Pathankot, January 20
The Western Command investiture ceremony was held at Mamun Military Station here today under the aegis of Rising Star Corps. A total of 21 officers, JCOs and soldiers, including four war widows, were presented with gallantry and distinguished service awards by Lieut-Gen S.R. Ghosh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command.

At the investiture ceremony 23 Sena Medals were awarded for individual acts of bravery, exceptional devotion to duty or courage, and three Vishishth Seva Medals for distinguished service of the high order to officers.

Those who were awarded the Sena Medal were Major Sanjay Kandwal of Kumaon Regiment, Major Pankaj Kumar of Bihar Regiment, Major Ninad Ramesh Kulkarni of JAK LI Regiment, Major Mukul Chauhan of 158 INF BN (TA) (H&H) Regiment, Major Amit Pal Singh and Major Rajesh Kumar Singh, both from Guards Regiment, Capt Prem Nath Othayoth of EME, Lt Pushp Raj Pandey of AOC, Lt Satbir Singh (posthumous) of AEC, Sub Baldev Singh of GARH Rif, Sub Hans Raj Thial of JAK Rif, Hav Sukhbir Singh of Jakli, Nk Anil Kumar (posthumous) of Para (SF), Nk Kishori Lal (posthumous) of Grenadiers, Nk Sate Singh of Para, L/Nk Rattan Lal of Dogra Regiment, Nk Shiv Pratap Singh Shaktawat of Raj Rif, Sep Chatar Singh, Rfn Pankaj Gurung (posthumous), Rfn Kesar Singh of JAK Rif and Major Nagesh Dhoundiyal of ARMD.

The Sena Medals (distinguished) were given to Col Yashvir Singh Rangi of Sikh Regiment, Col Yash Pande of AMC and Hav Karamveer of Jat Regiment.

The Vishishth Seva Medals were awarded to Brig (now Major-Gen) Kotheneth Surendranath, SM of ARMD Regiment, and Brig Balwant Singh Negi, YSM of Assam Regiment.

Phagwara, January 20
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee has urged the Prime Minister to initiate the proposal to enable the SGPC to co-opt 10 non resident Indians living abroad as SGPC members, to expand the sphere of the SGPC in several more countries.

Talking to newsmen at the Gurdwara Chenvi Patshahi in Phagwara today, SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar said SGPC could be able to co-opt 10 NRIs as SGPC members only after the sanction of the parliament for the amendment.

He stressed on the need to expand the purview of the SGPC on the international level, as most of the Sikhs residing in several different countries wanted SGPC to take control of Sikh shrines.

He said presently the SGPC has its base only in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, but it should be expanded to other states also.

Replying to a question about the move of a separate Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Makkar alleged that some anti-panth forces were trying to cause divisions, but their designs would not succeed at any cost.

When asked about the reports of the attack on former Akal Takht Jathedar Prof Darshan Singh in Asansol yesterday, the SGPC President said resentment prevailed among Sikhs against Darshan Singh for his objectionable discourse on Guru Gobind Singh.

Moreover, the Sikh clergy had announced him a Tankhayia and said he should not perform any religious kirtan until the final decision of the Sikh clergy and acceptance of the verdict of the high priests.

Makkar alleged that former Akal Takht Jathedar Prof Darshan Singh was working and acting in an arrogant way while the Sikh religion never taught it. He said Darshan Singh should follow the Sikh Maryada.

When asked about something objectionable in Dasam Granth, SGPC President said SGPC was ready to form a committee to scrutinise, for review, if the Akal Takhat Jathedar asked SGPC.

However, Makkar appealed Sikh Sangats to isolate Darshan Singh until his coming back under complete Sikh Marayada i.e. traditions.

Replying to a question about the allegations of Prof Darshan Singh that the clergy was being influenced by the ruling party SAD and the five high seats were being politicised, Makkar said Darshan Singh remained in the highest seat and he had worked as Akal Takhat Jathedar and he should realise that himself.

The SGPC President, however, admitted that only Shri Guru Granth Sahib is supreme and highest authority in Sikh religion and Parkash of Guru Granth Sahib should be performed only during religious congregations as “Guru Manyo Granth”.

Earlier, Makkar inaugurated langar hall and cycle stand in the gurdwara. Markfed Chairman Jarnail Singh Wahid Advocate and Market Committee Phagwara Chairman Sarwan singh Kular were also present on the occasion.

Jalandhar, January 20
A two-member investigation team, which was constituted to probe the alleged negligence in the delivery of premature twins, found that “misjudgement” led to premature announcement of the death of the twins.

As per report, staff nurses failed to properly check the vital signs of life of premature born twins and allegedly declared them “dead”.

While talking to The Tribune, Dr Ajay Sahni, a member of team, said, “This was a case of misjudgement, but not mismanagement, as chances of survival of 24 week-old foetus are generally very low”. The nurses found that babies were not responding. From these factors, the staff made assumption that babies were dead,” he added.

“There were three gynaecologists in the department at that time. However, all of them were doing surgeries in operation theatre. Nurses themselves checked the vital signs of life, however heart beat in premature babies is sometimes feeble. Chances are there that they might not be able to feel the beat and declared the babies dead. Nurses were at fault as they did not call any doctor to check the vital signs of life in twins,” said Dr Balbir Singh.

Investigating doctors denied any mismanagement on the basis that there was no laxity shown by the staff on duty and deliveries were conducted even before the completion of other “paper formalities”. It was shortage of expert doctors which led to this kind of death, said a member of team. Report sought disciplinary action in the form of “warning” or “fine”, said Dr Balbir Singh.

Meanwhile, Civil Surgeon Dr S.S. Walia said it was just a preliminary report and final report will only be submitted after taking versions of attendants. “Report is with me and I will discuss it with the Director, Health Services,” said Dr Walia, who had taken report along with him to Chandigarh today.

Phagwara, January 20
Three persons, including a woman, were killed in mishaps here last night.

Des Raj was killed when the scooter he was riding collided with a motorcycle near Chiherru on the national highways last night. He was working as a driver in the Water Supply Department.

Parminder Singh of nearby Uchapind village was killed in a road accident on the Phagwara-Nakodar road last night.

In the third mishap, Bimla Devi of the local Anand Nagar succumbed to her burn injuries at the DMC Hospital, Ludhiana, last night. She had sustained critical burn injuries while working in her kitchen on the night of January 8 and was admitted to the Ludhiana hospital.

All three bodies have been handed over to their family members after post-mortem examination at the Civil Hospital.

Amritsar, January 20
The district police today nabbed two of the eight gangsters responsible for the shootout in the district court complex on January 15 in which a criminal, Raju Chikna, was killed.

The police arrested Abhijit, alias Ankur Lekhari (leader of Lekhari gang), and Sanjiv Kumar, alias Baba, at Pandori Varaich village while it seized two licensed pistols used in the crime besides 10 live cartridges from them. The police also recovered the Scorpio in which the accused had came to the spot and later fled after committing the crime.

Raju Chikna was associated with Jagtar Boxer gang. He was critically wounded in the attack and later succumbed to his injuries in a hospital.

“It was a challenge for the district police and our immediate interest was to bust the whole network, including tracing the persons who provided arms and finances to them. As the weapons used in the crime were licensed, we are also looking for owners of these pistols,” said P.K. Rai, district police chief. He said earlier too both Lekhari and Jagtar Boxer gangs were involved in shootouts.