Monitor activities of Gill & Guru, DCs told
Chandigarh, July 26
Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Sidhu has asked the Deputy Commissioners of Barnala and Moga to keep a vigil on the “political activities” of Punjab DGP PS Gill and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister DS Guru.

Nabha, July 26
Calling ex-CM and Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala as the “biggest traitor of Punjab”, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said the former “always ignored” the state interests.

Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of Sangat Darshan here, Badal alleged that whether it was the Rajiv-Longowal Accord or the river water treaty, Barnala always played a dubious role by acting at the behest of the Centre. “In order to become CM, Barnala joined hands with the Congress by misleading Sant Harcharan Singh Longowal for signing the accord despite the fact that it was against the interests of the state,” he said.

Badal claimed that he along with former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president late Gurcharan Singh Tohra had opposed the accord.

“Similarly, Barnala had, in order to retain his chief ministership, accepted the constitution of the Eradi Tribunal for sharing river water even as legal experts had advised against it.” The CM also claimed that Barnala had taken an extension as Governor without even seeking permission from the SAD. “How can a true Akali take extension as Governor from the Congress-led government knowing well that it is the biggest enemy of the state,” asked Badal.

On resentment among Mansa district farmers over the setting up of thermal plant, he claimed 95 per cent of the farmers had voluntarily given their land.

Meanwhile, Badal disbursed grants worth Rs 3.7 crore for developmental works in various villages of the area. He also laid the foundation stone of a library on the name of renowned writer and scholar Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha. It would come up at a cost of Rs 80 lakh.

Chandigarh, July 26
The much delayed Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections are likely to be held in September. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sent a letter to the Gurdwara Election Commission, indicating that it is keen to hold the elections on any Sunday of September.

The Chief Commissioner of the Gurdwara Election Commission, Justice HS Brar, said though a final decision was yet to be taken, in all likelihood the poll would be held in September.

“All preparations for the poll are complete. We are examining various aspects after holding meetings with commissioners from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh. After due consideration of all the inputs, we will submit our suggestions to the Centre”.

“A meeting of commissioners from all the three states and the UT was held today. The final decision will be taken very soon”, an official said. September 4 or 11 are said to be the preferred dates.

The SGPC elections are to be held simultaneously in all the states.

It was felt that the SGPC elections in Haryana could interfere with the Hisar byelection expected to be held around the same time. The Hisar Vidhan Sabha seat fell vacant after the death of former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal. The commission had in February recommended to the MHA to hold the SGPC elections in May.

But the Centre did not agree to it. Justice Brar has already told the Centre that the voter lists are ready.

The commission has finished the task of finalising symbols in consultation with political parties. Justice Brar has over the past few months held several meetings with DCs and worked out modalities to ensure that the elections are conducted in a fair and smooth manner. Electronic voting machines will not be used for the elections.

The SGPC elections are conducted by the Gurdwara Election Commission as per the Sikh Gurdwara Act-1925. This time, at least 55 lakh Sikhs will cast their vote. It is for the first time that “keshdhari” Sikhs alone have been made eligible voters.

Chandigarh, July 26
Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Sidhu has asked the Deputy Commissioners of Barnala and Moga to keep a vigil on the “political activities” of Punjab DGP PS Gill and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister DS Guru.

During a video-conference on preparations for the assembly elections, she said the Election Commission could any time seek a report from the districts on the “activities” of these officers.

There have been reports that both Gill and Guru may contest the Vidhan Sabha elections on the SAD ticket. The Congress has raised several objections to the “activities” of these officers in Barnala and Moga. DGP Gill has reportedly been participating in political and social functions with an eye on the elections. He was reportedly seen in a photograph with a proclaimed offender at a public function. The Congress has asked the Election Commission to stop these officers from indulging in politics while still in service.

The officers are slated to retire before the assembly elections.

Amritsar, July 26
On the eve of Foreign Minister-level talks between India and Pakistan, New Delhi today released 91 Pakistan prisoners as a goodwill gesture.

All were languishing in various jails across the country and of those let off, 87 (lodged in Gujarat jails) were fishermen.

The prisoners were repatriated through the Attari-Wagah land route. They were handed over to Pakistan Rangers Wing Commander Ahmad Rafiq by BSF Assistant Commandant Parveen Paul Sngh.

Two prisoners were released from Amritsar central jail and one each from Sangrur and Sirsa jails.

Raheel Ahmad (32), a resident of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, had crossed over to the Indian side illegally in 1995. He was 16 then and was sentenced to 14 years in jail. However, he had to spend two years extra behind bars. One of the fishermen, Ismail, said: “It is difficult to identify water territory in the vast sea. I urge the governments of both the countries to devise a way out for the demarcation of boundaries in the sea.”

Chandigarh, July 26
Less than a day after The Tribune underscored the failure of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau to set its own house in order by identifying and proceeding against corrupt Punjab Police officers, the Congress party has sought the Governor’s intervention. The party has urged him to ensure the constitutional body, headed by a retired High Court Judge, is in place.

The Congress today demanded the restoration of the Vigilance Commission, “as the present set-up of the Vigilance Bureau has lost all credibility”. It minced no words to say the Vigilance Bureau was “acting merely as a tool in the hands of its political masters”. The Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira said the recent arrests of corrupt politicians and officers by the CBI have put a huge question mark on the credibility of the Vigilance Bureau of the SAD-BJP government.

He added that the Bureau has “utterly failed to check corruption in government machinery and has indulged in political terrorism at the behest of its political bosses…. Instead of nabbing corrupt politicians of the ruling party and officers like DSP Raka Gera, the Vigilance Bureau has been often used to settle political scores like in the case of Manta, the political aid of Manpreet Badal.

“Manta was arrested for felling a few trees in a remote village of Malwa, whereas the Bureau turned a blind eye to a complaint by a Forest Officer R. R. Kakkar against the then Forest Minister Tikshan Sud for illegally felling over 2 lakh trees in Punjab”. Khaira said the Bureau was “soft-pedalling the case of a corrupt PCS officer, T. K. Goel.” The officer was caught red-handed while taking a bribe of Rs 50,000 in his office at Chandigarh by the Bureau on September 8, 2010…. He was arrested and suspended.

Thereafter, political pressure began to be exerted by the Deputy Chief Minister in the matter, and the Bureau failed to put up his file to the Chief Secretary for sanction, even after 10 months, leave aside presenting the challan in the court. Khaira added Goel has now been given a plum field posting as SDM, Bholath.

Chandigarh, July 26
The Punjab Police has acquired the state-of-the-art imported weaponry for SWAT teams, to check riots and to guard VIPs.

The new weaponry will be placed at the disposal of the newly formed Special Services Group (SSG), which will serve as the umbrella organisation for Governor’s security as well as that of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister. SWAT teams are being formed for special operations, including those against anti-nationals.

Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and others have been placed under the ambit of the SSG in view of the threat perception to their life. The state police has procured 234 SG 553 model Swiss assault rifles. It will also be getting the delivery of 163 X-95 assault rifles from the Israel Weapon Industry (IWI). Both assault rifles are next-gen weapons and an improvement on the AK-47 assault rifle, that has been a favourite with the force since the past 15 years. In another first, the police has acquired 234 MP-9 Swiss Grugger and Thomet sub-machine guns. These will replace World War II carbines that have been with the force till now.

The force has also acquired the NAGEV 5.56 light machine gun from Israel. This weapon comes with a 200 ft ammunition belt and is a replacement for the two-decade-old sub machine guns.

Police sources said the force had also acquired anti-riot equipment, both at a cost of Rs 14 crore as part of the modernisation drive. The anti-riot equipment includes pepper balls, side wingers, an automatic gun with non-lethal rubber pellets, 600 anti-trauma riot suits for police personnel, electric shields, batons and pepper spray.

In another first, the police force has acquired 600 SIG Sauer pistols of 9 mm caliber, which are a technological leap over the present Browning Indian Ordnance pistol used by police personnel.

Part of these pistols will be given to the district police and more are likely to be acquired. The purpose is to equip police personnel at the ground level with small arms so that they are not burdened with the standard 303 rifle.

The force has been allotted 1,110 AK-47 rifles by the Centre and is expected to get another 1,390 weapons soon. These weapons will be supplied to the district police. Meanwhile, the SSG is still under formation. The state has created three companies of 100 men each who have had training by Israeli instructors.

Amritsar, July 26
Work on the Integrated Checkpost (ICP) at Attari, which was to be completed by June, has been further delayed. It will now be ready by next month.

Sources say the delay has been primarily caused because of work constraints on the road connecting the ICP to the gate on the zero line. The construction agencies have to follow the directions of the BSF for carrying out work on this stretch of the road which will be fenced later.

Earlier, there were plans to raise a wall on either side of the road, but following objections by Pakistan it was decided to erect a fence instead. Also, work on air-conditioning the ICP complex has been put off for now.

Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal said though the date for commissioning the ICP would be decided by the Centre, it was likely to become operational in October.

Spread over 130 acres and built at a cost of Rs 150 crore, the ICP is expected to further boost trade ties between India and Pakistan.

Chandigarh, July 26
The promotions in the Punjab Police have decreased the IPS pool for posting as district police heads and the state government has ignored even those officers available for the posting.

According to sources, there are eight IPS officers with adequate seniority who could have been posted as district police chiefs.

The government has not only ignored these officers but also removed two IPS officers posted as SSPs. Now, only two IPS officers are posted as SSPs ( Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, Bathinda, and Rakesh Aggarwal, Hoshiarpur) even as 22 PPS officers have been appointed district police chiefs.

While young IPS officers are sore at the discriminatory attitude of the authorities, the IPS Association in the state is yet to make any appeal to the government on the issue. Association general secretary SS Chohan, posted as Police Commissioner, Ludhiana, said the association would take up the matter in case it is raised by any member. He said usually such issues were discussed at the association’s meetings and then taken up formally with the government.

The rules however are clear. Only an IPS officer can hold the post of district police chief. The state can appoint PPS officers to the post only in case of non-availability of IPS officers. Though there is a shortage of IPS officers and all 24 posts of district police heads could not have been filled with IPS officers, the government could have at least used the services of the IPS officers available and then filled the remaining posts with PPS officers, a senior officer said.

Even in case of PPS officers, these posts have not been filled according to seniority.

Official sources say the Centre is also to blame for the sorry state of affairs. For the past several years, few IPS officers have been sent to Punjab. This had created an imbalance with the recent promotions of SPs as DIGs further reducing the IPS pool.

The state government stands accused of using the “shortage”excuse to circumvent rules. And this does not apply to police officers only. Recently, the government appointed Ravinder Singh as DC of Mansa. This despite the fact that only an IAS officer can be appointed to the post. The officer is not among the select list of senior PCS officers either.

Jalandhar, July 26
The per annum allocation to each MP would be enhanced from Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore, with retrospective effect, that is from April 1 this year, under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). The Union Ministry for Statistics and Programme Implementation has urged the various states to initiate certain steps for proper utilisation of such funds.

In a letter written to the Punjab Chief Secretary, the Secretary of the Ministry T.C.A. Anant has urged for a proactive and timely sanction and execution of the recommended works within the timeframe as stipulated in the guidelines.

The state government has been urged to put a proper system in place for the monitoring of the works, which means urgent submission of the utilisation certificate, audit certificate, monthly progress report to the nodal agency as well as to the ministry for the release of the due instalments on time.

The interaction with MPs should also be held on regular basis to assess the works recommended by them at the district and state level. The Ministry has pointed out non-adherence to MPLADS norms in some states.

Chandigarh, July 26
The Punjab Government has removed the photographs of the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal from the ambulances run in the state. Congress legislator from Bholath, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, has claimed that this has been done on the direction of the Chief Election Commissioner after he had sent in a formal complaint. The photograph of the Health Minister has also been removed.

The Congress is now insisting that the state government should also remove the photos of the Chief Minister from the Atta-Dal Scheme blue cards and refrain from putting his photo on bicycles to be given to girl students of government schools. Khaira had writtent to the Chief Election Commissioner in June saying that the government was misusing the l welfare schemes in the state for electoral gains. — TNS

Ludhiana, July 26
The agricultural economy of Punjab is primarily dependent on cereal crops like wheat and paddy. However, the soaring prices of fruits have helped many an orchardist reap handsome profits. Hence, experts working with Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) suggest that farmers be encouraged to take to horticulture.

They say among the fruits grown in temperate conditions, pear is number one in terms of area and production.

Pear growers can get good returns if simple techniques on harvesting and handling of fruit are followed, says Dr WS Dhillon. For a high-quality yield, pears must be harvested at the right stage. These should be picked when the colour changes from green to light green and the fruit is still hard.

The hard pear varieties include the famous "patharnakh" and the new variety named "Punjab nakh" that generally matures 145 days after flowering. The fruit of semi-soft varieties like “Punjab Beauty, “Punjab Gold” and “Punjab Nectar” mature in 135-140 days. Soft varieties like Nijisseki mature in the month of July.

Another expert Dr PPS Gill says: "It is a common notion that sub-tropical pears are hard in texture. The hardness is caused by improper ripening and the pear needs a ripening treatment so that it acquires the best organoleptic qualities and melting texture."

The PAU experts suggest that the harvested fruit be kept in a cold storage. Before that, it must be graded according to its shape, size and colour and packed in corrugated fibre board (CFB) boxes.

Each box should carry information on the orchard, the name of the variety and the date of harvesting.

Amritsar, July 26
Taking its battle in the Devinderpal Singh Bhullar case a step forward, the SGPC today filed a mercy petition before President Pratibha Devisingh Patil. According to a release issued by the SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar here, a sub-committee formed by the SGPC for getting Bhullar’s death sentence commuted filed the mercy petition today and also sought an appointment with the President. He claimed that none of 133 witnesses in the Bhullar case gave a testimony against him, adding that even the judgment against him was not unanimous. He alleged that the police extracted the confessional statement from Bhullar by subjecting him to torture, adding that sentencing him to death on the basis of this confession was a “grave injustice” to Sikhs.

Earlier, the SGPC had submitted a memorandum to the President in this regard through the Punjab Governor on June 20. It has also launched a campaign to get the resolutions passed by all village panchayats for commuting Bhullar’s death sentence.

An injured man being taken away by a rescue team from the site of building collapse at Kharar on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

Kharar, July 26
One person was killed and 10 were injured when roof of a building under construction, opposite Akali Daftar Gurudwara, collapsed today evening. The deceased has been identified as Rajesh Kumar, a labourer. A native of Bihar, he was working for building contractor Sadanand, who too was injured in the incident. Workers were working on the second storey of the building and were fixing its lintel. They said that suddenly the wooden planks working as a support were dislodged, leading to the roof collapse.

Contractor Sadanand said that the lintel had been laid around 20 days ago and work on the second storey was almost complete. He said that when he was climbing down the stairs, suddenly there was a sound and the debris of the second storey crashed on the first floor. The roof of the first floor roof too collapsed, leading to the pile up on the ground floor.

Migrant labourer Rajesh Kumar, whom was working on the first floor, died on the spot. His body could be removed only after an hour. JCB machines were used to remove debris. Besides, the contractor Sadanand, labourers Raju, Raj Kumar, Ghanaiya, Neeraj, Mukesh, Gyan Singh, Raju and Gurdas Singh sustained injuries. The injured were rushed to the Civil Hospital, Kharar.

People living in the vicinity said that the building was being constructed in a hurry and the lintel of the first floor had been laid just 15 days ago.

DSP Kharar Sukhdev Singh Virk and Kharar City police station in-charge Dharampal also reached the accident spot. Police are inquiring into the matter.

Residents alleged that the showroom was coming up illegally and the colony project had been recently launched. The construction was going on in an area that had a residential locality at the back. Executive officer Kharar Municipal Council, Sukhjinder Singh, said that the map of the building in question had been passed. “It was a legal structure coming up for commercial and residential use.”

Chandigarh, July 26
Coming down heavily on Panjab University for not preventing “innocent students” from joining a Samrala-based college which was yet to be approved by the National Council for Teachers’ Education, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the varsity to declare their results.

The direction came on a petition filed by Randeep Kaur and 10 other fourth-year students of Bachelor of physical education. They were studying in MGKM Shahi Sports College of Physical Education in Samrala in Ludhiana district.

Justice Bhalla added it prima facie appeared that the petitioners, innocent students, have been duped by the college, coupled with lack of concrete action on the part of the university. Not mincing words, Justice Bhalla added: The varsity could have easily prevented the college from admitting the students.

In their petition, students had sought directions from the varsity and another respondent to declare the result for session 2009-10. They had claimed the withholding of the result by the varsity, even though the roll numbers had been issued on the basis of the lectures attended by them in the college.

The students had added that on December 27, last year, the college was intimated that the result could not be allowed to be declared “on the ground that the college has not received NCTE approval”.

Taking up the petition, Justice Rajive Bhalla observed in the open court that petitioners were innocent victims of unchecked commercialisation of education, where studies took a backseat. Going into the background of the controversy, Justice Bhalla observed that the students took the examination conducted by the Panjab University at colleges in Chandigarh and other places under court orders.

Justice Bhalla asserted: “The absence of affiliation to the NCTE was a factor that would be considered while deciding the writ petition. As such, it would be appropriate to direct the varsity to declare the result, subject to the outcome of the writ petition.”

Chandigarh, July 26
Mohali police Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Raka Ghirra’s reader Manmohan Singh was produced before the special CBI court here today.

As the CBI did not press for his police remand, judge Ritu Tagore sent him to judicial custody for a fortnight. Manmohan Singh was produced in the court after lunch amid tight security.

The delay angered the judge who remarked that the court’s time was precious and must not be wasted.

It is learnt that the CBI quizzed both Manmohan Singh and DSP Ghirra in its Sector 30 office before taking Manmohan Singh to the court.

Anandpur Sahib, July 26
The police has arrested three persons and recovered fake currency worth Rs 2.38 lakh from their custody.

Acting on a tip-off, the police laid a naka on the Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi road and arrested the three accused. They have been identified as Nitin from Kurali, Sukhwinder Singh and Sukhdev Singh from Samrala. Nitin (25) is a diploma holder in computers.

SSP Jatinder Singh Aulakh said the police had recovered Rs 1.50 lakh from Nitin and Rs 50,000 in fake currency from Sukhwinder. Both were travelling in a Lancer car No. DL 6CA 9281. Sukhdev was arrested on a motorcycle PB 10 DD (T) 2928 and Rs 38,000 were recovered from his custody.

The police recovered Rs 1.30 lakh in Rs 1,000 denomination notes and Rs 1.08 lakh in Rs 500 denomination notes.

Patiala, July 26
The police has registered a case against three truck drivers and impounded their vehicles following a complaint by officers of the Excise and Taxation Department. The police is yet to arrest the accused, though a formal complaint was lodged late on Sunday evening.

The police said following a complaint by the Excise and Taxation Officer (Mobile Wing) CL Sharma, the police has registered an FIR against three truck drivers and their firms. “While one firm is from Samana, the other two belong to Mandi Gobindgarh and they were allegedly transporting iron material without proper billing,” the police said.

The ETO stated in his complaint that when they were checking the documents of these trucks, the drivers attacked the excise team.

The police has registered a case under Sections 353, 186 and 120-B of the IPC against the truck drivers and is conducting raids to nab the accused.