Fake Detailed Mark Sheets
Cops zero in on college lecturer, students
Rajpura, July 26
The Rajpura police investigating the issue of 13 fake detailed mark sheets today said the preliminary investigations had revealed the connivance of a college lecturer and a few students of various colleges of Banur, Dera Bassi and Rajpura.

Moga/Faridkot, July 26
Where has the Rs 8-crore paddy gone? This question is still hanging around before the government for the past over seven months ever since one of the biggest food scams was unearthed in Ferozepur district in December 2009, exposing “incapability” of the police.

It is learnt that missing 1,92,973 bags of paddy worth about Rs 8 crore could have been sold in Moga, Faridkot and Ferozepur districts as suspected by some officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department.

The Pungrain purchase agency had stored 2,05,558 bags of paddy in Noor Rice Mill in Kasu Begu village in Ferozepur district. The entitlement of rice mill was less but it paid Rs 7 lakh in lieu of the excess paddy.

During verification on December 8, DFSC Sukhdev Singh found that there were only 12,585 bags of paddy lying in the rice mill and the rest 1,92,973 were found missing. On the same day, the DFSC lodged an FIR against Satwinder Singh, the owner of the rice mill, one Inderneel Singh, his wife Devinder Kaur and a few others. Following this, the police arrested Inderneel and some officials of the department on December 22.

On December 23, Secretary of the Food Supplies Department SP Singh wrote to the Vigilance Bureau to investigate the scam besides writing to the Home Secretary to recover the missing bags of paddy.

On January 11, 2010, the Additional Secretary (Vigilance) asked the Director of the Vigilance Bureau to get hold of the entire record and conduct an investigation. But on January 19, Director of the Food Supplies Department DS Garewal wrote to the Chief Secretary to get conducted an inquiry from the crime branch of the police.

Interestingly, neither the Vigilance Bureau nor the crime branch investigated this case until recently the DIG of Bathinda was asked to conduct the probe.

Surprisingly, on February 3, the Ferozepur police arrested the DFSC, who had unearthed this scam, but no efforts were made to recover the missing paddy.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director of the Food Supplies Department Jaswinder Singh got conducted physical verification of Kwality Rice Mill- Dharamkot (Moga), Hargobind Rice Mill- Jaito (Faridkot) and an under-construction rice mill at Santuwala (Ferozepur) to recover the missing paddy.

Many discrepancies were found in these mills raising doubts that the missing paddy could have been sold to them, which needs a thorough probe.

In Dharamkot mill, it was found that against the allocation of 2,69,428 bags of paddy, there were 3,93,513 bags stored with an excess storage of 1,72,222 bags.

In Jaito rice mill, purchase of 15,210 bags of paddy was shown on papers on December 7 and 8, 2009, the day when an FIR was registered in this scam.

Amritsar July 26
Giving another chance to Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Paramjit Singh Sarna, the Akal Takht has now summoned him on August 7 after the latter expressed inability to present himself at the Akal Takht today through his messenger.

The Sikh clergy, highly placed sources revealed, had taken a serious view of Sarna’s allegations against Phoolka and it was not in a mood to give any further relaxation to Sarna.

“It is a serious matter relating to sentiments of the Sikh community. Phoolka has been putting in a lot of hard work to get justice for the Sikhs,” said Giani Gurbachan Singh, talking to The Tribune.

He said anybody could come across familial exigencies and Sikh priests were not averse to extending another hearing chance to anybody on such grounds.

Sources close to the Akal Takht have also pointed out that the Sikh high priests will not expect anything short of a detailed clarification from Sarna in black and white on August 7, irrespective of the fact that Sarna’s letter to the Akal Takht has virtually denied of having subjected Phoolka to any allegations.

Sarna, in his letter, explained that he had not levelled any allegations against Phoolka and rather it was the other way around as Phoolka had used “foul language” against him in a TV channel interview.

“It was the DSGMC executive committee which had sought to know about the slow pace of the 1984 cases and a resolution to find reasons was also passed at its meeting on May 5. We did whatever we could to satisfy Phoolka so that he would plead the cases before the Nanawati Commission in an effective manner. We are also enclosing copies of expenditure of more than Rs. 1 crore incurred on this account,” said Sarna, urging the Akal Takht to summon him on any day between August 8 and 16.

Meanwhile, senior advocate HS Phoolka appeared before the Sikh high priests at the Akal Takht. He alleged that Sarna had levelled false allegations against him that he had been given huge money to contest the cases of the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims only to demoralise him.

“The allegations have come at a crucial time when judgment in a few cases was expected. They (Sarnas) want to mentally disturb him,” said Phoolka after his meeting with the Sikh high priests led by the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh.

Asserting that he would be abiding by any directive of the Akal Takht, Phoolka said,” I have full faith in the Akal Takht and the Jathedar of the Akal Takht. The Akal Takht has also asked me to contest cases of the 1984 victims. My case is crystal clear. I have been working for the Sikh community for many years and I will keep doing so,” said Phoolka. He was accompanied by Delhi-based journalist Jarnail Singh.

Ferozepur, July 26
The flooding of Gajni Wala village and its surrounding areas due to breaching of Phida minor has snapped link of two border observation posts (BOPs) -- DRD Nath and New Gajni Wala -- from the major parts of this district.

The water, which flowed with strong currents after the Phida drain breached here two days ago, also damaged Cobra fencing erected near the Indo-Pak border.

Information gathered by TNS revealed that these two BOPs, located in those pockets of the Indo-Pak border which had remained prone to smuggling in the past decades, are linked with main land by only a few-foot-wide footpath, which had also developed deep cracks ranging from two feet to 10 feet, thus making the patrolling by BSF personnel a difficulty task.

Rajesh Gupta, DIG, BSF, Ferozepur sector, said only DRD Nath BOP was surrounded by water. He said a foot track was being used to supply fresh vegetables and other material to the troops deployed at DRD Nath post. He said though the foot track had developed cracks, it was acting as link to DRD Nath BOP with main land.

He claimed that Cobra fencing was not damaged much. Only some portion of old Cobra fencing, which had been abandoned had suffered damages due to strong currents of water.

Meanwhile, residents of the villages, which had been inundated, had been using boats to travel from one point to other as the road links in border pockets had suffered huge damages. Though the water had started receding in these areas, a large section of farmers had been finding it difficult to reach their respective fields to take care of their crops in absence of land links.

Information revealed that the authorities concerned had not bother to carry out cleanliness of Phida drain for the past four years, hence it became the main reasons for its overflowing and breaching at number of places.

Rajpura, July 26
The Rajpura police investigating the issue of 13 fake detailed mark sheets today said the preliminary investigations had revealed the connivance of a college lecturer and a few students of various colleges of Banur, Dera Bassi and Rajpura.

It said the arrests would be made soon. The police has already arrested two residents of Patiala, Taranjeet Singh and Manpreet Singh. They were produced in court today at Rajpura and were sent to 14 days of judicial remand.

“During interrogation, we have come to know about third accused, identified as Jassi, also a resident of Patiala. He is a close aide of the two arrested preparing fake detailed mark sheets, said Rajpura DSP Manmohan Singh. He added that Jassi would soon land in the police net.

He said 13 detailed mark sheets were seized from the two arrested persons that bore Sri Sukhmani Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dera Bassi, as the institute name.

Police officials said either the accused had a link with university officials or printing press where the detailed mark sheets were prepared as the paper and stamps used in preparing fake mark sheets appeared to be original.

The police officials said the mark sheets seized from the accused were issued between 2004 and 2008 for different semesters of Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering.

They added that all 13 students whose names had been mentioned on these mark sheets would also be interrogated.

The accused had been selling the detailed mark sheets to the students in lieu of Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000. “They issued these degrees and it’s suspected that they further got these marks entered into the university records and charge extra amount between Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000”, said the police officials.

They pointed out that some students and a professor involved in this case might be arrested in a day or two. Meanwhile in a press note issued by the management of Dera Bassi college said the institute had no role whatsoever in distribution of fake mark sheets and had no responsibility for such blunders.

Patiala, July 26
After the arrest of Bakhshish Singh and Harminder Singh, another Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) terrorist was arrested here today. Pargat Singh (22) is the resident of Bhalwan village in Sangrur district and is considered to be a close associate of Bakhshish

Accused of CARRYING OUTNabha and Halwara blasts being arrested by the police. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

He was wanted in cases of planting of the IED near Air Force Station, Halwara, and LPG Bottling Plant, Nabha. A case under Sections 3/4/5 of the Explosive Act and Sections 13/16/17/18/20 under the Unlawful Activities Act (Prevention) has been registered against Pargat at sadar police station, Nabha.

The police have recovered an Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) from the accused that has brought to light the fact that Pargat was using this card as an identity proof to travel abroad. Senior cops said since passport was not required for travelling to Nepal, Pargat used the card (issued in the name of one Pushpinder) to go to Nepal from where he further travelled to Malaysia and then to Pakistan.

The cops further stated that after getting training in Pakistan, Pargat returned to India this year by procuring the air ticket from Nepal.

Confirming the developments, Patiala SSP Ranbir Singh Khatra said on a tip off and under the supervision of SP (City) Narinder Kaushal, a combing operation was initiated in several guest houses across the city. “Pargat was staying in as a paying guest at Sant Nagar under a fake identity from about past two-and-half months. He is close associate of Bakhshish and both of them had planted IEDs at Halwara and Nabha,” the SSP said.

Further elaborating, Khatra said after planting IEDs at Halwara and Nabha, Pargat went to Malaysia, where he stayed with Harminder Singh Mintu alias Dali, another terrorist. “In March 2010, Pargat was sent to Pakistan for training. With specific directions from Mintu to carry out terrorist activities in Punjab, Pargat returned to India in May,” Khatra added.

During interrogation, it also came to light that when Bakhshish returned from Pakistan in November 2009, Pargat was the one who arranged accommodation for him.

Meanwhile, police officials have stated that the house where Pargat was putting up, belongs to a police officer, whose son was using it as PG accommodation. Senior cops said they had already called an explanation from the cop concerned.

Chandigarh, July 26
Allowing a bunch of nine petitions, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the reinstatement of about 70 Sugarfed employees.

The petitioners had opted for voluntary retirement after a scheme was circulated on September 1, 1993. But for more than two years they did not hear anything. During the period, a decision was taken to go in for restructuring. It was initially decided to retain 27 employees, but eventually 41 were retained.

The petitioners had contended Sugarfed’s action of not formulating a cogent policy for retaining certain employees, while dispensing with the services of others, was clearly discriminatory and arbitrary.

Taking up the petitions filed by Pavitar Kaur and others, Justice Mahesh Grover asserted: “The respondent-Sugarfed circulated VRS with the ostensible purpose of tiding over the financial crisis and also for achieving optimum human resource utilisation. The VRS was to remain operational for a period of six months. All the 70 employees posted in the head office of Sugarfed exercised their options under the VRS.

“Sugarfed, which had brought its own employees to the brink of unemployment, was, therefore, required to act with some element of promptitude so as to lessen the impact of uncertainty with which the employees were confronted. Rather, it chose a path of inaction.

“The reason, which has been propounded before this court for such an inaction was that the decision to accept the options of the employees and retire them involved huge financial implications for which necessary sanction and approval had to come from the state government….”

In his detailed order, Justice Grover asserted: “In my opinion, the decision of Sugarfed to retain 41 employees without adopting any criteria to evaluate either their career record or to display its needs is totally arbitrary, discriminatory and violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India and hence, unsustainable….

“The petitioners are directed to be taken back in service and except for salary and allowances, they shall be entitled to all other such benefits as are admissible to them under the relevant service rules”.

Jalandhar, July 26
Ushering in a new world-class education system, the state universities are all set to come under the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT).

Institutions of higher learning will soon get e-connectivity and become part of the national knowledge network through BSNL.

A meeting of members of an implementation-cum-monitoring sub- committee was held at the Dr BR Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT) here today. The Vice-Chancellors of 13 state universities, Dean of colleges and other academicians were here to attend the 
implementation demo given by BSNL.

The Centrally sponsored programme will benefit 13 universities and 407 colleges of the state equipping them with the next generation communication infrastructure. Under this initiative, the state universities will be able to address personalised needs of learners.

Talking to TNS, Director (NIT) Dr Moin-Uddin said the scheme had two major components - content generation and providing connectivity - to universities, colleges and institutions of higher learning throughout the country.

“The universities will have to pay 25 per cent of the amount and 75 per cent will be paid by the Centre for a period of 10 years. BSNL will provide connectivity through optical fibres across the state,” he added.

Dr Jai Rup Singh, Vice-Chancellor of the Central University, Bathinda, termed this as a “technological leap” and said it would usher in a new era of e-connectivity.

“Students and the faculty will be able to access virtual labs, classrooms, e-journals, e-books, research labs and collaborative research. While resource persons will be able to submit their proposal for grants,” he added.

Prof Satvinder K. Mann, Dean, postgraduate studies, PAU, said that this new medium of teaching would make education accessible across the country.

A flagship scheme of the Centre, this Centrally sponsored Rs 9,000 crore programme was introduced by the Ministry of Human Resources Development last year. “An amount of Rs 4,612 has been released out of the total amount for this scheme. The project will be completed within a year,” said Dr Moin-Uddin.

Patiala, July 26
The Punjab Government has announced a voluntary disclosure scheme (VDS) for agricultural pumpset consumers with immediate effect.

The decision has been taken in view of the hardships being faced by farmers due to depletion of groundwater all over Punjab, resulting into deep boring and use of submersible motors of higher capacity by the farmers to water their crops.

Earlier, the farmers, who installed motors of higher capacity than their sanctioned load, were facing punitive measures by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) under the Electricity Act 2003.

Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the PSPCL KD Chaudhry said in the past, whenever the PSPCL announced VDS, it had received overwhelming response. He disclosed that last time more than 2,40,000 consumers opted for VDS after depositing more than Rs 100 crore and helped the PSPCL to add 645 MW authorised load. VDS will remain applicable till September 30 this year, he stated.

“VDS will be applicable to all tubewell connections released and installed on or before July 23, 2010”, added Chaudhry. The CMD also said the augmentation of the line and distribution transformer, wherever required, would be done by the PSPCL at its cost.

Bathinda, July 26
Postgraduate Kulwinder Kaur stood disappointed as she was today declared unfit in the physical test for the post of constable in the Punjab Police because of her failure to complete the 800-metre run within the stipulated time. She had come with high expectations from her village in Goniana near here but could not succeed in making it to the finishing point with other girls. She would come prepared next time, she said.

Enthusiasm was witnessed among the girls seeking recruitment as constable for which physical test began here this morning.

As many as 2,721 girls have applied for about 300 posts in six districts of Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar, Faridkot, Moga and Ferozepur.

SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill said 400 candidates would be tested everyday. Documents indicated that highly qualified girls carrying degrees in law, MBA and masters in education (M.Ed.) were also among those vying for the junior-most slot in the police set-up.

Charanjit Kaur had come from Ahmadpur in Mansa for physical test. She said her two sisters were recently recruited in the BSF and one of them was posted in Fazilka and the other at Madhopur.

She said the police was the first choice for even girls because the post of constable was permanent, whereas in other departments employment was on contract basis.

Among the candidates were Rajinder Kaur with law degree, Gurmeet Kaur with MBA and Amandeep Kaur, who has done M.Ed.

Three girls fainted during the physical test because of hot weather and were carried to the hospital for treatment. The physical test among other things included 800-metre run, 3-metre long jump and 97-cm high jump.

To prevent any irregularity in the recruitment process, CTV cameras were installed at various places on the grounds of Police Public School where the fitness tests were being conducted. Gill, who is the chairman of the recruitment committee here, was personally monitoring the activity on TV screen.

Physical test for the police recruitment were simultaneously being held at Kapurthala and Sangrur. The final test for the girls found physically fit would be held later at Patiala.

Chandigarh, July 26
Punjab is for once following Haryana buoyed by the latter’s success in being able to win over public opinion through professional magazines, which showcase the government in good light.

Punjab will come out with a magazine on similar lines and has established a society by the name of Punmedia for this purpose. The state will bring out a monthly magazine in a month with a starting print order of one lakh copies.

The magazine, which will be brought out in English, Punjabi and Hindi, will be a sharp departure from the present publications - Advance and Jagriti brought out by the Public Relations Department.

The present magazines are seldom brought out in time and have failed to have any impact due to the poor printing and sourcing of content.

The creation of Punmedia and the new magazine has come about following the interest shown in the project by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, says Officer on Special Duty Naripjit Singh Dhanoya. The Deputy CM cleared the project during a meeting two days ago.

The government had earlier toyed with creating a media corporation, which could highlight its achievements in a professional manner. However, the project was shot down due to objections on the duties of the corporation.

Now, with Assembly elections less than one and a half years away, Punmedia has been created with the twin objectives of projecting Punjab’s achievements as well as reaching out to the NRI media.

According to sources, the society would start functioning once the state Cabinet approved it. It is likely to be put up for an approval on July 29. It will be headed by the Public Relations Minister and the Director, Public Relations, DS Mangat, will be is Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Sources said most of the work for the magazine would be outsourced from professionals on the pattern followed by the Haryana Government that brings out the Haryana Review.

Patiala, July 26
The Forensic Science Department of Punjabi University, Patiala, will soon come up with a comprehensive and modified training programme for cops that will help them in learning latest trends in cyber-terrorism and help them solve such cases.

Stating this, head of the department Mukesh Thakkar said ADGP SK Sharma had given this proposal during the valedictory function of the three-day workshop on cyber and computer crime investigation for police officers organised by the department.

While addressing the participants, Sharma said it was an interesting and useful workshop and there was a need to organise many more such workshops to train officers as they had to deal with cases relating various devices like mobile phones and hard disks everyday. Most of the cases were resolved with the help of forensic tools and, thus, it was very important for the cops to be aware of their usages.

He also requested the Forensic Department to create a more comprehensive training programme for police officers so that they could be imparted continuous knowledge about the latest developments in this field in collaboration with the department.

Thakkar also read a report of the workshop and also discussed various problems and issues regarding cyber crime investigation based on the feedback.

He said the Punjab Police and Punjabi University would collectively work in a specific area and provide excellent results to tackle hi-tech criminals. He said the combination of theoretical and practical aspect would do wonders.

The officers unanimously recommended more such workshops stating it would help them in solving cases.

Patiala, July 26
The Punjab Civil Medical Service-I (PCMS-I) Association has urged the state Health Department not to recruit retired specialists on re-employment basis against PCMS cadre posts and postpone the July 28 interviews fixed for the same. Accusing the Health Department authorities of trying to oblige certain retired doctors by giving them re-employment against PCMS-I cadre posts, association general secretary DC Sharma said there was no shortage of available specialists in Punjab.

“The Health Department should conduct the selections of specialists from the 300-odd applications received by the department and if there is non-availability of specialists in any particular area, then only the government should recruit retired doctors,” Sharma argued.

Terming the move as economically ill-advised, the association members pointed out that after re-employment the retired specialist would get emoluments to the tune of Rs 1.20 lakh (pension and salary) on monthly basis. It would be unnecessary burden on the state exchequer.

Sharma also criticised the appointment of retired Civil Surgeon of Amritsar Lehmbar Singh as director, Punjab Health Systems Corporation on re-employment basis.

Roll numbers have been dispatched. “Those who have not received their roll numbers can collect duplicate roll number slips on July 28 from MEd entrance Cell, Arts block V, Punjabi University,” she added. — TNS

Fatehgarh Sahib, July 26
Demanding compensation for the damage to the crop due to recent rains, vegetable growers today said more than their produce on almost 700 acres was completely destroyed in the rains.

Agriculture department officials have confirmed that vegetables on 700 acres in Fatehgarh Sahib district had been damaged due to continuous rains, besides the damage to 6,000 acres of paddy in the district. They also stated that the government had not conducted girdwari to assess the damage as there was no support price of vegetables. They added that the loss to marginal farmers, who have grown vegetables for selling purpose on an acre, amounts between Rs 15,000-25,000.

Demanding immediate compensation, farmers belonging to Banur, Rajpura and Sirhind districts rued that loss of vegetables and paddy is the same, but the government was not conducting girdawari for the loss of vegetables.

“Turmeric, brinjal, ladyfinger, tomato and chilly grown on more than two acres has been completely damaged due to continuous rains. I was earning Rs 3,500 a day before rains but now everything is ruined,” said Ripudaman of Haripur village in Amloh. He added that there was not a single farmer in the area who had not suffered losses.

Draining of water from fields has lead to chaos and quarrels among farmers who accuse each other for water idling in their fields.

Jeeta of Khanaura village in Fatehgarh Sahib too rued that pumpkin, bitter gourd, brinjal, tomatoes and chilly grown in his fields had been damaged.

Chief Agriculture Officer of Fatehgarh Sahib Sarabjit Kandhari said vegetable growers had been demanding compensation as most of their crops have perished in the rains. However, it is up to the government to announce compensation.

Amritsar, July 26
The agitating rural pharmacists and Class IV employees had to bear the brunt of the police on second day too. The police arrested two office-bearers of the Rural Health Pharmacists Association, Punjab, and booked 12 others for violating law and order.

A pharmacist delegation, consisting over 800 members from all over Punjab, yesterday had attempted to block the passage leading to the house of Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Ranjit Singh Brahmpura here and a clash had occurred between them and the police, which left several persons injured.

When they again tried to reach the residence of the minister today, the police arrested district president of the association Kamaljeet Singh Chauhan and state president Satpal Cheema and booked 12 other pharmacists for violating peace, causing inconvenience to general public and restrain the police from doing its duties.

It has been learnt that the police has, reportedly, registered cases against other 250 unidentified persons for violating Section 144, which prevent assembly of more than five persons on a spot.

Police Commissioner Varinder Kumar said this action had been taken as the pharmacists were on the wrong side of law by not seeking permission for their agitation or demonstration before time.

On the other hand, the pharmacists argued that the police inaction had been the result of the minister’s influence, who never agreed to listen to their demands. “It was done to discourage us from holding protest further”, they maintained. The pharmacists said if the police did not withdraw false cases against their colleagues, they would intensify their agitation.