Thursday, August 27, 1998
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Thursday, August 27, 1998 |
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Sikh clergy issue: Badal, Tohra hold meeting CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, today held a closed-door meeting here for about an hour to discuss the ongoing war of attrition among Sikh head priests. Activist of Babbar Khalsa
surrenders |
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PR staff told to stay away
from CM's meetings CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — The buzzword in the corridors of power in Punjab at the moment is how to make the "impact" of the SAD-BJP Government felt by the people. Amarinder
for ban on commission FCI
short of storage space No
buyers for PUDA flats Police
officers seek promotion avenues CET
case: PTU offers fresh counselling DCs
empowered to open paddy procurement centres All-party
meeting to pay homage to Beant Bodies
of three women found |
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| Badal reviews power projects PYC stages dharna Rs 220 cr for SC welfare schemes |
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Man arrested for attempt to bribe Name of village changed Balloon burst causes panic  |
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Sikh clergy issue: Badal, Tohra
hold meeting CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, today held a closed-door meeting here for about an hour to discuss the ongoing war of attrition among Sikh head priests. The two leaders, it is learnt, exchanged views about the situation arising out of the open trading of charges by certain head priests, including the Jathedar of Akal Takht, and to find a way out to end the crisis at the earliest which otherwise can eclipse the 300th Khalsa birth anniversary celebrations. Before going to meet Mr Badal at the residence, the President of the SGPC, held a meeting with his close confidants, including Mr Jasmer Singh Bala, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, a Minister, who has remained a Secretary of the SGPC for several years, and Principal Bharphur Singh. The meeting was held at the residence of Mr Calcutta. The SGPC has the power to appoint as well as remove the head priests. Informed sources said that as a first step efforts would be made for a reconciliation among the head priests to diffuse the situation but if the efforts failed to bring about the desired result, a meeting of the executive committee of the SGPC would be convened. The Executive Committee might ask the priests concerned to put in their papers. Mr Tohra has appealed to the head priests not to discuss Panthic and personal affairs in the print media on level charges against each other. He urged them to sit together to sort out their differences as it would be in the interest of the Sikh Panth. Informed sources said that the SGPC chief might depute his confidants to play the role of mediators to resolve the issue. Talking to TNS at the residence of Mr Calcutta, Mr Tohra was confident that the crisis would be resolved. He said the head priests were wise enough to resolve their differences. He refused to make any further comment. However, independent
observers of Sikh religious issues feel that the way the
head priests have levelled charges against each other it
would not be an easy task to make them sink their
differences and work as one team. The situation had
already reached a point of no return and it would be
impossible to redeem it. Even if the differences were
resolved, the bitterness created in the relations among
head priests would remain, the observers add. |
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Activist of Babbar Khalsa
surrenders ROPAR, Aug 26 — An activist of the Babbar Khalsa, Sukhwant Singh, alias Billu, a proclaimed offender, today surrendered before the SSP, Ropar, Mr R.S. Khatra. The 33-year-old militant of Jalalabad village under Tarn Taran police station remained active under various names, including Balwinder Singh, alias Billu, alias Suba Singh, alias Heera Singh in the organisation. He remained underground for nine years. Giving this information at a press conference here today, SSP Khatra said Sukhwant Singh had been involved in various activities, including kidnapping of Puran Singh and Piara Singh, two brothers of the then SSP of Sangrur on May 3, 1990. The SSP said he had been also involved in an attack on Mr Swarn Singh Nagoke in 1983. He sent 25 kg of explosive from Nander Sahib to Punjab for causing disturbances and fired on a police post at Jalalabad village in 1991. Mr Khatra said Sukhwant Singh had been arrested during 'Operation Bluestar' from Amritsar and remained in Jodhpur jail till 1989. On being released, he joined the group headed by hardcore militant Madha Singh of the Babbar Khalsa. After the arrest of Madha Singh in Indore, he came to Punjab and joined other militant groups. The SSP said Sukhwant Singh under various names hid himself in Gurdwaras at Mandi, Manali and near Agra. He participated in kirtans in gurdwaras. Sukhwant Singh, who was present at the press conference said the Khalistan movement had died out and the militants had to join the national mainstream. He said he was a father of two and wanted to live in peace. Later in the evening, the
police arrested Sukhwant Singh and produced him in a
court here. |
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Ludhiana traffic-1 LUDHIANA: A systematic drive has been launched by the traffic police to bring some order in the chaos that prevails on the roads of this megacity. The campaign for traffic management in Ludhiana involves mobilisation of funds from the private corporate sector, a professional and scientific approach to traffic control, provision of traffic control and regulatory devices, segregation of slow moving traffic, pedestrian safety, check on haphazard parking, provision of public transport system and traffic enforcement. Although a good beginning has been made, it will be some time before results become visible. The enormity of the traffic management problems in Ludhiana is mind-boggling. Every 12th minute, a new vehicle joins the roads of Ludhiana. In a day, about 100 vehicles are added to the city traffic. This is in addition to a large number of vehicles registered at other places and plying in the city. This huge increase in vehicular population has added to the woes of the traffic police which is already suffering from shortage of manpower. According to the city police chief, Mr Dinkar Gupta, the rate of increase of vehicles in Ludhiana is second only to Delhi. The absence of public transport system is responsible for this state of affairs. Autorickshaws, which have emerged as the only mode of conveyance for the poor are the major culprits in creating traffic congestion and environmental pollution. There has been no perspective planning as to what needs to be done to deal with this problem. Delhi is already planning to have a Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS). Some thing along these lines has to be thought about for Ludhiana. The traffic police carried out an analysis of road accidents which took place in Ludhiana city during the past five years. It showed up certain startling facts. The number of road accidents has been increasing in the city by 15 per cent every year. The number of fatalities in road accidents has also increased steadily. As many as 103 persons died in road accidents in the city. About 60 to 70 per cent fatal road accidents took place either at 15 intersections or at some vulnerable road stretches like Jalandhar bye-pass and the road stretches from Sherpur Chowk to Dhandari Kalan. |
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PR staff told to stay away
from CM's meetings CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — The buzzword in the corridors of power in Punjab at the moment is how to make the "impact" of the SAD-BJP Government felt by the people. The government is on the horns of a dilemma how to "restore" the waning faith of the people in the fairness, integrity and responsiveness of the administration. Also of concern of the political executive is the manner in which proceedings of the meetings held by the Chief Minister are reported or leaked to the press. These meetings include routine meetings of the Council of Ministers as well. Incensed by media reports, the Chief Minister has asked the Chief Secretary to issue certain instructions regarding presence of officers, other than the administrative secretaries and head of departments, in the meetings conducted by the Chief Minister. Accordingly, the Chief Secretary has sent a circular (August 4) to all concerned that only administrative secretaries concerned will attend the meetings of the Chief Minister. And only under special circumstances a head of department will participate. Meaningfully, the circular says; "The presence of junior officials of the Public Relations Department in the meetings should also be avoided". Insofar as coverage by the media, the circular is explicit: "Whenever it is required to issue a press note after the meeting, it should be done by the administrative secretary concerned through the Secretary, Information and Public Relations, or the Director of Information and Public Relations". In fact "leakage" of information to the press at different levels in the political and administrative set-up in the recent past has bugged the Chief Minister's Office. Consequently, the Chief Secretary had to issue a set of instructions (May 6) regarding attending meeting of the Council of Ministers. The eye of suspicion was on both Ministers as well as the secretaries. So much for "transparent" functioning of a "people-friendly" government. Now only the Ministers, Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Finance Secretary and the secretary concerned will attend meeting of the Council of Ministers. Though the presence of the Secretary, Public Relations, or the Director is permitted but TNS reliably learns that the Secretary too has been "orally" asked not to attend the meetings. While the administrative secretary concerned will be inside the meeting room others will wait in an adjoining room. The Under Secretary (General) will regulate entry of the secretaries and make arrangements for "refreshments." On the other hand, the administrative secretaries have taken cognisance of the "blame" apportioned to them by the political executive, accusing them of being "unresponsive" to the public. It was for that reason the government's "impact" was missing, the secretaries were told. The secretaries have countered this allegation. The "consensus" among the secretaries was that the only issue on which there were sharp "divisions and differences" between some of them and some of the Ministers pertained to "postings and transfers," which were seldom done as per the guidelines and time-frame prescribed for the purpose under the transfer policy. This was particularly true of some departments which had large field staff; for example, Agriculture, development departments under the charge of the financial commissioner concerned; the Punjab State Electricity Board, the Public Works Departments (all wings), Education, Transport and so on. Reacting to the question of why there was no "impact", some of the secretaries said "impact can be felt only if there is money available to implement the decisions taken by the government." Moreover, in the absence of revenue receipts "where is the money to come from for all the populist announcements being made?" With nothing to implement how can there be an impact? In fact some announcements with financial implications made in May or earlier have remained unimplemented even till date in the absence of money, said some secretaries. The other issues which administrative secretaries wanted the Chief Secretary to take up with the Chief Minister was that he (Mr Parkash Singh Badal) should himself "intervene and resolve" matters between a minister and a secretary concerned. It was precisely to resuscitate the sagging morale of the people and refurbish its own image in the public eye that the Chief Secretary, as desired by the Chief Minister, has had to issue at least two other circulars in respect of presence of officers" in offices and on undertaking "tours" to mitigate the difficulties of the people. These two circulars containing instructions as to when to undertake tours and on attending office were issued on August 10 and 13. How far these are being actually followed is yet to be seen. Therefore in the absence of finance (even Government of India money for projects is held up and not disbursed). Over-centralisation and excessive interference by the CMO (the Chief Minister's Office is overstaffed and there is overlapping of functioning) how could results be expected, asked a cross-section of secretaries when contacted. There is lot of commotion
in the Public Relations Department over the new set of
instructions issued by the Chief Secretary. It has become
a "suspect" when it comes to
"leakage" of information. In fact there could
not be anything more farther from the truth than this
suspicion, say sources. |
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Amarinder for ban on commission AMRITSAR, Aug 26 — Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC-I) supremo, Amarinder Singh today sought a ban on the activities of People's Commission constituted by Justice Kuldip Singh. Describing the commission as "anti-constitutional" and "anti-judiciary", he said his party could not tolerate "a state within the state". He alleged that the constitution of such a commission, that too by a retired justice of apex court, was aimed at undermining the judiciary which was "unfortunate". He, however, said his party would extend support to any commission which highlighted the police excesses without "undermining the authority of the judiciary". Mr Amarinder Singh who had come here to address a protest rally against spiralling prices and the bus fare and power tariff hike, said the Congress would launch a movement to oust the SAD-BJP government allegedly responsible for crippling the economy of the state. He said his party would set up a high-powered committee on the state of the economy. He said it was a matter of concern that more than 100 farmers had committed suicide under the regime of the Badal government which claimed itself to be pro-farmer. In a categorical statement, Mr Amarinder Singh said that the state did not have surplus water. "The 8 MAF water being flowed to the desert state of Rajasthan is unjustified". He said the Congress was of the firm belief that the adjudication of the inter-state river waters should be done keeping in view the riparian law. He said Punjab had the sole right over Chandigarh. Chandigarh and other Punjabi-speaking areas should be immediately transferred to Punjab. Instead of demanding water from Punjab, Haryana should claim water from the Yamuna. Earlier, Mr Amarinder Singh installed Mr Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria as president of the DCC-I (Rural) at a massive rally. Addressing the rally, Mr
Amarinder Singh said the Congress was in favour of
excluding Udham Singh Nagar from the proposed Uttaranchal
Pradesh. He said the SAD had committed a
"fraud" on Punjabis settled in Udham Singh
Nagar by issuing an ultimatum on the Vajpayee government
on the issue and then refusing to pull out of the
government. |
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FCI short of storage space GURDASPUR, Aug 26 — The procurement of paddy during this season is likely to be a dismal affair in view of the shortage of available covered storage capacity with the FCI in this district. The total expected procurement of rice in the district is likely to be 2,16,400 tonnes against the available covered storage capacity of 14,810 tonnes. Official sources say the situation regarding storage is likely to worsen in view of truck transporters not coming forward to lift the rice on rates contracted with the FCI. The FCI through tenders contracted rates with truck owners for carrying 10 tonnes per truck. But with the Jammu and Kashmir Government fixing nine tonnes' load per truck the transporters are facing difficulty. They are demanding additional amount for one tonne per truck in view of the limit imposed by the Jammu and Kashmir Government. Moreover, there is shortage of allotment of special trains due to the absence of any comprehensive problem in this regard. The sources say if the FCI invites new tenders for lifting rice and wheat stored in the FCI godowns it will take a long time. The corporation will not be able to solve the storage problem as the procurement of rice is likely to begin in this district in the third week of September. Indications are that special allotment of trains is likely to come under the jurisdiction of the Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, Punjab. The situation though time-consuming will ease the procurement of rice by the FCI. The sources say the delay in rice procurement will directly hit procurement of paddy also. All rice produced by rice millers is procured by the FCI. The FCI will not be able to procure rice on a mass scale, resulting in delay of payment to the rice millers who will further delay the payment of farmers supplying them paddy. These sources say the FCI has total covered storage capacity in the district for 2.54 lakh tonnes of rice. Batala has storage capacity for 74,500 tonnes, Dhariwal for 18,340 tonnes, Gurdaspur for 22,100 tonnes, Dinanagar for 15,000 tonnes and Pathankot for 75,470 tonnes. At present, the storage capacity at Batala and Dhariwal is fully packed whereas Gurdaspur has available storage, capacity for 5,381 tonnes, Dinanagar for 491 tonnes and Pathankot for 8,938 tonnes. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner as Chairman of Procurement has recommended 115 procurement centres for the district. Twentyeight procurement centres have been allotted to the FCI, 17 to the State and Civil Supplies Department, 28 to Markfed, 19 to Punsup, 17 to the Punjab Warehousing Corporation and six to the abovesaid procurement agencies jointly. The arrangement for bales, wooden crates, polythene covers and nets have been made in sufficient quantity for procurement. The rice millers have
demanded arrangement for sufficient storage capacity in
the district by the FCI so that the procurement of paddy
and rice is not adversely affected |
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No buyers for PUDA flats BATHINDA, Aug 26 — As many as 875 houses and flats belonging to the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) in this town worth crores of rupees are lying vacant as there are no buyers. Official sources said the Punjab Housing Board and PUDA constructed 1,227 houses and flats of different categories in the past 20 years here. Out of these only 352 houses and flats have been sold so far. Mr C.S. Talwar, Assistant Chief Administrator, PUDA, Bathinda zone, when contacted, told TNS that the flats could not be sold as the flat system was not popular in the area. Certain LIG and MIG flats were under the occupation of paramilitary forces which had been vacated and renovated. These were ready for sale. He said PUDA was facing a shortage of buyers as the people of the area had been facing a resource crunch due to repeated crop of failure. However, it is learnt that the LIG and MIG flats built by the board about 20 years ago could not attract buyers as sub-standard material was used in their construction. The board had not made any provision for sewerage and drinking water in these flats then. Official sources said PUDA was also facing a problem of buyers for its commercial sites in Phase-I and Phase II. Out of a total of 150 commercial sites, PUDA could sell only 45 so far. Mr Talwar said to make PUDA schemes a success, five steps were being initiated. He said PUDA was offering a 10 per cent rebate to any buyer willing to pay the price in lumpsum. Earlier, PUDA was dealing with individual buyers but now it was contacting public sector organisations to sell flats and houses in groups. Mr Talwar said PUDA had received a favourable response. He said the rates of houses and flats of certain categories had been reduced according to the prevailing market conditions. Banks were being approached for arranging for money for the buyers at a reasonable rate of interest. He said to attract more
buyers the existing PUDA colonies were being given a
facelift. |
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Police officers seek promotion
avenues CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — A delegation of the Punjab Police Service Association today met the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and requested implementation of the decisions already announced by him on the floor of the Vidhan Sabha more than a year ago regarding the demands of the officers. The association expressed its gratitude for accepting its demand for parity in pay scale with the PCS officers, but it reminded the Chief Minister of the other promises made regarding a separate rank and scale of pay to be allowed to Superintendents of Police from the PPS cadre but not implemented. On the analogy of one-time relaxation in PCS cadre from 12 years' to 10 years' service for promotion to joint or deputy secretary rank, it was announced by the Chief Minister that in respect of PPS cadre all Deputy Superintendents, who complete four years' service will be promoted as S.P.s (instead of the six years' time period). This was also a one-time relaxation. But this decision has not been implemented the delegation said. In fact association office-bearers told the TNS after the meeting that an officer of the PPS, who is DSP, retires as such. The Chief Minister was sympathetic on this and promotion is expected to be permitted now, to the next rank — S.P. Another announcement by the Chief Minister in respect of repatriation of paramilitary officers to their parent cadre from the present field cadre of Punjab was also raised at the meeting. This too has remained unimplemented. The association strongly pleaded that the government should follow the analogy applicable to PCS and Punjab jail officers, who grow along the line in their respective cadres without being elevated to the IAS and IPS cadres starting from Under Secretary to Additional Secretary and DSP Jails to IG and Additional D.G.P. Jails, respectively. No such avenues were there for PPS officers. Why not allow PPS to grow the same way without being elevated to the IPS? Besides the Chief
Minister, the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, Home,
and the Director-General of Police were present at the
meeting. |
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CET case: PTU offers fresh
counselling CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — Pending permission of the court for publication of the revised (or re-evaluated?) combined entrance test result, the Punjab Technical University today put forward a suggestion before the Punjab and Haryana High Court for holding de novo counselling of all students eligible for admission to various engineering colleges in the state. Addressing a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice, Arun B. Saharya and Mr Justice Swatantar Kumar, counsel for the university unequivocally admitted that the entire mess was the creation of the university. "We (the university) have tried to be extra-cautious in compiling the revised result." Counsel pleaded with the Bench that the recounselling had become necessary in the wake of the "large and staggering" change in the merit list. He paused for a minute and started trotting out the startling change in the rank and merit of the students who had taken the controversial CET test. Total students who took the test: 14,948 No of students whose marks
were increased after the revision of the No of students whose marks decreased: 3,113 No of students who came in the eligibility zone after the revised result: 291 No of students who have lost eligibility after the revised result: 57 No of students whose rank changed: 100 per cent (except the topper in the pre-revised result) Counsel added that out of nine Scheduled Caste candidates who had been called for the first counselling, five had been given admission. With the compilation of the revised result, all these five students stood pushed out of the eligibility zone. If fresh counselling was not held, the counsel argued, all earnest efforts put in by the court in striking at the root of the malady and getting the "Himalayan mistake" rectified would go waste. Out of the 3,000 students called for the first counselling, more than 1900 students took admission fait accompli to the streams of their preference and institutions they chose or were offered. If the university's plea for fresh counselling was accepted by the Bench, counsel admitted, there would be a change of streams, change of institutions and the change of places in their cases. They would be in a serious predicament. But the wrongful gain of some students would result in compromising the merit of others, if fresh counselling was avoided. Counsel, however, sounded an optimistic note when he told the judges that none of them was likely to be denied admission. He revealed that the university would get about 280 additional seats with the opening of a few engineering colleges in the state. He also sought the court's intervention for the creation of 10 per cent additional seats, if the need arose. A leading lawyer who appeared for Ms Purchi Dewan, one of the interveners in the case, however, sought to pulverise the suggestion of the university for fresh counselling. He told the court that fresh counselling, if ordered, would result in displacement of all those students who had been admitted. The students could not be blamed for the mess the university created in preparing the result. According to the pre-revised result, they stood in the merit list, they were called for first counselling, they expressed their preference for the stream and took admission to the institutions they opted for or offered according to their merit. Counsel told the judges that instances were numerous when the courts, including the apex court, came to the rescue of those students who were wrongfully given admission. The authorities were directed to increase seats to protect the academic career of those students who had already been admitted. He suggested that the best course would be to invite applications from those students who already been admitted, asking them whether they would like to change their streams. Counsel was still on his
legs when the court rose for the lunch break and
adjourned the case till tomorrow. |
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DCs empowered to open paddy FARIDKOT, Aug 26 — The Punjab Government has empowered the Deputy Commissioners of Faridkot, Moga and Muktsar to open more centres to ensure smooth procurement of paddy keeping in view the heavy arrival of the produce during the current season in the districts. They have also been directed to visit all grain market and purchase centres regularly to supervise the functioning of state agencies in their respective areas, Mr Charanji Lal Garg, Food and Supplies Minister, said while participating in a meeting held here yesterday to review the paddy purchase arrangements. He said the Food Corporation of India had also been requested to make satisfactory and sufficient arrangements for loading the produce on top priority, keeping in view 120 kutcha markets against the total strength in the district. Speaking on the occasion, Mr A.S. Chhatwal, Director, Food and Supplies, expressed hope that 30 to 40 per cent more produce will arrive during the current season. He appealed to the officers of the state government agencies to remain vigilant to avoid any problem confronting the agriculturists in the markets. Presiding over the
meeting, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Union Minister of State
for Industries, expressed concern over the inadequate
arrangements during last year which caused great
inconvenience to the producers. He warned stern action
would be taken against erring officers if it happened
this session. Among those who attended the meeting were
Mr Gurinder Singh Grewal, Mr Kulbir Singh Kang and Mr
Phulwant Singh Deputy Commissioners of Faridkot, Moga and
Muktsar, respectively, Mr Inderdeep Singh, Deputy
Director, Food and Supplies, Faridkot and Ferozepore
division, besides all district food and supplies
officers. |
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All-party meeting to pay
homage to Beant LUDHIANA, Aug 26 — The Akali Dal and the BJP have been invited to an all-party conference being organised by the Punjab Congress at Chandigarh on August 31 to pay homage to the late Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh. The state-level function to pay homage to late leader who was killed in a bomb blast three years ago outside the civil secretariat building in Chandigarh will be held at his memorial in Sector 42. Several Congress leaders, including Mrs Meira Kumar, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mr Rajesh Pilot were expected to attend the conference. Congress party leaders said at a news conference here today other parties which would take part in the conference including the CPI, the CPM, the BSP and the Janata Dal. Mr Harmohinder Singh, MLA, who is also president of the Ludhiana DCC (Rural), said district-level conferences would be held all over the state tomorrow to make preparations for the all-party conference at Chandigarh. He and other leaders of
the party said they were doing their best to galvanise
the party after the recent change in the leadership of
the Punjab PCC. A series of political conferences had
been organised in different parts of the district. They
criticised the Akali-BJP government for the rise in the
prices of essential commodities, hike in power tariff and
bus fares and also undue political interference by the
Jathedars in the day-to-day functioning of the state
administration. |
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Bodies of three women found LUDHIANA, Aug 26 (PTI) — In what appears to be a sudden spurt in crime against women in the industrial city of Ludhiana, three bodies of young women have been found by the police during the past 24 hours. All three appear to have been killed after being raped, the police said. A woman was found dead in a hotel room here in Bhadur House Market. The owner of the hotel said that the "husband" of the deceased, who had given his address as Ashok Kumar of Patel Nagar, New Delhi, had disappeared. In another incident, the body of 24-year-old girl was found lying on Tajpura Road under Basti Jodhewal police station. Eyewitnesses said car-borne youths had been seen throwing a "bundle" on the road before fleeing. In yet another similar incident, the body of a girl in her twenties, wearing a printed suit, was found in Transport Nagar of the city. The viscera of all three
bodies have been sent to Patiala for chemical
examination. The police have registered separate cases
under Section 302, IPC. |
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Badal reviews power projects CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — At a meeting on the progress of on going power projects the Punjab Chief Minister said today work should be accelerated and the schedule be adhered to. Regarding Lehra Mohabat project, it was regretted that the first unit was temporarily shut down due to technical fault. The Chief Minister directed the PSEB to get the same repaired on a war footing and start generation of power. The chairman, PSEB, said
the second unit of 210 MW would be commissioned in
September next. Regarding Stage-II of the Lehra Mohabat
power project, which is expected to add another 500 MW,
the statutory clearances were being obtained from the
competent authorities and construction work would be
taken up at the earliest, next year. |
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Man arrested for attempt to
bribe KHARAR, Aug 26 — The Punjab Vigilance Department has arrested Jaswant Rao on the charge of attempting to bribe a superintendent working the Punjab Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh. Mrs Neelam Arora, Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Kharar, has remanded the accused in judicial custody till September 7. Mr Major Singh, superintendent, complained the accused came to his residence on August 20 and asked him to do some favour about his file regarding a posting. When he returned home in the evening, his wife gave him an envelope and said it had been given by the same person who had visited their home in the morning. The complainant wrote when he opened the envelope it contained Rs 10,000 in cash. The superintendent
immediately informed senior officers about this. The
Vigilance Department then arrested the accused under the
Anti-Corruption Act. |
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PYC stages dharna LUDHIANA, Aug 26 — The Punjab Youth Congress led by its chief, Mr Jasbir Singh Dimpa, today staged a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office in protest against the price rise and the government's alleged failure to solve the problems of farmers caught in a vicious debt trap. The leaders, including Mr Rakesh Pande, Mr Manjit Singh Hambran, Mr Amarjit Singh Tikka and Mr Parminder Mehta, later presented a memorandum on the party's demands to the Additional Deputy Commissioner. The demonstrators burnt
the effigy of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. |
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Name of village changed AMRITSAR, Aug 26 — In a notification the state government has changed in the name of Gilwali village to Guruwali. In a press statement
issued here today, Mr B.S. Multani, SDM, has said that
the administration has written to all departments
concerned to make the necessary amendments in this
regards. |
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Rs 220 cr for SC welfare
schemes BATHINDA, Aug 26 — Mr Sujan Singh, Chairman, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Welfare Committee, yesterday said that the Punjab Government would spend Rs 220 crore on the welfare of the Scheduled Castes. In a press note issued here, he said the committee was reviewing the special component plan of every district in the state. He said the main aim of this exercise was to review the orientation of welfare schemes and the coordination among different departments of the government. Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy
Commissioner, said for 1997-98, the district had got Rs 6
crore under the special component plan.
Balloon burst causes panic FEROZEPORE, Aug 26 — Panic was created among residents of Ghulamiwala village and adjoining areas, near the Indo-Pak border, when a big balloon flying in the sky burst and fell at Dhani Jassa Singh village today. According to information received from the Mallanwala police station, the balloon contained a small battery, which was probably installed for lighting purpose. The words written on the balloon were "Vaisala Helsinki Finland Vaisala Radio Sound Rs 80". A similar balloon had
burst at another border village, Arifke, yesterday. The
police is investigating. |
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