Man shoots wife over money
Tribune News Service

The bullets hit the woman in the chest and abdomen. Their daughter — Ripanjit Kaur — and sons — Maninder and Jagrup — had gone to different gurdwaras for Gurpurb celebrations in the morning.

Neighbours overpowered the man, who was later taken into police custody by policemen of the PCR team, which reached the scene after receiving information about the gunshots.

The accused also allegedly tried to shoot himself but the police and the neighbours prevented him from doing so.

He has been booked under Section 302 of the IPC and lodged in Basti Jodhewal police station.

SHO Jaswinder Singh Mangat said the case had been registered on the basis of the report of the PCR team.

The parents of the victim, who arrived in the evening, said the accused had been treating their daughter shabbily for the past few years and had turned her out of the house several times.

As per the information gathered by the police, the couple had not been enjoying good relationship for the past two to three years.

Kuldip had been accusing his wife of secretly giving his earnings to her parents.

The woman, married to Kuldip for 13 years, used to respond angrily to his allegations and both had fought several times on this, neighbours told the police.

Sources said some neighbours heard gunshots from the house early this morning and rushed in. They saw the woman lying on the floor and the man holding his double-barrelled gun. While their two sons had left for a gurdwara in another town for Gurpurb celebration, the daughter had gone to the village gurdwara.

Police sources said the two brothers had not been informed till late in the evening. Relatives of family had left for the place where the two brothers were to stay with some other relatives.

Campaigning picks up for local gurdwara poll
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 15
With the last date for the submission of nominations and the scrutiny of the (nomination) papers for elections to local gurdwara committees over, the candidates have already started campaigning in their own way. Although the clear picture will emerge only after the withdrawal of nominations, the candidates, owing allegiance to different parties, have started making door to door rounds. The last date for the withdrawal of nominations is November 21. The elections are scheduled to be held on December 11.

Although the elections are held separately for the each gurdwara for constituting a four-member committee for the management of the gurdwara, the outcome always reflects the grassroot support and influence of a particular party or the person in the particular area. That is why the Akali parties like the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) are taking these elections quite seriously.

The district president of the SAD(B), Mr Hira Singh Gabria, said although the party was not allotting the symbol to any candidates but it had certainly fielded them in all 33 gurdwaras in the district. In each gurdwara committee there are four elected members and one nominee each from the SGPC. One of the four seats for which elections are held is reserved for the Scheduled Castes. These committees supervise the day-to-day affairs of the gurdwaras besides monitoring the income and the expenditure.

The general secretary of the SAD(A), Mr Charan Singh Lohara, said the party had fielded its candidates at most of the places and was supporting others in the remaining gurdwaras. He said, these elections were important from the point of view of the grassroot support of each party.

These gurdwaras fall under Section 85 of the Sikh Gurdwara Act of 1925. All these gurdwaras have historical significance with one or other of the ten Gurus having some connection with each of these. The control of such gurdwaras plays important role in the Akali politics since these remain at the grassroots of the electoral structure. That explains the reason as why all Akali parties, particularly the SAD(B), is taking the elections to these gurdwara committees seriously.

One killed in factory blast
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 15
In yet another blast in a city factory, a labourer was killed when the boiler of a tyre-tube manufacturing unit exploded allegedly due to an increase in gas pressure. The explosion in the Ramson factory killed Shiv Narayan, who was standing just near the boiler when the explosion took place. He died on the spot.

No other labourer was injured. There were over 100 labourers in the factory at the time of explosion.

The sound of the explosion was heard at a distance of more than 1 km in the Focal Point area.

The police has initiated proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPc only. It said a case of negligence, if any, would be registered only after a detailed investigation and a report from the Department of Industries was received.

The police ruled out any chance of a scrap bomb having exploded in the boiler.

The explosion caused a considerable damage to a room and a shed of the factory.

VAT fails to deliver, evasion on
Shveta Pathak
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 15
By now those who eat out have probably got used to the additional tax they pay beyond their total bill. However, how many times have you bothered to take note that you are given a handwritten or a computerised and not a printed invoice, which means it is only you who are charged tax whereas the same is not paid by the issuer of the bill.

Even as the third quarter of the current financial year has started, the new value added tax (VAT) system is far away from attaining the goals for which it was implemented — curbing tax evasion and secondly, adding convenience to trade and industry.

While those who issue bills are required to give printed bills with a TIN (tax identification number) on top, it is still common to come across computerised or handwritten bills, that do not even mention TIN number and the type of tax that a customer pays, though they do not forget to add tax as an additional item.

“Many people are even using the old sales tax numbers, which are no longer permissible. A computerised bill without a TIN number means the one who issues can erase those bills with a single command on his computer, resulting in tax evasion,” says Mr Jatinder Khurana, president, Young Lawyers Association.

The Taxation Department, it seems, is yet to take note of this massive evasion which is going on unabashedly in the city.

For traders and industrialists who have paid VAT, the situation is worse as they are yet to get any refunds. Frequent complaints of huge amount of capital being blocked due to non-refunds are being received.

“The industry is suffering. Capital is blocked resulting in hampering of smooth operations. The government, while implementing the new system, had promised that refunds would be made within 60 days. However, the third quarter of this year is midway and the government appears to have forgotten about it. If this situation continues, the industry is bound to suffer,” said Mr Varinder Kapoor, general secretary, United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association.

Various industry associations have given representations to the government regarding this.

Besides, the industry is also feeling harassed on issues like submitting C and H forms. “Earlier they had said that they won’t insist on C forms and H forms, but now they are demanding the same and we have urged the department to release refunds without insisting on these forms,” said Mr P.D. Sharma, president, Apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mr Kapur said the Finance Minister, at a meeting with industrialists on September 30, had assured that he would issue notification for payment of refunds without the C form, but so far no such notification had been issued.

Assesses are also complaining of problems in getting amendments like change of address, addition in business and product items. “There are cases where amendments have not been affected even after over six months of applications. This is causing huge inconvenience to trade and industry,” said Mr Khurana.

Youth asked to draw inspiration from Nehru
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 15
The Finance Minister, Mr Surinder Singla, has urged the youth to seek inspiration from great leaders and thinkers like Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. He said, it was the great vision of Pandit Nehru that helped the country to make phenomenal progress in the political, economic and industrial fields.

Mr Singla was addressing students and their parents at the annual prize distribution function of Tagore Public School here last evening. He said, there was a need to throw up leaders like Pandit Nehru who could provide better guidance and direction to the nation. He pointed out, despite belonging to a rich family Pandit Nehru sacrificed everything for the sake of the nation.

The campus presented a spectacular view with rich illuminations. Mr Malkiat Singh Dakha, MLA and Mr Krishan Kumar Bawa, Chairman, Housefed, Punjab, were the guests of honour. The dignitaries were accorded a warm welcome by members of managing committee and Principal Amrita Gakhar.

To add charm and zing to the occasion a colourful variety programme was performed by students which left the audience spell bound. After invoking Lord Shiva, the nursery wing students presented a birthday party item. Mrs Gakhar read out the annual report highlighting the achievements of the school. The item ‘ Live and let live presented by the primary section gave a message of communal harmony and brotherhood. The play ‘Kaun Banega Is Ka Takhsak’ highlighted the plight of society where so amny evils are prevailing. The audience were taken to a journey of dances. To give a religious touch to the programme an epic from Hindu mythology stole the hearts of the audience.

The feelings of anxiety and gaiety were depacted in the folk dance of Goa Koli dance. Mrs Ranjit Kaur and Mrs Sudesh Rana were honoured on the competition of 25 years dedicated services.

Dharamsot’s nephew cremated
Our Correspondent

Amloh, November 15
The nephew of Parliamentary Secretary Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Amrik Singh (21), was cremated here last evening. Amrik died of jaundice on Sunday night.

The funeral was attended by Zila Parishad chariman Pakhar Singh, PPC secretary Dr Swatantar Karkara, council president Lal Chand, vice-president Dr Harpreet Singh, Block Congress president Shingara Singh, Market Committee chairman Partap Singh, media in charge Pargat Singh, Arhatia Association president Jiwan Puri, Manav Bhilai Manch secretary Manohar Lal Verma, sarpanches and panches of villages.

Amrik’s marriage was to be solemnised next month.

Cop’s wife arrested
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 15
The Vigilance Bureau in a raid last night arrested the wife of a Punjab Police Sub-Inspector for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to the couple’s known sources of income.

Balbir Kaur, wife of SI Tehal Singh and an employee with the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), was arrested last night by a team led by DSP Darshan Singh. The Vigilance had booked SI Tehal Singh in an alleged case of corruption a few weeks ago. He had, however, absconding.

Sources said the couple had assets around Rs 40 lakh which were not commensurate with their known sources of income.

Man killed in hit-and-run accident
Our Correspondent

Jagraon, November 15
A man was today killed in a hit-and-run accident after he was hit by a vehicle in the Kothe Baggn area, 3 km from here. On a statement of head constable Bahadur Singh, a case under Sections 279 and 304, IPC, has been registered.

The body was sent for a post-mortem examination. However, the identity of the deceased could not be established.

Electric wire stolen: Miscreants stole electric wire worth Rs 6,000 at Dholan village. The police has registered a case under Sections 379 and 427, IPC, on a complaint of Kammikar Singh of the same village.

Stolen paddy recovered: Two persons hailing from Bihar, Modh Malag of Chhopra Hira and Modh Jamal of Sarjapur were arrested and 1,750 kg of paddy, which was allegedly stolen from the local grain market, was recovered. A case has been registered under Sections 379 and 411 of the IPC.

BUSINESS

‘Textech-2005’ from Nov 18
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 15
“Textech-2005”, Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) third international exhibition on textile technology, will be held at the Punjab Agricultural University grounds from November 18 to 21.

Chairman of the exhibition Manish Bagrodia, in a press note today, said over 125 international and domestic companies would participate in the four-day event.

“Ludhiana is the hub of hosiery and textile in India with over 15,000 units, of which around 200 units are entirely export oriented, due to which it was selected and we hope that the exhibition would be able to provide a global platform to industry and address issues concerning it,” he said.

The exhibition aims at providing a global platform to manufacturers as well as national and international experts in textile engineering to showcase the latest in textile, knitting, hosiery and garment technology.

Concurrent to “Textech-2005”, an international conference on textiles and clothing — “Texcon-05” — will also be held. The theme of the conference will be “Towards Global Best Practices in Textiles and Apparel Manufacturing”.

“Texcon-05” aims at exploring the global opportunities that have been brought to light in the free trade era and facilitating strategy development that can be adapted by Indian players to succeed in the emerging trade scenario, said CII.