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Hopes of hosiery units washed away
Lakhowal seeks crop relief fund
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tribune special
On thanksgiving tour, Khanna vows industrial package for Batala
Cong braces for municipal elections
Jaitley has rejected yet another demand: PPP
After Tihar, IIM-A to revamp state prisons
32 lakh benefit from Saanjh police centres in three years
Rice millers oppose new procurement norms
AISSF celebrates anniversary in Derby, opposes interlinking of rivers
Despite Chief Secy’s order, ‘tainted’ official on plum post
illegal colonies
TET protesters block traffic at Ropar
State’s own towns polluting Ghaggar, says PPCB report
Bandh in Dirba over recovery of carcasses
2 months later, cops fail to book encroacher
47 days on, parents await body from Libya
Indians in strife-torn Libya to return soon
Farmers turn entrepreneurs, set up processing units in Moga
Traders at ICP suffer
losses due to rain
GADVASU develops biodegradable plastic
Cancer hospital to open by year-end
ED books forex trader for fraud
In-laws kill Gurdaspur woman over ‘affair’
Youth Cong leader booked for cheating
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Hopes of hosiery units washed away
The textile industry has been supplying shawls and blankets to Jammu and Kashmir. “The knitwear industry has already conducted business transactions worth Rs 50 crore with clients in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the floods have ruined business. Our payments are stuck and there is little hope of retrieving the payments,” said a worried Vinod Thapar, chairman, Knitwear Club. He said as of now, all orders stood cancelled. Trader Sanjay Jalota claimed that 90 per cent units that supplied hosiery goods to J&K had suspended production. Another manufacturer said there was panic among the traders who were worried about that payments may never be recovered. Thapar said the Knitwear Club planned to approach banks to bail out the industry. Muktsar: To check waterlogging, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Irrigation Department to initiate the process for strengthening, upgrading and widening the drainage system in south-west districts. He also asked the department to explore the feasibility of creating a separate post of Chief Engineer (Floods) for this region. “An expert appointed to this post should be entrusted with the job of finding ways and means to prevent floods in the region,” said
Badal. He was here on a whirlwind tour of the rain-affected areas. The Chief Minister said that the widening and strengthening of the drainage system was a part of the state government’s master plan to overcome the problem of
waterlogging. He said this measure would help reduce the retention period of excess water from 14 days to just seven days. Badal asked the Financial Commissioner, Revenue, NS Kang, to personally monitor the process for speedy relief to the affected people. “The state government is duty-bound to help those affected by waterlogging. We are making efforts to bail out the people from this crisis,” the Chief Minister said. Interacting with mediapersons, the Chief Minister said the plan to overhaul the damaged infrastructure in the waterlogged
villages would be ready within a fortnight. He said with the concurrence of villagers, reconstruction work would be started within a month. Villages in Fazilka, Abohar and Muktsar have been hit the most.
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Lakhowal seeks crop relief fund
Fazilka, September 14 Accompanied by Avtar Singh, vice-president, BKU state Unit, and Parduman Kumar Beganwali, president, district Unit, Lakhowal visited flood-affected areas of Fazilka yesterday. He demanded relief at Rs 25,000 per acre to the affected farmers. He suggested that the Centre and the state government could contribute in the 60:40 ratio. Lakhowal demanded that the Centre introduce minimum support price (MSP) for basmati to save farmers from being exploited at the hands of private traders, who were bulk purchasers. “The government should set up a procurement agency for basmati on the pattern of Cotton Corporation of India as a large number of farmers had diversified to growing the cash crop, he said. Lakhowal said the Mandi Board would appoint chairmen of market committees soon.
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More survivors arrive from Kashmir Valley
Amritsar, September 14 The Singh family is among 1,176 people rescued by the Indian Air Force (IAF) from various parts of the Kashmir valley since last night. They were brought in an IAF aircraft that landed at Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport here this afternoon. Three more flights are expected to land soon. Jammu-based Ghulam Nabi Wani said he had gone to Srinagar a few days ago, but got stuck there due to sudden floods. He said he had a tough time securing two meals a day. Later, he learnt about the IAF rescue operation and boarded a flight to Amritsar. Another evacuated passenger Shahnaz, a resident of Bijnor in UP, reached the holy city with her four children. She said: “My husband, a tailor by profession, takes up some assignment for a certain period in the valley. This year, I also joined him, but I will never go there again.” A majority of the survivors said they would go to their relatives living in various parts of the country. They narrated the hardships they had gone through during their stay in the flooded valley. The Punjab Government had arranged lunch for the evacuated persons at the airport. Several buses were pressed into service to drop them at the railway station or the bus stand for their onward journey. Another 36 persons whose travel expenses were funded by the SGPC also arrived in the city in a SpiceJet flight this evening. Suneel Dutt, Director, Amritsar airport, said the Centre was sending 400 tonnes of rice to Srinagar through IAF aircraft on their return flight to the valley. He said so far 60 tonnes had been sent and another 100 tonnes had been placed at the cargo terminal.
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tribune special
Chandigarh, September 14 On September 9, the local Bench of the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) pulled up the bank branch for failing to recover a debt of over Rs 2 crore from Brar's family by siding with defaulters. The Bench took a serious note of the "connivance" of bank officials wherein instead of encashing sufficient securities of Rs 7.08 crore in hand, they tried to bail out the defaulters by way of one-time settlement (OTS). The case pertains to recovery of a loan of Rs 2.28 crore taken by M/s Hargobind Milktech Private Limited, Sarainaga village, Muktsar, in which the former CM was a guarantor. Upon his death, his legal heirs, Kanwaljit Kaur and Adesh Kanwarjit Singh Brar, were impleaded as parties by the bank. The loan was taken in 2006 and the bank had failed to recover dues despite repeated attempts. The DRT observed: "The defaulters had been successful in stretching the matter and did not file a written statement in the tribunal even after paying costs, and ultimately disappeared." The defendants moved an application to settle the matter through OTS and filed a written statement that was endorsed by the counsel for the applicants (SBI). The defendants adopted delaying tactics by taking various pleas. The counsel for the applicants was facilitating such tactics, the tribunal noted. The delay being caused by the defendants and the unopposed adjournments caused suspicion, the tribunal observed. Ruling that the unopposed adjournments were unjustified, it listed the matter to be heard ex parte on September 15. DRT presiding officer observed that certain well-wishers of the defendants were in the process of accommodating influential defaulters by not continuing with the court proceedings besides being in touch with bank officials to delay the loan recovery. It has been seen in the past that despite having sufficient securities in hand, the bank had been grating relaxation in the name of settling the matter in case of defaulters enjoying high status in society. The conduct of bank officials up to the level of the DGM was highly condemnable, the tribunal noted.
Brar’s heirs owe Rs 2.28 cr to SBI
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On thanksgiving tour, Khanna vows industrial package for Batala
Batala, September 14 Local industrialists point out that while speaking at a college function here last week, Khanna promised a fiscal package for the ailing Batala industry. “This will be of no use till the freight equalisation policy (FEP), abolished in 1992,is brought back,” they say. The policy was adopted in 1948 to bring about equal growth all over the country. Several towns in Punjab, particularly Batala and Mandi Gobindgarh, benefited immensely. However, in 1992, it was withdrawn following which Batala’s industrial units began to die. Leading businessmen say that Khanna, instead of harping on an industrial package, should make efforts to ensure that this policy is re-introduced. Thought sugarcane is the main crop in this border area, there is just one government-owed sugar mill at Paniyar, 5 km from Gurdaspur. The mill has outlived its utility. The need of the hour is to set up more sugar mills. Khanna, in his pre-poll speeches, had assured villagers that he would make efforts to establish a new mill near Kathlour, but till date he has said nothing about it. Residents of the Bhoa and Dinanagar Vidhan Sabha constituencies say that the MP should pay attention to the roads in the area. “Owing to the stone crusher industry, heavy trucks have damaged the roads and several have disappeared. Khanna should honour his election promise and ensure money under the Border Area Development Fund (BADF) for repairing the roads,” said a Bhoa resident. A section of residents, who are regular rail commuters, want the Pathankot-Amritsar rail line, via Gurdaspur and Batala, should be doubled and electrified. “The powerful transporters’’ lobby does not want this to happen,” said a rail commuter.
What is FEP
What people say "Owing to the stone crusher industry, trucks have damaged the roads. Khanna should allocate funds to start their repair." A Bhoa resident "The fiscal package for the ailing Batala industry will be of no use till the FEP is brought back" An industrialist
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Hefty fee: Private BDS colleges too suffer pangs
Faridkot, September 14 The Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, had conducted the exercise to fill the total 1,250 BDS seats in 15 dental colleges of Punjab. Only five colleges could manage to fill all their seats. In some dental colleges, over 60 per cent of the seats have remained vacant. At Desh Bhagat Dental College in Muktsar, 82 seats lie unfilled whereas the count is 63 (out of 100) at Sukhmani Dental College, Dera Bassi. Forty-one MBBS seats of the management quota had earlier remained vacant due to high fee. If the entire four-year BDS course in private colleges under government and management quota would cost Rs 6 lakh last year, its fee was increased to Rs 7.65 lakh for government and Rs 10.21 lakh for management quota this year. In comparison, the full-course fee in the two government dental colleges at Amritsar and Patiala is just Rs 1.07 lakh. The Punjab Government had even conducted a special entrance test last month to fill all the BDS seats. The test was conducted after the All-India Pre-Medical Entrance Test failed to provide sufficient number of eligible candidates for the BDS seats. The entrance was conducted in May and a candidate who got minimum 50 per cent in the test was eligible for admission. The special test was conducted following pressure from private dental colleges, but it failed to serve any purpose. As many as 1,130 students had cleared this special test. But about 400 of these eligible candidates did not opt for the BDS seat due to the hefty fee, said Dr Sanjiv Sethi, a member of the Association of Parents of Medical Aspirants in Punjab. Dr Randeep Singh Mann, Punjab Dental Council president and a member of the Dental Council of India, however, blamed the high number of dental colleges in the state for the seats remaining vacant. Not only Punjab, the problem is prevailing across the country. India has 312 dental colleges, which produce over 20,000 dentists every year. However, not all these doctors are absorbed and, as such, lesser students are opting for BDS, said Dr Mann. The Dental Council of India had now decided not to allow opening of more private colleges in the country, he said. The demand for BDS doctors in government hospitals and dispensaries in Punjab was almost 5 per cent in comparison to MBBS, said Dr Sethi. While every civil hospital had a minimum 20 MBBS doctors, there was demand for only one dentist, he said. The number game 1,250 total BDS seats in various Punjab colleges 455 of these seats vacant after the last counselling 49 of the vacant seats fall under government quota 15 the total number of dental colleges in Punjab 5 colleges have managed to fill all their seats Special test of no use
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Mughal era towers crumbling brick by brick
Sultanpur Lodhi, September 14 Heaps of debris that lie at the entrance of the gate presents a picture of neglect on the part of the heritage and tourism authorities towards the significant archaeological monument. The monument dates back to 800-year-old Lodhi dynasty and its two gates, Lahori Gate and Delhi Gate (which lies permanently closed on the back side), were part of the erstwhile GT Road. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan is learnt to have rebuilt it. It was here that his sons Aurangzeb and Dara Sheikoh took up their studies. Guru Nanak Dev is also learnt to have spent time here. The fort currently houses the Sultanpur Lodhi police station and the DSP’s office. The partially broken Lahori Gate is the only access point for the scores of police employees and residents coming here daily. Even after Thursday’s incident, the police vehicles continue to pass through the gate, shaking its fragile structure every now and then. Onlookers say the life of the remaining part of the gate would not be much unless it is preserved at the earliest. As birds perched on it today, some loose bricks and dust started falling. “Any calamity, storm or even heavy rain may lead to the crumbling of the other ‘minar’, which seems to be losing its balance now,” says Sonu, a trader who has his shop opposite the building. In August 2008, a conservationist group, The Anad Foundation, led by prominent vocalist Bhai Baldeep Singh, had even presented a proposal for restoration of the two gates and the fort to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. They had prepared an estimate of Rs 7.2 crore, but the government continued to turn a blind eye. The government is learnt to have rather hired its own consultants two years ago, got the fort re-plastered with a thick coat, only to scrap it later. Bhai Baldeep Singh says, “I call it pseudo-conservation, the result of which is before you. The inexperienced hands rather left marks on the beautiful thin bricks. It was the worst masonry which they did. I do not mind to call it murder of the last traditional remains in Punjab.” For the commoners, the fort and the gate seem to have become irreparable, though conservationists believe otherwise. “There is no monument that cannot be restored. It only needs the mind and hands of an expert. The collapsed portion can be reconstructed by experts,” says US-based Harjap Aujla. Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner DS Mangat says he would get in touch with the officials and apprise them of the situation. Raji Pramod Shrivastava, Secretary, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Museums, Archives and Archaeology, says, “I will send a team to the site on Monday to ascertain what needs to be done.”
About the monument
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AAP to contest civic elections
Jalandhar, September 14 He said: “Our cadre will expose the excesses being committed by the SAD-BJP government as well as the failures of the Congress.” He said honest party workers would be given the party ticket. “The process to select candidates will be transparent,” he claimed. It is clear that AAP is trying to reclaim its base after its dismal performance in recent byelections. Sources said the party had realised the need to galvanise its supporters right from the ward level. “AAP will have a strong organisation for the 2017 Assembly elections. Fielding candidates for the civic elections is a step in that direction,” said Chhotepur. The party has already entrusted noted lawyer HS Phoolka to chalk out the party’s campaign against the drug menace. Bhagwant Mann has been made chairman of the campaign committee.
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Cong braces for municipal elections
Sangrur, September 14 Deepa said booth-level committees would be formed to strengthen the party at grassroots level in view of the 2017 Assembly elections. Sangrur District Congress Kisan Cell chairman Rajinder Raja Bir Kalan said the pro-people policies of the Congress would be presented before the public.
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Jaitley has rejected yet another demand: PPP
Chandigarh, September 14 Terming it as another "failure" of the SAD-BJP government, Manpreet urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to take up the issue again. He reminded Jaitely of the sacrifices made by the Punjabis in various wars and how their valour was world-renowned. Manpreet said the Punjab youths needed more recruitment opportunities so that they could come out of the drug menace as well as the lure of the foreign soil where they ended up being labourers or truck drivers. He said at the same time the state should provide holistic approach to the problem that the Punjabi youth were failing to clear physical tests, mainly due to varied reasons, of which drug use could be one.
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After Tihar, IIM-A to revamp state prisons
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has reportedly given his go-ahead to the move. The experts would be asked to study the conditions of all the jails in the state, including the eight central ones. Principal Secretary (Jails) Sanjay Kumar said the consultants would be studying how to tackle overcrowding, creating basic infrastructure, inculcating skills that could ensure employment for the inmates post-release and planning and marketing products manufactured by prisoners. “Experts from IIM-A have already helped improve things in the country''s biggest prison, Tihar Jail, and Gujarat''s Sabarmati Central Jail. We are hopeful that products prepared in Punjab jails, like toiletries and bakery goods, can be converted into brands for the urban consumers," he said. There are almost 29,000 inmates lodged in various jails of the state (eight central and 18 district and sub-jails), which is much beyond their capacity of 18,000. Since the government launched its anti-drug drive earlier this year, the state''s jails are also home to drug addicts and
peddlers who have added to the problem of overcrowding. As many as 9,500 inmates lodged in the jails are believed to be
drug users. The government has already announced a grant of Rs 500 crore for the construction of four new jails, which may help solve the problem of overcrowding to a large extent. This year, a sum of Rs 30 crore has also been set aside for improving the existing infrastructure in jails. This money is primarily being used to install mobile jammers and for routine maintenance. Jammers have been installed in two jails — Nabha and Sangrur — and the process of installation is on in Gurdaspur. The next jail where these jammers would be installed is
Kapurthala.
Reforming jails
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32 lakh benefit from Saanjh police centres in three years
Patiala, September 14 As many as 27 police services are provided through a single-window clearance system under the Act at the Saanjh Kendras. These services are delivered without the applicant having to visit the police station. The services include verification of tenants, registration and verification of servants, passport verification, police clearance certificate, verification of vehicles, character verification for service, payment of traffic challans, information of impounded vehicles, receiving complaints on traffic problems, permission for political/sports/religious functions, NOC for armed licences and permission for use of public address systems. The kendras also provide a copy of an FIR online. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had launched Saanjh, a community policing initiative, in October 2011. The service bagged seven medals during this year’s state-level Independence Day function for outstanding contribution in the field of community policing. Community policing is an integral part of policing and integration between the two wings has been achieved through Saanjh boards at police station, sub-division and district headquarter levels. A Station House Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Senior Superintendent of Police are the chairpersons of these boards at various levels. Saanjh officers act as conveners whereas civilian committee members function as secretaries of the boards. “Several cases that earlier used to be left pending at police stations due to busy policemen are now sorted out within specific time period with the active participation of the public. Every Saanjh Kendra has committees from within the public to sort out issues of the common man,” said Director General of Police (Community Policing) SK Sharma. He has been handling the project since it started. “We have already cleared 32 lakh applications and 99 per cent of them within deadline. Our Saanjh Kendras wear a corporate look instead of the routine police stations,” he said.
Services Available
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Rice millers oppose new procurement norms
Chandigarh, September 14 The Central Government has informed the state that it would not accept rice with more than 14 per cent moisture content. Earlier, rice beyond 14 per cent moisture was also accepted though with a quality cut. Tarsem Saini, president, Rice Millers Association, Punjab, said: “It is not possible to prepare rice with less than 14 per cent moisture during winter, especially from December to February.” Even rice prepared with this much moisture gained more dampness in a few days because of cold weather, he said. Besides, the Centre has fixed mid-April deadline for accepting the entire stock of rice. Earlier, rice was accepted up to May 30 and often the deadline was extended up to August or even September when the new crop starts arriving in markets. Saini said the instructions regarding the moisture content and the deadline were impractical. These would hit the state rice industry hard, he said. There were more than 3,000 rice mills in the state that prepare rice from paddy to hand it over to the Centre. Saini said: “We have apprised Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon of our apprehensions. We have requested him to take up the matter with the Centre”. Punjab is expected to contribute 80 lakh tonnes of rice to the central pool. This year, the area under paddy has gone down with more farmers opting for the basmati variety. DS Grewal, Secretary, Food and Supplies, said: “We have taken up these issues with the Centre. We are expecting a positive response.” He said arrangements were being made to start paddy procurement from October 1.
Tougher norms
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AISSF celebrates anniversary in Derby, opposes interlinking of rivers
Moga, September 14 At its 70th anniversary celebrations at Guru Arjun Dev Gurdwara in Derby, UK, on Saturday, the federation asked the United Nations to set up tribunals for crimes committed against the Sikhs in 1984. A resolution in this regard was passed under the leadership of AISSF president Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad. Talking to The Tribune on the phone, he said: “We congratulate the Scots for securing a referendum on the issue of independence... We desire to achieve freedom by peaceful and democratic means in accordance with international laws and the provisions in the Indian Constitution.” Describing UK’s help to the Indian government for planning Operation Bluestar as shameful, he said now it should campaign for a referendum in Punjab. Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti, former Akal Takht head, called upon the Indian government to stop “illegal” appropriation of Punjab’s precious water resources. He opposed the BJP-led Union Government’s policy to interlink rivers. In another resolution, the AISSF said: “We will support those who work towards good governance.”
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Despite Chief Secy’s order, ‘tainted’ official on plum post
Chandigarh, September 14 While DC Garg, one of the main accused in the scam, is posted as Executive Officer, Jalandhar IT, former Executive Officer of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust, Avtar Singh Azad, was forced to retire in April last year. Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal had on August 26 ordered that no ‘tainted’ official will be given a post requiring public dealing. But the Department of Local Bodies has yet to act against Garg. Ashok Gupta, Secretary, Local Bodies, said: “ Garg is not posted in Ludhiana. We have to take work from an employee, even if he is facing trial or is suspended.” Azad has been without wages for more than a year now. He was to retire in June 2015 but was asked to relinquish charge in April 2013. Then Minister for Local Bodies Chunni Lal Bhagat stayed the orders and recommended to the Governor that his services be reinstated. But nothing has happened so far. In 1983, a plot measuring 500 sq yards was allotted to one Gurdev Singh. However, before he could be given possession of the plot, the High Court quashed the allotment policy. In 2002, Gurdev filed a suit. The Ludhiana Improvement Trust did not contest the suit and the case was decided in favour of the plaintiff. Thereafter, the government ordered an inquiry into the “laxity” shown by IT officials in responding to the suit. Twelve employees, among them Azad, were charge-sheeted. MP Singh, Principal Secretary to the Governor, said the case was under consideration. “It takes time,” he said, refusing to say more.
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illegal colonies
Chandigarh, September 14 Smaller property transactions had come to a halt, resulting in losses to small-time traders, besides harassment to those who wanted to buy or sell plots or houses for personal use, he said. Blaming the SAD-BJP government for the situation, the Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha and Amritsar MP, said: “Such situations emerge when ruling partners do not trust each other. The level of mistrust has led to a stage where Akali leadership is wary of taking a decision which might end up benefiting the BJP,” he said. Pointing out the “undue delay” in notifying NOC for regularising colonies, the former Chief Minister said in this process, the common man was suffering.
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TET protesters block traffic at Ropar
Ropar, September 14 The protesters kept sitting on the road from 8 am to 1.30 pm, causing inconvenience to thousands of commuters. The police could not take action against those blocking the traffic apprehending suicide bid by their accomplices. Women protesters had threatened to jump into the river in case the police acted against them. Ropar Superintendent of Police (D) HS Hundal reached the spot with heavy police force. He tried to persuade protesters to lift the blockade, but to no avail. The protesters wanted an assurance on jobs from the government. Around 11 am, the protesters were joined by senior Congress leader and former MLA Rana KP Singh and district Congress president Harbhag Singh Desumajra. Declaring his and his party's support to the protesters, he appealed to them not to take law into their hands. He asked them to lift the blockade for the convenience of the public. The protesters refused to do so without getting a written assurance over a meeting with the minister concerned on the issue. Union president Jasbir Singh said a merit list of 1,500 candidates had been already prepared against 4,901 vacancies advertised in February. However, they were not issued appointment letters, he said. The assurances in that regard by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Rural Development and Panchayats Minister SS Maluka had not made any difference, he said. Around 1.30 pm, Ropar SDM Harsuhinder Singh Brar confirmed that Maluka would meet the protesters at Chandigarh tomorrow. It was only after that that the protesters agreed to lift the blockade.
Holding authorities to ransom
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State’s own towns polluting Ghaggar, says PPCB report
Patiala, September 14 Last year, Punjab asked Himachal Pradesh and Haryana to ensure that their industries and towns did not pollute the Ghaggar. A report prepared by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) under the National River Monitoring Programme in January this year shows that the quality of water flowing into the Ghaggar is quality "D". Around 18 towns and villages discharge sewer waste into the river without any treatment, the report says. The Ghaggar runs a course of around 165 km through the state. It enters Punjab at Mubarikpur village and leaves it at Bhunder village. The PPCB data indicates that the quality of the Ghaggar water at Mubarikpur is class "D", mainly because of the discharge of domestic and industrial waste into it while it flows through Himachal and Haryana. "But, the quality of water remains class 'D' till the river leaves Punjab and enters Haryana," reads the report. The report further says that the pH level of the flowing water, which is 7.1 at the entry at Mubarikpur becomes 7.8 at midstream at Moonak in Sangrur. Patiala discharges 41 million litres per day (MLD) waste into the Ghaggar followed by Mandi Gobindgarh. Water with pH value of 6.5 to 7.3 is considered fit for consumption with some treatment, experts say. While the PPCB does not believe that distilleries and industrial units along the Ghaggar still dump waste into the river in connivance with local officials, people living along the river banks complain of foul and pungent smell emanating from the water body, especially during winters when the flow is less. "We have done our best. The officials have been told to act strictly. But industrialists owners and distillery owners also need to introspect," claims PPCB Member Secterary Babu Ram. Punjab has installed sewage treatment plants (STPs) in 39 towns, while 49 STPs are under execution.
Punjab’s concern
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Bandh in Dirba over recovery of carcasses
Sangrur, September 14 The protesters also organised a dharna on the main road. They demanded that those behind the killing of cows should be arrested immediately and a strict legal action initiated against them. Malerkotla: In view of the prevailing tension following the recovery of a few carcasses some days ago in Malerkotla, an all-religion peace march was taken out under the banner of the Muslim Federation of Punjab in Malerkotla on Sunday. Hundreds of persons from different religions participated in the march. President of the federation Mubin Farooqi said residents of Malerkotla would not allow any outsider to disturb peace in the town. They asked people to maintain peace and harmony as no religion allowed killing of any animal hurting sentiments of people of another religion.
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2 months later, cops fail to book encroacher
Bathinda/Mansa, September 14 The landlord allegedly used to physically abuse Jarnail’s son-in-law. Jarnail Singh, who is struggling to make ends meet, alleged his daughter lodged a complaint with Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Talwandi Sabo, in July, but
to no avail. He alleged the police beat him when he tried to enter his house. Moreover, the landlord has also taken away Jarnail’s 15 goats. Jarnail, his daughter and seven-year-old grandson have taken shelter in a room on panchayat land. “Since, I had no son, I asked my youngest daughter and her husband to live with me. My son-in-law, who worked as a bonded labourer for the local landlord, ran away as the landlord would beat him often. Jarnail also filed a complaint with Bathinda Deputy Commissioner two months ago, but to no avail. Kulwant Singh, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Talwandi Sabo, claimed of not receiving any complaint. The local Station House Officer too is unaware about the case. Singh said, “I was deputed here 10 days ago so I am unaware of the case. I will look into the matter tomorrow.”
‘Bonded’labourers made false claim: Mansa SDM
In another case, Mansa Sub-Divisional Magistrate said a few alleged bonded labourers, who were rescued last year, had registered a false case. The victims, Darshan Singh (45), his wife Banarasi, his two sons Malkiyat Singh (23) and Kala Singh (16), were rescued from Shiv Shakti Rice Mills, Budhlada, in June 2013. The victims had been working
at the mill for several years and were not allowed to leave the premises of the mill. The police have failed to register a case against the guilty under Sections of the Bonded labour System (Abolition) Act 1976. The SDM said, “Yes, we issued certificates of bonded labourer to some persons, but we have found their claim to be false.”
Case of ‘bonded labour’
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47 days on, parents await body from Libya
Hoshiarpur, September 14 Ranjit had gone to Libya around 18 months ago to seek a bright future. He had gone there to work as a carpenter, but he was told to break stones. His salary was much less than what was promised to him by the travel agent. He said Ranjit had saved around Rs 3 lakh to go to Italy. However, he said now that Ranjit had died the money had not been sent to him. Ranjit’s mother Bhupinder Kaur said, “The company my son was working for did not even inform us about his death.” She said one of his co-workers called them from Tripoli in Libya and informed them about his death on August 2. She said Ranjit had died on July 29 and his body was kept at a local hospital. The victim’s parents said when they asked the company officials to send the body, they were
given false assurances. They said the firm had paid no heed to their repeated pleas. Pyara Lal said the company now demanded Rs 2 lakh to send the body to India. He said they could not arrange such a huge amount and had asked Member Parliament Avinash Rai Khanna for assistance. Khanna said, “I have written to the MoFA. Ranjit’s body would be brought back soon.”
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Indians in strife-torn Libya to return soon
Hoshiarpur, September 14 The embassy has arranged for their return from the neighbouring Tunisia as Tripoli Airport was blown off by anarchists. Sources said the Libyan factory they were stuck in was not letting them return. They were contacted by the Indian Embassy after the matter was taken up by Avinash Rai Khanna, Rajya Sabha MP, with the Ministry of Foreign affairs. One of the workers Rajinder Singh is a local resident. He had gone to Libya for two years. He is working in Al Brothers factory. His cousin Gagandeep said the owners were not letting them go till their contract was over. He said one of workers was critically ill and he was not getting any medical aid. He alleged they were not even getting proper food. Gagandeep said they had received a call from Libya and Rajinder had told them that they would return soon.
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Farmers turn entrepreneurs, set up processing units in Moga
Moga, September 14 They have joined hands to set up their own agro-processing unit in the name of Zimidara Agro-Processing Unit in the village and developed a market at the local level to sell their produce. These farmers produce wheat flour, besan, polished rice, mustard oil, animal feed, spices etc and sell these in the local market. They have also set up a small packing unit. Another farmer Tarlochan Singh of Tharaj village has set up Tharaj Agro-Processing Unit at his village. Jaswant Singh Dhaliwal, a farmer of Rattian village, is running his agro-processing unit, Dhaliwal Agro Industries, for the past over one year after getting training and technical assistance from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, under the aegis of All India Coordinated Research Project on Post-Harvest Technology. His processing plant includes wheat flour milling unit, feed mill and a grinder for turmeric and other spices. At least 25 such units have been set up in the district in the past five years. This has helped farmers enhance their income and generate employment for the rural youth. Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar, Agriculture Development Officer, said other farmers should also turn from growers to producers by adding value to their farm produce. He exhorted the farmers to set up such units to enhance their income. He said the Agriculture Department had initiated a move to educate farmers on processing and marketing of their produce by organising educational camps and training through the Atma scheme. Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Badal recently stated that she had been working to devise schemes to exhort farmers to set up food processing units by providing business incubation, training and processing centre at the village level.
From growers to producers
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Traders at ICP suffer
losses due to rain
Amritsar, September 14 Talking to The Tribune, leading gypsum trader Iqbal Singh Bedi said, “We have been importing gypsum in huge quantity from Pakistan and almost half of the total consignments arriving at Attari belong to us. However, we have suffered huge losses in the recent rain as gypsum is being dumped out in the open, exposing it to the vagaries of weather. The entire area where gypsum is unloaded is inundated with rainwater. Consequently, the company to which we were to supply gypsum has penalised us heavily.” He said they had suffered losses to the tune of crores as they were not getting the fair price of gypsum. Besides, he said they had slowed down further orders from Pakistan in view of the situation prevailing at the ICP. Dry fruit importer BK Bajaj said it had hardly been three years since the ICP became functional, but a mere three days of rain was enough to paralyse the functioning of the port. “It is unfortunate that the ICP gets flooded in a day of rain. Moreover, the worst part is that nobody is held accountable. The authorities keep on passing the buck,” he said. Another trader, pleading anonymity, said those dealing in the import of dry dates also suffered losses due to the rain. The trading community has been demanding further expansion of warehousing facility at the ICP. Besides, they also seek that substantial area is covered
for unloading gypsum so as to evade any losses in rainy season. On the other hand, the officials at the ICP denied any damages caused to goods being unloaded at the ICP due to rain. They admitted that gypsum was being unloaded out in the open, but said it was not taking a toll on its quality. About dry dates, they said though it was being unloaded outside they made sure that it was properly covered so as to protect it from bad weather.
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GADVASU develops biodegradable plastic
If eatables are wrapped in this plastic film instead of an ordinary plastic bag, the shelf life of the eatables increases by three times. “Packaging is the most important component for the safety of food products. The use of plastic blags leads to heaps of garbage that is harmful for the environment. An estimate revealed that about 250MT of plastic are being produced all over the world and its consumption is increasing day by day. In developed nations, over 100 kg of plastic is consumed per capita annually as compared to 27 kg per person annually in India,” said Dr Chaitley. The biodegradable film has been developed from byproducts of the plant and animal industry such as maize protein, whey protein, concentrates, soy proteins, various types of starch and composite material, etc. Its average price is Rs 2.50 per
metre.
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Cancer hospital to open by year-end
Sangrur, September 14 The state government will construct the building at a cost of Rs 6 crore, while the Tata hospital would spend Rs 45 crore to set up the machinery and equipment. The hospital will also provide 10 specialist doctors. They have been getting specialised training to treat cancer diseases in Mumbai for the past year. At the Sangrur hospital, there will be a radiation unit, a brachytherapy unit and a surgery wing. The hospital will not charge the patients in the OPD. The poor will also get treatment free of cost.
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Accused in Yannick case may be brought back from Oz today
Jalandhar, September 14 Sources said a special team, comprising Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Staff) Baljit Singh Dhillon and two sub-inspectors that had landed in Australia on September 10, had completed all formalities to extradite Jaskaran. "Our team along with accused Jaskaran is expected to land here in a day or two. They are reportedly through with all extradition formalities and they are expected to reach Delhi airport on Monday," a senior police official said. The police had sought special permission from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs to use plastic handcuffs as a precaution. "We had sought permission to use plastic handcuffs as we don't want the assailant to slip from custody," an official said. The Jalandhar Commissionerate of Police is also expecting a lead about the whereabouts of deceased Punjab Police Superintendent of Police Dharam Singh's son Rommy Uppal, who had jumped parole five months ago. He too had reportedly fled the country. Sources said Jaskaran would be formally arrested and produced in the court once he was back. "Jaskaran's extradition may prove vital for the police to know Rommy's whereabouts," a police official said. The police had even questioned Punjabi singer Garry Sandhu to inquire about Rommy's whereabouts. Yannick, who remained in coma for two years after the murderous attack in Jalandhar on April 22, 2012, had died in July this year. He was airlifted to Burundi in an air ambulance from the Patiala Aviation Club on June 16 this year. He was pursuing a bachelor's degree in computer science at Lovely Professional University. He was on his way to a party when he was attacked by a group of nine students. Seven of the nine attackers have been sentenced to 10-year imprisonment.
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ED books forex trader for fraud
Jalandhar, September 14 Sources said the ED had started investigations against Pal Pabla, owner of Nawanshahr-based World Wide Forex Pvt Ltd, for his alleged involvement in hawala transactions. Gurvinder Kaur, Assistant Director, ED, had conducted a search at Pabla’s residence on September 5 and seized some documents along with five FDRs amounting to over Rs 1 crore. The FDRs were issued by different banks in favour of Pabla, his wife Ranjit Kaur, his father and his firm. When the ED contacted the banks concerned on September 10, they learnt that the FDRs had already been redeemed by the persons concerned on September 8 after filing affidavits that the receipts had been misplaced or stolen.
What he did
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In-laws kill Gurdaspur woman over ‘affair’
Gurdaspur, September 14 The victim’s husband Gurpreet Singh, his father Davinder Singh, mother Sulakhni Kaur and his brother Ranjeet Singh are still at large. The accused hatched a conspiracy to kill Baljeet, when she refused to stay away from her lover. Thereafter, agriculturist Gurpreet Singh and his family strangulated Baljeet Kaur in the morning. Gurdaspur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurpreet Singh Toor said that he had formed a special team to trace the whereabouts of the accused. “I have instructed Sadar SHO Tarlok Singh to nab all the four as soon as possible. We are working on several leads and hope to pin down all the four by tomorrow evening,” said Toor. Man kills sister, lover
in Faridkot
Faridkot: A man killed his sister and her paramour after catching them in an objectionable position in Bishnandi village of Jaitu area in Faridkot today evening. Sukhdev Singh Brar, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Jaitu, said Rajinder Singh (34) of Bishnandi village hacked Sukhmander Singh (46) and his sister Sukhjinder Kaur (36) to death with a sharp-edged weapon, when he caught the two. After killing Sukhmander Singh, the accused chased his sister Sukhjinder, caught her on the outskirts of the village and killed her. Thereafter, the accused reportedly called the police and surrendered. The woman, Sukhjinder Kaur (36) worked as a nurse at a private hospital in Bathinda and Sukhmander Singh worked for the Postal Department. Sources said the two were single and had been having an affair for a long time. Further investigations are on. Spurned lover kills self Tarn Taran: Kulwinder Kaur (35) committed suicide at Gohalwar village, 12 km from here, on Saturday evening. She committed the act as the man with whom she was having an extra-marital affair refused to marry her. The city police have registered a case against Angrej Singh (20) and his mother Manjit Kaur, residents of Gohalwar village. —
OC
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Youth Cong leader booked for cheating
Mansa, September 14 He was booked on the complaint of Chamkaur Singh, Sukhpreet Singh and Jashanpreet Singh of Mansa. The police claimed that the three approached Jatana for jobs. The latter offered them employment in the Railways for which he allegedly took Rs 5 lakh from each of them. Later, he returned Rs 4 lakh each. The Station House Officer said a case under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code had been registered.
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Ludhiana, September 14