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Tension mounts between police, farmers
Protesters on way to Amritsar, Bathinda held |
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Several Cong leaders lose security cover
Projecting too many leaders from one seat harmed party: Bajwa
State has no public bus
service to Delhi airport
Shortage of gunny bags alarms govt
Mega housing projects skip EWS quota
Mata Kaushalya Scheme Fish that checks dengue
NGOs bat for renewable energy at Patiala seminar
Mere 377 policemen deputed to check crime in Ropar
Malerkotla residents demand ban on sale of drugs
Dera Bassi judicial complex will increase congestion: Residents
Consider alternative allotment if site can’t be developed, says HC
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Tension mounts between police, farmers
Tarn Taran , March 10 The arrested farmers, including Jassa Singh, Daler Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Balkar Singh, were produced before a magistrate who sent them to one-day police remand. The ASI had died under mysterious circumstances five days ago at Jeobala village in the district where he had gone to raid a farmhouse and make pre-emptive arrests ahead of the 'Rail Roko' agitation by farmers. The police had yesterday claimed that the ASI was allegedly beaten to death by farmers and his body disposed of at some distance of the raid site. Initially, it was presumed that the police officer had died of cardiac arrest. The police also added Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code in the case. Earlier, the case was registered under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). On the other hand, various farmer organisations have condemned the Punjab Police's alleged implication of the community members in the case. In a statement, Kisan Sangharsh Committee state president Satnam Singh Pannu and general secretary Sawinder Singh Chutala accused the police of adopting a repressive attitude. They said the farmers would intensify their agitation if the police failed to release the "innocent" farmers and withdraw the case against them. The committee activists also burnt an effigy of the state government at various places in the district on the first day of their two-day agitation. The farmer body said the members of 17 farmer-worker organisations, which had given the call for 'Rail Roko', would start an indefinite protest in front of the offices of deputy commissioners in the state from March 18. Stir from March 18 Members of 17 farmer-worker organisations, which had given the call for 'Rail Roko', would start an indefinite protest in front of the offices of deputy commissioners in the state from March 18. They have been demanding immediate release of the farmers arrested in connection with the ASI death case.
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Protesters on way to Amritsar, Bathinda held
Moga, March 10 Sources said at least 18 farmers were arrested from Nihalsinghwala sub-division till evening. All of them were produced before a local magistrate who has sent them to judicial custody in Faridkot jail. The local police claimed the arrests were made as a preventive measure to avoid any untoward incident. A heavy force, comprising personnel of the state police, Punjab Armed Police and Indian Reserve Battalion, was deployed in rural areas of the district to prevent the farmers from going to Amritsar and Bathinda. The call for protests was given by 17 farm organisations of the state. BKU general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri and other activists alleged by forcibly stopping the farmers from holding protests, the SAD-BJP government had infringed on their fundamental right to hold a peaceful protest. Demanding the release of their activists, farmers and labour unions have announced that they would intensify their stir in the coming days. “We will continue to fight for our rights,” Kokri said. Sangrur: Over 200 farmers from Sunam and Lehra blocks who had gathered at a gurdwara at Jakhepal village (near Cheema) to go to Bathinda for participating in a protest were rounded up by the police. After getting information about the gathering of the farmers, heavy police force was deployed there. When the farmers stepped out of the gurdwara, they were taken into custody. Superintendent of Police Sharanjit Singh said this the farmers were released in the evening.
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Dismiss guilty cops in 48 hrs, assault victim warns govt
Tarn Taran, March 10 Fearing for their lives, the victim and her father Kashmir Singh claimed that they had been receiving threatening calls since the last three days. Demanding sacking of the accused policemen from service, the father-daughter duo said not even a single arrest had been made in the case so far. The family has been demanding registration of a criminal case against all six policemen allegedly responsible for beating the girl and termination of their services with immediate effect. The girl along with her family members was attending a marriage function last Sunday where she was subjected to molestation by two taxi drivers and subsequently thrashed by a group of policemen. “I want to see all the guilty policemen behind bars. We will wait till March 11 and in case the administration fails to deliver justice by then, I will sit on hunger strike for an indefinite period,” the girl said. The family appreciated the support it had received from various political parties, including the Congress, and social-religious
organisations.
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Several Cong leaders lose security cover
Chandigarh, March 10 The Home Department had two days back reduced the security cover to various persons by 1,500 personnel. It has to submit a report to the Supreme Court in this regard. Now there are approximately 5,500 personnel on security duty in the state. Also, the government has failed to upgrade security provided to the newly appointed Pradesh Congress president, Partap Singh Bajwa. The PCC chief said the government had withdrawn the security provided to his mother at his native village in Qadian even as a number of SAD leaders defeated in the last assembly elections had got 22 gunmen each. He said the Chautala family of former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala was being provided security by the government as were actors in Mumbai. Accusing Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal of using the police force as his “personal militia”, he said the owner of a private university had two Gypsies as part of his security cover. Khaira said after he received threats when former minister Jagir Kaur was convicted, he was assured by the Inspector-General (IG), Security, that he could continue to retain the four guards attached with him. Khaira said four days back, he was informed that all the guards were being withdrawn. Khaira pointed out that former ministers SS Langah, SS Sekhwan and RS Brahmpura as well as former Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon continued to retain more than 20 guards each. He said even a Mohali based leader like Babbi Badal had a security cover of eight guards. Youth Congress president Vikramjit Chaudhary said his security has been pared down from 12 to four to none. He alleged that this had been done in phases whenever he took on the SAD-BJP Government. He said two days ago when he was returning from Tarn Taran after meeting the woman who had been beaten up by policemen, his entire security cover was withdrawn. Chaudhary said he rang up the Additional DGP, Security Dinkar Gupta, yesterday who told him that he was helpless and that he should contact the Deputy Chief Minister. When contacted, Gupta said the security cover of politicians had been withdrawn across the board after a comprehensive review. He said the Cabinet had approved norms for various categories, including politicians and police officers. He said the security cover of Akali leaders, including former minister, had also been withdrawn. Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has interceded on behalf of Ferozepur MLA Parminder Pinky and asked the state Chief Secretary to take necessary action on his complaint that his security cover had been reduced. Pinky said this had been done despite the fact that the Additional DGP, Intelligence, had recommended in writing that his security be enhanced because of his ‘anti-terrorists’ stand. Taking a hit
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Shivratri festivity turns into mourning
Abohar, March 10 The duo were returning home after plucking ‘belpatra’ (sacred green leaves) to offer them at a temple on the occasion of Shivratri festival. While the body of one of the minors, Sahib Ram, has been fished out, search is on to locate the other boy, Ajay Kumar. Another boy who was following the victims said Ajay Kumar lost control over the bicycle while they were crossing the bridge on the Kerakhera-Dhaba Kokrian road. Both along with the bicycle fell into the gushing water of Malukpura sub-canal and were swept away, he said. Sarpanch Lachhman Ram said the canal authorities had been requested several times to get the bridge repaired and get iron grills installed on both sides, but to no avail. He said the bridge had got damaged two years ago. Lachhman claimed it was not the first time that people had fallen off the damaged bridge, though casualties were never reported earlier.
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Relax criteria to upgrade schools, CM to HRD Minister
Chandigarh, March 10 Badal urged the Union Minister to relax the condition (from 5 km to 3 km) for the upgrading of middle schools to high schools. Badal said the distance between villages in the state was short and most of Badal told the Union Minister that the state government had established 17 degree colleges which were doing well. Two polytechnic colleges were being set up at Jalandhar and Amritsar. The Chief Minister sought approval for two more degree colleges at Narot Jaimal Singh and Guru Harsahai besides approval for two additional degree colleges at Verka and Moonak. On this occasion, the Information Technology and Food and civil Supply Minister, Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, raised the issue of inadequate residential facilities for teachers serving in the schools near the international border with Pakistan. He suggested that the Central Government could provide them residential accommodation as a joint venture with the Border Security Force
(BSF).
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Projecting too many leaders from one seat harmed party: Bajwa
Chandigarh, March 10 Talking to TNS, he said he would try to identify “ideal” candidates in constituencies where the party did not have a representation in the assembly. He said other leaders in the constituency could be promised other posts in case the party returned to power. Bajwa, who has already announced that he would not make any changes in the Pradesh Congress executive, said he would take a decision on District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents after touring the state. He said he would not dither on the issue. “Changes where required will be done quickly,” he said. Bajwa said that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had told him to take everyone along. Bajwa said as instructed by Rahul Gandhi, all DCC offices would remain open six days a week. He said he would make it a point to meet all block presidents at least once a month.
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Golden Temple plaza by year-end
Amritsar, March 10 “Within a few months, the finishing touches will be given to the project. This unique project will put the holy city on the international tourist circuit and prove to be a boon for thousands of tourists from across the world. The plaza would have an audio-video information system depicting the Sikh history and heritage besides a number of world-class auditoriums,” he said. To a query, Sukhbir said he had directed the authorities concerned to further accelerate work on the plaza to ensure that there were no delays. He said the government was working on two master plans to make Amritsar one of the beautiful cities in the
country. Sukhbir said the Congress’ change of guard would have no impact on the SAD whatsoever as the party did not consider Partap Singh Bajwa as a “new challenge”. The SAD would continue to follow the development agenda besides formulating “pro-poor, pro-people and pro-Punjab policies.” Congratulating Bajwa on his elevation as Pradesh Congress chief, Sukhbir invited him to contribute to the state’s development by playing a “constructive role”.To a query, he said the coming Budget would be ‘pro-people” and in the interest of the people as the ruling alliance was committed to overall development. On the Tarn Taran assault case, the Deputy CM said strict action would be taken against policemen if found guilty. He also said that the government would show “zero tolerance” to criminals targeting women.
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String of benefits for decorated soldiers
Chandigarh, March 10 Speaking at the triennial convention-cum-reunion of the War Decorated India, an association of Param Vir Chakra (PVC), Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) and Vir Chakra (VrC) recipients, he said a unique state-of-the-art memorial for war heroes would come up at Amritsar, for which a concept committee was being formed. The armed forces had been requested to provide the details, photographs and other particulars of the martyrs. Punjab’s war-time roll of honour since 1947 includes four PVC (none alive), 51 MVC (19 are alive) and 246 VrC (107 are alive). Besides other benefits and grants, they are also entitled to a monthly allowance. Stating that financial benefits under the Jangi Jagir scheme had been doubled from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000, Badal gave approval, in principal, for setting up a home for gallantry awardees in Mohali and giving them all possible help in land procurement and construction. Expressing concern at the dwindling number of people from Punjab in the defence services, the Chief Minister said the state was striving hard to motivate its youth to join the defence services. It had set up Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institution at Mohali to train and prepare promising candidates for a commission under a two-year residential programme. A similar institute for girls was planned. He said that given the vast scope for employment in the shipping industry, a naval training academy was also on the cards. Further, the Centre of Punjab for Youth Training and Employment (C-PYTE) was being upgraded to better channelise the energies of the youth into productive and useful activities. The Chief Minister announced that the state government would bar all further educational expenses of the two orphaned grandchildren of Sepoy Baba Singh of 1 Para who was decorated with the Vir Chakra in 1947 and the Military Medal prior to Independence. The Chief Minister honoured gallantry awardees and war widows. A large number of decorated war veterans, their widows and family members attended the convention. Meanwhile, Lt Gen GS Sihota, former GOC-in-C, Southern Command, has been elected WDI president. Brig KS Chandpuri (Retd) and Air Marshal MS Sekhon have been elected vice-presidents, while Capt Reet MP SIngh, Col GS Bajwa and Lt Col HIS Dhaliwal have been elected secretary general, joint secretary and treasurer, respectively. Slew of Measures
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State has no public bus
service to Delhi airport
Chandigarh, March 10 Taking advantage of the situation, a number of private operators are ferrying passengers in cabs, vans and mini buses from various places in the state to the airport. Gursewak Singh, an NRI from Seattle, said: “We had taken up this issue with different leaders during their visit abroad. But we have found no change here. We are told that this particular category of bus service is owned by powerful politicians in the state”. Satwant Kaur, a regular traveller from Vancouver, said: “We usually carry heavy luggage. Haryana Roadways has its service to and from the airport till Chandigarh. But there are limited buses. Private transporters charge exorbitantly”. Mandeep Singh, Secretary, Transport, said the department had ordered the commencement of a bus service from Chandigarh to New Delhi airport by deploying luxury coaches.
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Shortage of gunny bags alarms govt
Chandigarh, March 10 He said the Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, had written to the Union Minister concerned in this regard. Though procurement will begin from April 1, the bulk of wheat is expected to arrive after April 10. The state expects 130 lakh tonnes of wheat in the mandis. The government is also worried about stacking fresh wheat procured for the Central pool. “Already, we have 1 lakh tonnes of the old stock. We expect 130 lakh tonnes more to arrive in the mandis between April and May. This will take the the total wheat stock up to 230 lakh tonnes,” said an official. As the Centre reportedly plans to export 50 lakh tonnes more from the Central pool, Kairon has requested that the stock for exports as well as that to be sold under the open market scheme be lifted from Punjab.
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Mega housing projects skip EWS quota
Chandigarh, March 10 With the cost of land skyrocketing, the government has been lowering the reservation criteria for the EWS category. Under the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Rules, five per cent of the area under residential plots/apartments/houses in all mega housing projects (having over 100 apartments and in colonies having total area of 40 hectares or more) has to be reserved for being sold/leased to the poor. However, information procured by Ropar-based RTI activist Dinesh Chadha from the state’s urban development authority has revealed that none of the mega housing project in the state has implemented this rule. Interestingly, under the rules, originally framed in 1995, the mega housing project developers were supposed to reserve 10 per cent of the units for the EWS. However, this was later amended in November 2008, and the reservation was reduced to five per cent. In September 2011, the government again increased the relaxation for developers and de-reserved an additional 40 per cent of the area reserved for the EWS (of the five per cent reservation in 2008, another 40 per cent was de-reserved to benefit the developers). But in spite of being diluted, the EWS reservation has still not been implemented. Chadha had sought a reply from the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority as to how many number of plots/flats/apartments had been allotted to the poor and about the criteria for selecting beneficiaries under this category. Chadha’s RTI query was transferred to six different authorities at Mohali, Amritsar, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Patiala and Jalandhar. The replies he got from various authorities revealed that none of these regional offices had ensured that the housing project developers reserve and offer the housing units to the EWS. In most cases, the authorities have said the reason why they have not ensured this reservation is that they did not receive a letter to this effect from the Chief Town Planner. As per the rules, persons having a monthly income of less than Rs 10,000 are entitled to a one-room tenement and those having Rs 15,000 monthly income are entitled to a two-room tenement. The promoters have to construct a minimum of 80 units for each acre and in this regard, the development authority concerned has the right to determine the cost of each unit. Breaking the rules
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Mata Kaushalya Scheme
Patiala, March 10 The department has also succeeded in reducing the mortality rate of mothers from 192 against one lakh pregnant mothers to 172. The government had started the Mata Kaushalya Scheme few years ago wherein any woman, who gets her child delivered at a government hospital, gets Rs 1,000. The patient is also paid Rs 200 for transport charges. Women from BPL or reserved categories get an additional Rs 700 each. At a private hospital, a woman would have to pay Rs 4,000 for a normal delivery and Rs 15,000 for a caesarean section. Under the Janani Suraksha Yojna, pregnant women are provided free treatment right from the time of pregnancy till the child is 28 days old. Patiala Civil Surgeon Dr Usha Bansal said while in 2006-07 the number of children delivered in government institutes was 4,952, the figure till January this year stood at 11,310 for the year 2012-13. Officials say by the end of this year, the figure will cross 15,000. In 2007-08 5,349 deliveries took place at government institutes; 9,704 in 2008-09; 10,471 in 2009-10; 11,105 in 2010-11 and 12,844 in 2011-12. Dr Renu Aggarwal, officiating in charge of the Mata Kaushalya Hospital, gave the credit to improved health services to the National Rural Health Mission. She complimented the staff nurses and Asha workers for doing a commendable job. Encouraging trend
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A fish that will check dengue
Ludhiana, March 10 State Epidemiologist Dr Gagandeep Singh said, “Gangusia fish feeds on mosquito larvae and is a useful check on them. Last year, we initiated this central government project in district Muktsar where we kept broods of Gangusia fish in some perennial ponds and got good results.” Dr Singh said under the guidance of Vinni Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Health, and Dr Ashok Nayar, Director Health Services, Punjab, the state government would now launch the project all over the state. He said, “Under ideal circumstances, the Gangusia fish gives birth to over 1,000 offspring in a span of a year and starts breeding within 2-3 months of being introduced to a pond.” The State Health department will also tie up with the Department of Fisheries, Punjab, and Haryana Government to procure the fish. Haryana has already started the project. These fish can also be easily shifted to other ponds using polythene bags and are not expensive
to breed. curbing disease
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NGOs bat for renewable energy at Patiala seminar
Patiala, March 10 The seminar was organised in collaboration with six other NGOs from the city. Dr Arun Mitra, General Secretary of the NGO “Indian Doctors for Peace and Development” said renewable energy could meet all our energy requirements. It was a clean and safe source of energy. He said India had the potential of generating 5,000 trillion KW hours of electricity per year from solar and 1,02,788 MW from wind energy. India would need 3,128 trillion Watt hours of electrical energy per year in the future if it adopted a frugal policy for energy use, Mitra said. This demand for energy could only be met through renewable energy sources. Dr Balbir Singh, the local coordinator of the NGO, said in contrast to renewable energy, nuclear energy was neither safe nor economical. More than 200 participants, attended the seminar.— TNS
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Mere 377 policemen deputed to check crime in Ropar
Ropar, March 10 An RTI application revealed that of the 15 people posted at Kiratpur Sahib police station, five were deputed to check law and order in the area. The remaining staff members, including four sentries, three munshis two naib courts and a driver, served summons. Similarly, just 25 police personnel were posted at Nangal and Naya Nangal area bordering Himachal Pradesh. The entire district with a population of over 6.5 lakh has just 20 traffic policemen. Of the total 919 personnel, including 10 inspectors, 22 sub inspectors and 63 assistant sub inspectors, that were to be deputed to fight crime, only 377 are available on the field. The reason for this is that 145 police personnel have been deputed at the training centre, 82 at police headquarters, 34 at the Suvidha centre, 16 at the Bhakhra Dam and many are deployed for the security of VIPs. Ropar Senior Superintendent of Police Inder Mohan Singh confirmed there was an acute shortage of manpower in the district police. — TNS
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Malerkotla residents demand ban on sale of drugs
Sangrur, March 10 The protesters demanded that Malerkotla be declared a dry city and that those selling the intoxicants be punished. Several commuters were inconvenienced due to the blockade. Mubeen Faruqi, president of the society for Muslims, said the youths had launched this drive as they had not got any cooperation from the administration in this regard. Upon reaching the site, Additional Deputy Commissioner GS Sahota was given a memorandum, enlisting the protesters’ demands. — TNS
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Dera Bassi judicial complex will increase congestion: Residents
Dera Bassi, March 10 Residents complain the proposed site to build the complex is already very congested and building the judicial complex here would worsen the flow of the traffic in the area. Zila Parisad member Salita Saini and former truck union president Rahul Kaushik advised that the complex should be built on the panchayat land of the nearby Devinagar village. They said the village panchyat was ready to provide the land for the construction of the judicial complex. Sub Divisional Magistrate Inderjeet Kaur Kang said a meeting would be held with the Law Department concerned on March 7 to discuss all issues.
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Consider alternative allotment if site can’t be developed, says HC
Chandigarh, March 10 The ruling by the Division Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice RP Nagrath came on a petition filed by Sanjeev Kohli against the State of Punjab and other respondents. His grievance in the writ petition was that the possession of a plot in Mohali’s Sector 65 was not being delivered to him though it was allotted way back in May 2002 through an open auction. Describing himself as the highest bidder, Kohli contended that conveyance deed was executed in his favour in December 2008 after he deposited the entire sale consideration. Taking up the matter, the Bench observed that the petitioner’s grievance, evident from the averments made in the writ petition, was that basic amenities such as water supply, electricity or sewerage had not been provided in the vicinity apparently because there is a cremation ground of the village abutting the land. The Bench asserted: “The petitioner has been running from pillar to post and also filed an appeal under the provisions of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995. It was allowed by the Additional Chief Administrator, GMADA, vide order dated December 7, 2011, with a direction to hand over the physical possession of the site to him at the earliest and remove the difficulties by contacting the officer concerned. “We find that more than a year has passed but the directions have not been complied with. There is no doubt that if the averments made by the petitioner are correct, it is obligatory on the authorities not only to hand over the physical vacant possession of the plot to him but also provide the basic amenities as per the terms and conditions of allotment”. Before parting with the order, the Bench asserted: “Suffice it to observe that if the authorities are facing any difficulty in developing the area, it is imperative upon them to consider the desirability of making alternative allotments with the consent of the allottee…. “We do not deem it necessary to call upon the respondents, rather dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the Chief Administrator, GMADA, to take notice of the matter and redress the petitioner's grievance immediately but not later than three months from the date of receiving the order’s certified copy.”
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The police has arrested five more farmers for their alleged involvement in the killing of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Kulbir Singh.
The Moga police carried out a massive operation today to prevent the farmers from going to Amritsar and Bathinda where they had planned to a protest in favour of their demands for restoring their forcibly acquired land.
Chandigarh, March 10
