alternative, they have started instigating the family of Kanshi Ram,” said Mr Karimpuri. The leaders said the family of Kanshi Ram was being allowed to meet the latter perfectly in accordance with the guidelines issued by the court.
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Gurdwara panel agrees to give berth to Dalit: Mann
Moga, December 14 The gurdwara is in the midst of a controversy after the marriage of the daughter of the village's Dalit sarpanch was disallowed there. Talking to The Tribune on the phone, Mr Mann said his party was keeping an eye on the issue, which should be amicably resolved. He said senior party leaders had visited the village last week and had submitted a report to him. He said protesting against the gurdwara committee's decision their party leader, Harbans Singh, who was also the vice-president of the committee, quit his post. He said disallowing a Dalit girl's marriage at the gurdwara was against the tenets of Sikhism and added that incidents like these were the result of “jatwadi” (orthodox) mindset being “promoted by the SAD”. Mr Mann said that membership to a Dalit in the gurdwara committee was a revolutionary step in Jat-dominated society. He said while other political parties were politicising the Talhan issue, it was his party that gave the lead to his Sikh
panth. He alleged that the Akal Takht Jathedar, who should take notice of such issues, was not performing his religious duties.
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SGPC panel meets
Prime Minister
Amritsar, December 14 A press note issued here today said the delegation had gone to extend invitation to the Prime Minister to participate in the celebrations of the
tercentenary martyrdom of four Sahibjadas and mother of Guru Gobind Singh. Bibi Jagir Kaur also briefed the Prime Minister about the dilapidated condition of some gurdwaras in Pakistan and the urgent to get them repaired.
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SGPC should manage world Sikh varsity: Mann
Chandigarh, December 14 Addressing a press conference Mr Mann said the university should not be managed by any trust so that there is complete accountability. He added that the President of India would simply earn a bad name for himself in case he laid the foundation of the university which was to be managed by a trust. Mr Mann asserted that India should not become a member of the Security Council as the country was neither mature nor responsible enough to hold such position in light of the genocide incidents in the country. He claimed that Haryana Chief Minister’s claim of according Punjabi the status of second language would prove to be a mere bluff in case a gazette notification was not issued in this regard. He also criticised Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) for supporting him because the Chief Minister had not named Kurukshetra University Guru Gobind Singh University.
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Fisticuffs at Pinky’s bhog ceremony
Bareta (Mansa), December 14 The clash among the workers of the rival SAD workers began following the use of “derogatory” remarks by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president, SAD (Amritsar), against SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur while delivering his speech on the occasion. Apart from raising slogans against each other, a section of workers took out their firearms. However, the situation was brought under control when the members of the Sangharsh Committee asked the speakers not to use the occasion for indulging in politics. While addressing the gathering, the members of the Sangharsh Committee pointed out that they would launch a movement, going from village to village, from December 16 to December 25 against the police authorities, which had not arresting the accused. Mr Mann said after talking to the DGP, Punjab Police, and other authorities in connection with the rape of Pinky, he had reached the conclusion that Punjab Government was trying to hush up the case. Ms Pinky, whose husband Palwinder Singh was working in a rice mill at Bareta town of this district owned by a senior BJP leader, died under strange circumstances on December 1. She was allegedly raped and subsequently administered poison by the accused. The police first registered a case of abetment to suicide against Palwinder Singh, Baghirath Lal, Surinder Kumar, her mother, Charanjit Kaur and others on a complaint by her aunt, Ms Chinder Kaur. Later, the offence of rape was also made out against the accused. Ms Pinky, who died while she was being shifted to a Ludhiana hospital from Mansa on December 1, was suspected to have consumed poison. Mr Raj Kamal Chaudhary, Deputy Commissioner, Mansa has ordered a magisterial probe into this case. Mr Sukhwinder Singh, ADC, has been asked to conduct the probe and to submit his report within 15 days. Meanwhile, the Malwa Taruna Dal (International), had announced that it will hold a demonstration in front of the local police station on December 17 to press the authorities concerned to arrest the accused at the earliest.
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Youth Cong calls for drug-free society
Batala, December 14 According to the Anti-Narcotics Department, the major portion of this production is to send to India via Pakistan. This has serious implications as far as the youth is concerned. An anti-drug campaign is on the top of the agenda of the Punjab Pardesh Youth Congress. Mr Nitin Sharma, secretary, Punjab Pardesh Congress-I Cell today urged the youth of Punjab to be aware about the anti-national elements and anti-youth activities, specially in the border districts like Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Ferozepore. Punjab Youth Congress also urged the concerned departments to take adequate steps to check the smuggling of such a huge quantity of opium. The Punjab Youth Congress promised the youth that they will always be with them in the fight against drugs. In this regard the Punjab Youth Congress will organise anti-drug seminars very soon in every district of Punjab.
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Ministry to form panel on teachers’ demands
Jalandhar, December 14 Stating this, Dr V.K. Tewari, national secretary of the federation, said the ministry had decided to constitute a committee at the inter-ministerial level to grant parity to the left-out categories of teachers, DPEs and librarians to bring them on a par with teachers with respect to the Career Advancement Scheme, higher scale fixation for selection-grade teachers and other benefits. The AIFUCTO secretary said it was also decided to provide an extended scale to end the stagnation among selection-grade teachers and readers. The ministry officials had also said that full implementation of the revised scales would be ensured in Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam. Dr Tewari said the first meeting was chaired by Mr Arjun Singh, Union Minister, and attended by the Secretary and Joint Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, and the Chairman of the UGC on December 9. Later on the same day, Mr Sunil Kumar, Joint Secretary, chaired another meeting. The third meeting was again with the Joint Secretary the next day.
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Seminar on Sahibzadas’ martyrdom
Moga, December 14 During the seminar, Harvinder Singh Khalsa spoke on the Sahibzadas' martyrdom, while Prof Balwinder Pal Singh presented his views on "Challenges before Sikh youth". Speakers at the seminar expressed concern over the Sikh youth going stray and said that intellectuals should come forward to sensitise the young generation on Sikh tenets. They said that the Sahibzadas' sacrifice would always be remembered and would inspire the Sikh youth to follow the path shown by Guru Gobind Singh. They said that the Sikh youth should be made aware of social, religious, economic and political issues as per Sikh philosophy so that they could implement Sikh principles in their daily life. MLA Tota Singh and the college principal, Jasbir Singh also addressed the gathering.
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Cold wave claims five lives
Bathinda, December 14 Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that an unidentified sadhu was found dead on platform No. 6 of the local railway station due to cold today. The other victim claimed by the chilling cold was an elderly man and he could not be identified also. The bodies were cremated by the volunteers of Sahara Jan Sewa with full religious rites. Yesterday an unidentified woman, who had fallen ill due to the severe cold wave, was lying outside a hut in the Sanguana Basti area. Though she was shifted to the local Civil Hospital for treatment, she died a few hours later. The other victim of the cold wave was a beggar as he was found in a bad shape near Delhi level crossing on the Bathinda-Sirsa road. He was shifted to the Civil Hospital where he died immediately. The third victim was an old person and his body was found on platform No 8 of the local railway station.
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Freedom fighter dead
Chandigarh, December 14 Mr Hari Singh was a freedom fighter who went to jail several times. He was a social worker and took active part in various public welfare schemes and projects. His antim ardas and bhog will be held on December 16 at his native Sanehar village in Ferozepore district.
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Govt accepts proposal to revive posts
Chandigarh, December 14 Disclosing this a spokesman to the Punjab’s Revenue Department said a meeting of the Core Group was held under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Surinder Singla. The ministers, decided to recommend the revival of vacant posts of revenue patwaris and kanungos. It also recommended the lifting the ban on recruitment on these posts.
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Four held for murdering NRI woman
Barnala, December 14 Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Amit Prasad, SSP, Barnala, said Harpreet Singh, husband of the victim, has confessed that he had hired four killers to kill his wife and the deal was finalised for Rs 5,00,000. He gave the photo of his wife along with his brother-in-law Chamkaur Singh. He wanted to kill his wife at the earliest as his return flight to Norway was scheduled for December 9. The killers however, failed to kill Amarjeet Kaur within the stipulated time. So Harpeet Singh himself killed his wife. Mr Prasad said the accused had been nabbed near Tallewal canal when they were planning another robbery. A pistol and 11 live cartridges were seized from their possession. These four person were also involved in various thefts and robberies. During preliminary investigation they have admitted six robberies at Bihala-Kalan, Ghanouri-Kalan, Bhakatgarh, Raisar, Judahe and Theekrewal, the SSP added.
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Police fails to ‘act’ against cop
Abohar, December 14 In another case, Mr Jagdish Kumar, an employee at the Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital here, regretted that the city police had not arrested Mukhtiar Singh, a constable of the Punjab Police, and other members of his family although they had been booked under different Sections of the IPC including 306/506/323/34/ 148/149 for abetting Deepmala to commit suicide two months ago.
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12 women held for theft
Tapa (Barnala), December 14 The police has seized 67 kg of electric cable, 18 electric meters of three phase while nine electric meters of single phase which were stolen from electricity board, Tapa.
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105 schools to have computer labs by Dec end
Sangrur, December 14 Sources in the Education Department told The Tribune that 132 computer laboratories would be set up in these 105 government senior secondary and high schools by December-end by the state government, while computer training to the students in these schools was expected to start in January, 2005. The computers would be supplied by the government through a private contractor by December-end. As per information gathered about these 105 schools, the villages and towns where computer laboratories are to be set up in the schools are: Sangrur tehsil – Ghabdan, Ubhawal, Duggan, Ballian, Uppli-Chathe, Mangwal, Mehlan, Gharachon, Ilwal, Bhawanigarh; Sunam tehsil – Chathe Nanhere, Saron, Kanakwal, Sulargharat, Kohrian, Gandhuan, Sheron, Saho-Ke Dhadrian, Sunam, Namol, Cheema, Longowal, Lehragaga; Dhuri tehsil – Jahangir Kaheru, Bamal, Fatehgarh Panjgriyan, Katron, Chaunda, Sherpur, Bagrian, Amargarh; Malerkotla tehsil – Himtana, Lasoi, Hathan, Gowara, Mimsa, Kothala, Bhasour, Sandaur, Kanganwal; Moonak tehsil – Moonak, Andana, Khanauri Mandi, Khanauri Kalan and Barnala tehsil – Kurar, Chhapa, Wazidke, Tallewal, Kattu, Dhaula, Dhanaula, Farwahi, Khudi Kalan, Hamidi, Dhillwan, Sanghera, Mehal Khurad, Thulliwal, Bhadaur, Barnala, Handhiaya, Barnala Sandhu Patti, Thikriwal. The computer-training programme in the schools was going to be started under an integrated computer training (ICT) project. For the setting up of computer laboratories, the cost of furnishing of rooms and false ceiling (per laboratory) had been fixed at Rs 50,000 and Rs 16,000, respectively. As per a decision, this amount of Rs 66,000 had to be made by the schools from the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) fund or the building funds (BF) or the amalgamated fund. In each computer laboratory, one BCA teacher and one PGDCA teacher will be appointed.
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Economic package to get nod soon: Soni
Amritsar, December 14 This was announced by Mr O.P. Soni, Chairman, Punjab State Industrial Corporation, after inaugurating the office of the Wool Industry Export Promotion Organisation, Ministry of Commerce, here yesterday. He said efforts were on to ensure lifting of export material by various airways, operating from Raja Sansi International Airport. Mr Raj Krishan Khanna, an exporter, said the export from Amritsar would get desired impetus with the opening of this office. It would also help in generating more employment in the border district. Mr Amrit Lal Jain, President, Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal, urged that bilateral trade with Pakistan through land route should be opened which would boost the economy of both the countries.
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