35 BSP (A) men hurt in accident
KAPURTHALA, Aug 15 — More than 35 of the Bahujan Samaj Party (Ambedkar), mostly women were injured four of them seriously, when the truck carrying them overturned near Sheikhpur village on the Kapurthala- Sultanpur Lodhi road today.

Youth duped by travel agent
LUDHIANA, Aug 15 — Three year ago, Raju Marwari (20) set out to begin his life with a resolve to improve the lot of his family. With much effort, his family managed to collect enough money to buy him a ticket to Germany — the land where he would turn his hopes into reality.

Free treatment for martyrs’ kin
LUDHIANA, Aug 15 — The students and staff of Greenland Day-boarding School yesterday presented a draft of Rs 51,000 to the widow of Naik Ajmer Singh, who had laid down his life in Kargil.

Irate taxi drivers block traffic
NANGAL, Aug 15 — The taxi drivers of the local taxi stand, blocked traffic on the Nangal-Chandigarh road for two hours today.

Revolt by SAD men
AMRITSAR, Aug 15 — A section of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and representatives of various Sikh institutions have raised a banner of revolt against Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, state president BJP, who is also candidate of the SAD-BJP from Amritsar.

• PM to visit Punjab on August 19
• Kairon starts poll campaign
• Mystery shrouds woman’s death

• School officers for principal’s grade
• 22 cr development plan for Moga
• ‘At Home’ at Punjab Raj Bhavan

Split in Akali votes may help Congress

JALANDHAR, Aug 15 (UNI) — Punjab will by and large witness triangular contests in all the 13 Lok Sabha seats which go to the polls in the first phase of elections on September 5.

The main contest will be between the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP and the Congress and left parties, besides the United Front comprising the Bahujan Samaj Party and four other Akali factions.

This became clear with the Congress announcing its decision to contest eleven of the 13 seats, leaving the remaining two to the CPI and CPM. The SAD-BJP alliance this time will contest 12, leaving Phillaur for the Bahujan Samaj Morcha (BSM). The United Front will contest all 13.

The SAD-BJP alliance had eleven seats in the dissolved Lok Sabha with the former winning eight constituencies and the latter three. That time, the BSM had won Phillaur while Jalandhar went to former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, who was then supported by the SAD. This time, the SAD has fielded its candidate from Jalandhar.

Cine star Vinod Khanna will seek re-election from Gurdaspur on a BJP ticket. Other BJP aspirants are state unit chief Daya Singh Sodhi (Amritsar) and Mr Kamal Chaudhry (Hoshiarpur).

Among the four Akali factions belonging to the UF, the All India Shiromani Akali Dal (AISAD) led by Mr G.S. Tohra has announced candidates for seven seats. The BSP, a UF partner, will put up candidates from three seats while the Akali factions headed by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala and Mr Jasvir Singh Rode, would contest the remaining three seats.

Mr Sukhbir Badal, Union Minister of State for Industry, will be facing a formidable challenge from Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar of the Congress. Unlike most other contenders of his party, Mr Brar hit the electioneering trail early last week after seeking "blessings’’ of Badal clan patriarch Teja Singh, paternal uncle of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Patiala will witness a battle royale — the main contestants being Mrs Praneet Kaur (wife of Captain Amarinder Singh), Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra (a Tohra loyalist) and Mr Surjit Singh Rakhra, an NRI. Mr Chandumajra and Mr Rakhra are expected to make a dent into the traditional Akali vote bank, to the benefit of the Congress.

Mr Barnala, who initially got a scare because of opposition from within the party for again being given a ticket from Sangrur, is pitted against Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, who in the 1996 Lok Sabha elections had polled more than 1.50 lakh votes. The Congress has allotted this constituency to the CPM.

Macho hero Vinod Khanna, whose electoral debut subdued four-time Congress MP Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder by over one lakh votes last year, will have to slog it out this time against the same Congress veteran.

United Front candidate Sucha Singh Chhotepur, son-in-law of late Akali stalwart Mohan Singh Tur, will depend on the BSP vote bank, for a respectable showing in this constituency bordering Pakistan.

Mr R.L. Bhatia, whose poll prospects have been plagued by intense dissidence within the Congress, will face stiff opposition from Mr Daya Singh Sodhi and Mr Bhupinder Singh Mann of the Tohra-led AISAD. Mr Sodhi, in his debut last year won the Amritsar border seat by a big margin of 91,000 votes.

With Mr Gujral not in the fray this time, the Congress finds itself in a better position in Jalandhar. In the last elections, the party had lost the seat to the caretaker Prime Minister by a humiliating margin of over 1.31 lakh votes.

Mrs Prabhjot Kaur, widow of Ex-M.P Darbara Singh, is the SAD-BJP candidate in Jalandhar this time, faces a formidable challenge from former Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh, whose nomination was cleared by the Congress high command on Friday night.

Political observers are of the view that UF candidate Kuldip Singh Wadala (president of Akali Dal-Democratic) is unlikely to swing the Dalit voters in his favour, notwithstanding an appeal by BSP supremo Kanshi Ram to his workers to campaign and vote for Mr Wadala.

The adjoining Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha constituency will also witness a keen contest among Kamal Choudhary (BJP), Mr Charanjit Singh Channi (Congress) and Mr Harkesh Choudhary (BSP).

Phillaur, the third Lok Sabha constituency in the Doaba region will witness keen triangular contest among Mrs Santosh Choudhary (Congress), Mr Avinash Chander (BSP) and Mr Satnam Singh Kainth (BSM).

Mr Kainth represented this constituency in the dissolved Lok Sabha. Elected to the 12th Lok Sabha with the support of the ruling SAD-BJP combine, Mr Kainth, who broke away from the the BSP, is again being supported by the ruling combine.

Mr Avinash Chander, a leather merchant from Jalandhar, suffers from the disadvantage of being an outsider in Phillaur. Mrs Choudhary, who is an ex-MP from the constituency, is daughter-in-law of late Choudhary Sunder Singh, who was elected twice from Phillaur.

Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal of the ruling SAD, elected twice from Ludhiana in 1996 and 1998, will have to use all his resources to retain the seat, notwithstanding a headstart given to his campaign by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Mr Aliwal will be facing a stiff challenge from Mr G.S. Ghalib of the Congress, notwithstanding some initial dissidence.

Ropar, in spite of being an Akali stronghold, could give a fighting chance to former minister Shamsher Singh Dullo of the Congress in view of two strong Akali candidates, Satwinder Kaur (SAD) and Birkaur Khalsa (AISAD).

Mr Gurinder Singh Kairon, son of "builder of modern Punjab’’ Partap Singh Kairon, is, faced with a big challenge from Mr Tarlochan Singh Tur of the ruling SAD in the Akali bastion of Tarn Taran.

But with the UF fielding Mrs Parmjit Kaur Khalra, wife of late human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, it could become a little difficult for Mr Tur to retain the seat.

Mr Bhan Singh Bhaura of the CPI, who gave a tough fight to Chatin Singh Samaon of the SAD in Bathinda (Reserve) last year, is likely to improve his performance this time.

If Mr Gurdeep Singh Deep of AISAD makes a sizeable dent in Akali votes, the CPI stalwart, who was elected from Bathinda in 1971 with Congress support, could repeat the feat.

It could be tough going for Mr Zora Singh Maan of the ruling Akali party in Ferozepur seat if the Congress is able to put its act together. Mr Hans Rajjosan has been fielded after much squabbling between former Lok Sabha Speaker Balram Jakhar and former Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar.

The BSP has again put up Dr Mohan Singh Phallianwala here.

Cong rebels not to contest as Independents
Patiala seat
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Aug 15 — Senior Congress leaders Brahm Mohindra and Surinder Singla today made it clear that they had no intention to contest the Patiala Parliamentary seat as Independent candidates, putting at rest the speculation that the dissidents would put up a candidate to spoil the chances of Mrs Parneet Kaur, the official Congress candidate.

In a joint press note issued here, Mr Brahm Mohindra and Surinder Singla said a section of the Press had wrongly reported that a meeting of Congressman had discussed the issue of putting up either of the two as an Independent candidate.

They said the issue of putting up an Independent candidate in the ensuing elections did not figure in the meeting at all, adding they could not think beyond the Congress, "we have 30 years of unquestionable Congress history behind us and are tried and trusted soldiers of the party, they said.

However, both leaders made it clear that their differences with the Pradesh Congress Chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, persist by saying the issue of leaders who joined and left the Congress for their personal benefits figured in the meeting. They said it was common knowledge that these leaders left the Congress and formed various Akali Dals and then rejoined the party.

Even though the dissidents made it clear that they would not put up any Independent candidate in the elections. The issue of their support to the Congress candidate remained undecided. They had boycotted the Congress campaign till now and were not likely to join it soon as they had not been approached for their cooperation.

The position was likely to become clear at the time of filing of nominations of the Congress candidate on August 17. The main grouse of the dissidents was that their support had not been solicited till now. Further few of them had been served with showcause notices and their primary membership itself was threatened.

A group of leaders, including former MPs Surinder Singla and Sant Ram Singla, former ministers Prem Gupta. Brahm Mohindra and Raj Khurana and party General Secretary Birdevinder Singh had formed a pressure group against the candidature of Mrs Parneet Kaur and had also held a series of meetings after the official candidature was announced, which have, however, not yielded any clear result till now.

30 years of unquestionable Congress history behind us and are tried and trusted soldiers of the party, they said.

However, both leaders made it clear that their differences with the Pradesh Congress Chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, persist by saying the issue of leaders who joined and left the Congress for their personal benefits figured in the meeting. They said it was common knowledge that these leaders left the Congress and formed various Akali dals and then rejoined the party.

Even though the dissidents made it clear that they would not put up any Independent candidate in the elections. The issue of their support to the Congress candidate remained undecided. They had boycotted the Congress campaign till now and were not likely to join it soon as they had not been approached for their cooperation.

The position was likely to become clear at the time of filling of nominations of the Congress candidate on August 17. The main grouse of the dissidents was that their support had not been solicited till now. Further few of them had been served with showcause notices and their primary membership itself was threatened.

A group of leaders, including former MPs Surinder Singla and Sant Ram Singla, former ministers Prem Gupta. Brahm Mohindra and Raj Khurana and party General Secretary Birdevinder Singh had formed a pressure group against the candidature of Mrs Parneet Kaur and had also held a series of meeting after the official candidature was announced, which have, however, not yielded any clear result till now.

Political manoeuvring at Isru
From Our Correspondent

ISRU (Ludhiana), Aug 15 — Hectic politicking by the major political parties to woo the masses in the wake of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections marked the annual mela held here today in the memory of Karnail Singh Isru, who had laid down his life during the liberation of Goa on this day in 1950.

The SAD and its allies, the Congress and the third front comprising the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, Akali Dal (Democratic), Akali Dal (Panthic) and Akali Dal (Amritsar) had all set up separate platforms and senior leaders of these parties were present on the occasion.

The SAD-BJP combine was represented by senior Akali and BJP leaders, including the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the SGPC Chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Rajya Sabha member, Lala Lajpat Rai, the senior vice-president of the SAD, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, and Local Bodies Minister, Mr Balramji Das Tandon. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Badal exhorted the masses to vote for the National Democratic Alliance and for the able leadership of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. He said the country had witnessed a clean administration and a lot of development under the present regime. He also questioned the ulterior motive of the Congress party in not declaring the name of their Prime Ministerial candidate.

The Shiromani Akali Dal president said Mrs Sonia Gandhi was not well versed with the culture, language and traditions of the country and was also inexperienced and hence was not fit to govern the country.

Mr Badal also presented a siropa to the wife of Karnail Singh Isru, Bibi Charanjit Kaur. He said Kargil was a major victory for the Vajpayee government.

The Chief Minister criticised the Congress and said the masses now understood fully the policies of the party, which had always created instability in the country when not in power. He asked the people to vote for the parties that were friendly to Punjab and not for anti-Punjab parties as only a government led by Mr Vajpayee would take up the long pending demands of Punjab like the transfer of Chandigarh, and other Punjabi speaking areas and sharing of river waters.

Thousands of people had gathered on the occasion and were seen moving from one platform to another, listening to the accusations and counter-accusations. Senior leaders like Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann and Bhai Ranjit Singh also addressed the gathering.

Launching a scathing attack on the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the former Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh said he had been forced to jump into the political fray because of the assault on Akal Takht by Mr Badal. He sought the support of people to bring down Mr Badal, who, he claimed, was a destructor of Sikh tradition.

Kargil win dominates proceedings
Independence Day celebrations
From Tribune Reporters

JALANDHAR, Aug 15 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today underlined the need for recording bravery and valour of Indian soldiers in Kargil in a book form and its introduction in school syllabus to inculcate nationalism and patriotism.

Addressing a gathering of largely school children at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium here after unfurling the national flag on the Independence Day at the state-level function here, he saluted the Kargil martyrs for their gallantry.

Mr Badal recounted the sacrifices made by Punjabis in the country's freedom struggle. He, however, regretted that burgeoning population had kept the nation mired in the sea of poverty. He said unless population growth was checked the lot of poor could not be ameliorated. "We must dedicate ourselves to removing poverty as 50 per cent of the population still live below the poverty line", he added.

The Chief Minister presented the state awards to 11 persons for their contribution in their respective fields. These included Dr Surjit Singh Dhillon, Adviser, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Chandigarh, Dr Nilima Jairath, Chief Scientific Officer (Environment), Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Chandigarh, Dr Ashwani Bansal, dentist, Khanna (Ludhiana), Mr Dev Krishan Jindal, Industrialist, Khanna (Ludhiana), Mr Jaswant Singh (posthumous) Ludhiana, Mr Gurpreet Singh (posthumous) Ludhiana, Mr Mohinderpal Singh, Khanna (Ludhiana), Mr Nek Singh Khokh, Nabha, (Patiala), Mr Sukhpal Singh, Ghaman Kalan (Mansa), Baba Kashmira Singh, Chairman, SGL Chairtable Hospital, Jalandhar and Dr Iqbal Singh, Ludhiana.

He also gave appointment letters to family members of two Kargil martyrs.

AMRITSAR: The Independence Day was celebrated here with great patriotic fervour. At a function held at Guru Nanak Stadium, the Agriculture Minister of Punjab, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, unfurled the national flag and took salute from the contingents of Punjab Police, Home Guards, NCC and Scout Cadets.

On this occasion, the minister honoured eight families of Kargil war heroes belonging to the district and also honoured 10 prominent personalities who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields.

BARNALA: Mr Surjit Kumar Jyani, Punjab Minister of State for Rural Development and Panchayats, hoisted Tricolour at local grain market complex on Sunday to mark the Independence Day.

At a function, he inspected a guard of honour and took salute from the contingents of the Punjab Police, Punjab Home Guards and NCC cadets.

FARIDKOT: Mr Swaran Singh Phillaur, Minister for Social Welfare Punjab, unfurled the national flag and took salute from the contingent of forces at the Independence Day function at local Nehru Stadium on Sunday.

He distributed cheques of Rs 5 lakh each for the construction of houses to families of two of the Kargil martyrs, Gurbhej Singh of Dhudi village and Gurpreet Singh of Koniwala village.

FATEHGARH SAHIB: The Independence Day was celebrated with great fervour at Mata Gujri College ground here on Sunday. Capt Kanwaljit Singh Finance Minister, Punjab, unfurled the Tricolour.

In his address he paid rich tributes to the Kargil martyrs and called upon the people to maintain communal harmony and peace.

FAZILKA: An official function to celebrate the Independence Day was held at New Grain Market here on Sunday where Mr Sikander Singh Maluka, State Irrigation Minister, Punjab, unfurled the national flag and recalled sacrifices of martyrs.

Paying rich tributes to them and the Kargil heroes, the minister said India had once again shown that it was united in defeating Pakistan and teaching it a lesson.

FEROZEPORE: The Minister of State for Public Health and Civil Aviation, Punjab, Mr Raja Narinder Singh, hoisted Tricolour at the Independence Day function held at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium on Sunday.

Addressing the gathering the minister remembered the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters during the freedom struggle and the Indian soldiers in Kargil and other sectors.

On the occasion, Mr Raja Narinder Singh handed over a cheque for Rs 5 lakh on behalf of the Punjab Government to father of Kargil hero Sepoy Surjit Singh of Hamad village.

At Zira town, the Minister of State for Cooperation and Sainik Welfare, Punjab, Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, unfurled the national flag and distributed cheques worth Rs 5 lakh each among kins of three Kargil martyrs belonging to the Zira subdivision.

GURDASPUR: Mr Ranjit Singh Brahampura, Co-operative Minister unfurled the national flag here on Sunday to mark celebrations of the 53rd Independence Day. He took salute from the contingents of Punjab Police, Punjab Home Guards and NCC cadets.

Next of the kin of nine martyrs, including seven of Army and one each of the ITBP and the BSF were honoured on the occasion. Makhni, wife of martyr Harish Pal, Sunita, wife of martyr Ranbir Singh, Anju Bala, wife of Mukesh Kumar, Kashmir Singh, father of martyr Satnam Singh and Kuldeep Kaur wife of a martyr Major Singh, were presented cheques of Rs 5 lakh each for construction of houses. Cases of the remaining four martyrs have been sent to the government for approval for purchasing plots at various places under PUDA and Improvement Trust in districts other than Gurdaspur.

KAPURTHALA: Mr Manoranjan Kalia, Health Minister, on a Independence Day function, unfurled the national flag at Guru Nanak stadium here on Sunday. He took salute from contingents of Punjab Police, Home Guards, NCC and Scouts. While addressing the function he paid rich tributes to freedom fighters whose sacrifices had brought freedom for the country.

Mr Kalia honoured the families of martyrs of Kargil and distributed prizes and appreciation letters to officers and social workers for distinguished services.

LUDHIANA: The Independence Day was celebrated with great fanfare here, The local Bodies Minister, Mr Balramji Das Tandon, presided over the function.

Mr Tandon exhorted the people to strengthen the spirit of patriotism, unity and national integration which was prevailing after the victory of the Indian Army in Kargil, so that the country could become a formidable power at the international level in the near future.

Mr Tandon was addressing the gathering after unfurling the national flag. He also took salute from contingents of the Punjab Police, Punjab Home Guards, NCC (boys and girls), NCC Air Wing, Scouts and Girl Guides.

On this occasion, the minister presented 16 tricycles to the handicapped and 12 sewing machines to needy women on behalf of the District Red Cross Society.

School children presented a colourful cultural programme and mass P.T. show on this occasion.

In a Subdivisional Function at Jagraon, Mr Chiranjilal Garg, State Minister for Food and Civil Supply unfurled the national flag.

MALERKOTLA: The Independence Day was celebrated here on Sunday with great enthusiasm. At the Dr Zakir Hussein Stadium here, Mr Gobind Singh Kanjhla, State Minister for Youth Services and Social Welfare, Punjab, unfurled the Tricolour and took salute from the contingents of Punjab Police, Home Guards and NCC cadets.

An attractive cultural programme based on patriotism was presented by school children. Freedom fighters of the subdivision were also honoured on this occasion.

35 BSP (A) men hurt in accident
From Our Correspondent

KAPURTHALA, Aug 15 — More than 35 of the Bahujan Samaj Party (Ambedkar), mostly women were injured four of them seriously, when the truck carrying them overturned near Sheikhpur village on the Kapurthala- Sultanpur lodhi road today.

The workers who belonged to Mianpur village of Shahkot police station in Jalandhar district, were coming in the truck to participate in the rally organised by the BSP (A) at local Shalimar gardens here. The injured were admitted in local Civil Hospital where the condition of Nirmal Singh, Asha, Veero and Mohinder Kaur was stated to be serious.

The other injured were Santi, Balwinder Kaur, Sohan Lal, Gian Kaur, Aman Kumar, Darsho, Paramjit Kaur, Mohinder Kaur, Jai, Nirmal Singh, Surjit Kaur, Amarjit Kaur, Om Parkash, Gurdas Ram, Surjit, Raja, Banso, Geeta, Surinder Singh, Raju, Babli, Piari, Manjit Kaur, Suman, Paramjit Kaur, Tony, Indi, Neelam, Balwinder Singh, Surjit Kaur and Raj Kumar.

Meanwhile the BSP (A) on Sunday observed Independence Day as black day by organising an impressive rally.

Workers from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, up, and Himachal Pardesh participated.

Addressing the rally Mr Devi Dass Nahar national president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (Ambedkar) said the black day was being observed in protest against the non-implementation of settlement reached between state government and the central government on May 12.

Mr Nahar, who is also president of dharm youdh morcha, blamed that the Dalits in the country were leading the life of slaves. He said successive government an the Centre after Independence did not show any respect to the Dalits and used the vote bank of Dalit community by giving false promises. He criticised Mr Kanshi Ram President of Bahujan Samaj Party for selling out the interest of Dalits to capitalists.

Mr Jir Lal Nahar state president of youth wing, Mr Maya Ram Sabota, Hussan Lal, Fateh Singh state leaders from Haryana, Mr Verinder Singh a state leader from U.P., Mrs Bimla Sapna, a BSP (A) nominee for Chandigarh Lok sabha seat also addressed the rally.

Youth duped by travel agent
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Aug 15 — Three year ago, Raju Marwari (20) set out to begin his life with a resolve to improve the lot of his family. With much effort, his family managed to collect enough money to buy him a ticket to Germany — the land where he would turn his hopes into reality.

But Raju, is a crestfallen man after his experience with a ‘greedy’ travel agent. Earlier I dreamt of the riches that foreign lands had to offer. Now I have only one ambition — to see those who have wronged me, behind the bars, he says.

While talking to this correspondent, Raju said he had paid Rs 3,35,000 to an Ambala-based travel agent, who had promised to send him to Germany and a job in a hotel there.

On August 27,1996, Raju, along with four other boys from Punjab, was put aboard a plane to Moscow. The travel agent had obtained visas for them for Russia and from there they were supposed to be put on a flight to Frankfurt, Germany.

One of the accomplices of the agent, Mr Mittal also accompanied these young men to Moscow. Upon reaching there, they were taken to a flat where 10 more Indians were also waiting to be taken to Germany.

On the night of August 28, these men were put aboard a train which headed towards Belarose. Before the train left Moscow, Mr Mittal took away the $300 each that the four youth had and also took their air tickets from New Delhi to Moscow.

In the care of a new agent, these 14 odd men reached Belarose on the morning of August 29. From then on their tale of woes began. These men were taken to a flat where 25 more Indians were kept. Days passed into weeks and weeks into months, but these men got no indication of being taken to Germany.

"We were kept under vigil by the agent’s men and somehow we managed to survive the extreme cold. But food was scarce and soon all of us started falling ill due to lack of nutritious food. Six months elapsed and then the police raided our flat and we were taken captive", said Raju.

"Due to prolonged starvation, I was too sick to be put in jail. So I was sent to a hospital. There an official of the Indian Embassy came to visit me and asked me to meet him after being discharged. After 15 days at the hospital, I recovered and reached the embassy. From there I contacted my family and they arranged for my journey back to India," says Raju.

After coming back, Raju was ill and had to be hospitalised. After almost one year of coming back, when he had regained his strength, he, along with his elder brother, approached the travel agent to return their money.

"But he kept on asking us for more time. So finally we got an FIR registered on May 12,1999, against the agent, Anil Chopra and his partner Usha Sharma at the police station Division Number 3, Ludhiana. But till date the police has not taken any action against the accused", says Ashok, Raju’s elder brother.

The police, it seems, is not keen on pursuing this case and so the accused are still scot free. I want that these people be arrested so that no one has to undergo the sufferings that I had to face. My family spent all their savings and even our house was mortgaged to pay for my ticket but to no avail. Let the arrest of these two people be a lesson to those who dupe innocent people by luring them with the idea of sending them abroad, says a bitter Raju.

Free treatment for martyrs’ kin
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Aug 15 — The students and staff of Greenland Day-boarding School yesterday presented a draft of Rs 51,000 to the widow of Naik Ajmer Singh, who had laid down his life in Kargil.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Rajesh Rudra, manager of the school announced that the school would provide free education to the wards of those killed in Kargil.

Mr B.C. Sharma, divisional secretary of the Uttariya Railway Mazoor Union Ferozepore division, presented a cheque for Rs 44,000 to the deputy director of the Army Central Welfare Fund, on behalf of the union.

Ludhiana Medicos Kargil Martyrs Welfare Association has sent a cheque for Rs 1,13,809 to the Army Central Welfare Fund and said martyrs kin would be entitled to free treatment at Bassi Hospital, Iqbal Nursing Home, Deep Children's Hospital, Arora Neuro Centre, Dr Naresh Aggarwal and Dhami Eye Hospital.

St Thomas Senior Secondary School, too, honoured five Kargil war widows of Punjab and presented them a cheque for Rs 10,000 each.

KAPURTHALA: Mrs Ameeta Bala a teacher of local Govt Senior Secondary School for Girls donated Rs ten thousand to Army Central Welfare Fund on behalf of her mother Ms Shakuntla Sharma, who is at present residing in USA.

ROPAR: The Ropar Thermal Plant unit of the Council of Junior Engineer of Punjab State Electricity Board has contributed Rs 42,000 to the Punjab War Heroes Family Welfare Fund by donating a day's salary, according to Mr Rajinder Singh Saini, president of the local unit of the Council.

SONEPAT: According to an official press note, Sonepat district had so far contributed Rs 73,81,532 towards the Chief Minister's War Heroes Relief Fund.

The local unit of the Bharat Vikas Parishad has raised an amount of Rs 63,000 for the Central Army Welfare Fund.

Employees of the Central Cooperative Bank, Sonepat have contributed Rs 1,07,900 towards the Chief Minister's War Heroes Relief Fund.

The pensioners of Naya Bans, Bhora Rasulpur and Rajlu Garhi village have contributed Rs 15,600, Rs 10,700 and Rs 3,100 respectively.

KAITHAL: The district has contributed Rs 58 lakh towards the Chief Ministers War Heroes Relief Fund according to official sources. The Rice Millers Association, Cheeka president Mr S.P. Jindal contributed Rs 23,000/- village panchayats of Wisan and Sirta Rs 20,000/- Kaithal Wholesale Shoes Association Rs 21000/- and students of Government Senior Secondary School Rs 12,000/-. Nehru Yuvak Kendra and Zila Gyan Deep Samitti volunteers who launched a shaheed jyoti cycle yatra in rural areas collected Rs 16,884.

Irate taxi drivers block traffic
From Our Correspondent

NANGAL, Aug 15 — The taxi drivers of the local taxi stand, blocked traffic on the Nangal-Chandigarh road for two hours today. The drivers parked their vehicles on the road. The road block left thousands of passengers stranded on the road. The traffic on the road was particularly heavy due to the ongoing mela at the nearby Naina Devi Shrine. The taxi drivers were protesting against the arrest of four drivers from the taxi stand. The road block was lifted only after mediation by the DSP, Anandpur Sahib.

Various opposition leaders, including the state president of the Shiv Sena Rashtriavadi Mr Subash Talwar; and former MLA Mr Ram Prakash Bali; and former president of the local municipal council and Mr Ashok Nayar, gathered to support the taxi drivers and alleged that the drivers were just playing cards and were not involved in gambling. They also alleged that the local police was victimising innocent taxi drivers at the behest of the ruling party. The opposition leaders have also given a 48-hour ultimatum to the district administration to either suspend or transfer the local SHO failing which they will again start their agitation.

The four taxi drivers Sham Lal, Atar Singh, Anil Verma and Ved Prakash were arrested today morning by the local police from the taxi stand on the charge of gambling. A case under the Gambling Act has been registered against them. The SHO of the local police station said the accused were arrested by two constables red handed while gambling. However, when the constables were bringing them to the police station some of the taxi drivers forcibly got them released. Thereafter the SHO along with a police party raided the stand again and arrested the four drivers.

The SHO has also alleged that most of these taxi drivers do not have any permit for plying taxis and are charging higher rates from the passengers. They also resort to hooliganism and gambling on the taxi stand, in violation of the Section 144, imposed by the Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, due to elections, he added.

The DSP when asked to comment on the incident said he would send his report to higher authorities.

Revolt by SAD men
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Aug 15 — A section of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and representatives of various Sikh institutions have raised a banner of revolt against Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, state president BJP, who is also candidate of the SAD-BJP from Amritsar.

A wall poster put up in the city reads "we are angry with BJP for allegedly meting out rough treatment to Sikhs of Amritsar".

The name of Mr Jaswinder Singh, a pro-Badal SGPC member, has also been mentioned in the poster. The poster states that the BJP had allegedly failed to keep the promises made to the Sikhs to hand over 168 yards of prime land to Gurdwara Santokhsar, despite promises. The poster has been printed on behalf of a number of Sikh organisations.

PM to visit Punjab on August 19
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — The Prime Minister, Mr A.B. Vajpayee, is scheduled to visit Punjab on August 19 and Haryana on August 20.

Informed sources said Mr Vajpayee would address election meetings at Pathankot and Amritsar and later in Chandigarh.

He is scheduled to address a meeting at Karnal the following day as per the tentative programme available with the state government.

School officers for principal’s grade
From Our Correspondent

MALERKOTLA, Aug 15 — There is resentment among Gazetted School Officers Association Punjab over fixing of the pay scales of 19 categories of P.E.S. Grade-II officers equivalent to school principals in a lower grade than Rs 10025-15100 for principals.

According to Mr Joginder Singh Aulakh, President of the Gazetted School Officers Association Punjab, the latest instructions issued recently by the Department of School Education, Punjab directing fixing of pay of all these 19 categories with effect from January 96 as per the general conversion table is unacceptable.

Mr Aulakh condemned the instructions and demanded that the department issue new instructions fixing the pay of 19 categories of school officers on par with school principals as there is common seniority among these categories and school principals and are intertransferable with them and have common cadre.

The Association demanded common grades of 10025-15100 for all 19 categories.

Kairon starts poll campaign
From Our Correspondent

TARN TARAN, Aug 15 — Mr Gurinder Singh Kairon, Congress candidate from this Lok Sabha Constituency, today started his poll campaign by opening his election offices here and at Patti, Chabal, Naushehra Pannuan, Khadoor Sahib, Fatehabad, Harike and at other places. Mr Gurchet Singh Bhullar, former Minister, Punjab, Mr Dilbag Singh, former Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, and other leaders too were with the Congress candidate who addressed public gathering and party workers at different places calling them to throw out the BJP-SAD alliance in the Lok Sabha elections unitedly. Mr Kairon told The Tribune that he would file his nomination papers on Monday in Amritsar.

22 cr development plan for Moga
From Our Correspondent

MOGA, Aug 15 — The Punjab Government has drawn up a Rs 22 crore project for the development of this district town according to Union State Minister for Industry Sukhbir Singh Badal. Mr Badal who was addressing an election meeting last evening said that Rs 16 crore would be spent on sewerage system for Moga while Rs 6 crore would be spent on a stadium.

He said Ferozepore would be linked with Delhi soon with a super fast train the demand for which had already been made by the people of the region. Similarly Tarn Taran town would be connected with Beas while Fazilka would be connected with Abohar by rail as the government had already undertaken these projects, he added.

Besides a girl college also is proposed to set up at Darolobhai village in Moga district taking into consideration the needs of the people of the region, he said.

Mystery shrouds woman’s death
From Our Correspondent

FAZILKA, Aug 15 — Mystery shrouds the death of a newly wedded bride of Miani Basti village, here today. According to the FIR lodged with the Sadar police here by Satnam Singh of Noor Shah village, his 20-year-old daughter Gago Bai, was married to Manga Singh of Miani Basti village eight months back.

It has been alleged that from the first day of her marriage, Gago Bai was being harassed for bringing insufficient dowry. Her father-in-law Pala Singh, mother-in-law Safi Bai, two sisters-in-law, Maheshan Bai and Pinna Bai, persistently asked her to bring more dowry.

Satnam Singh has expressed doubt that his daughter has been killed by poisoning

A case under Sections 304-B, 148 and 149, IPC, has been registered.

‘At Home’ at Punjab Raj Bhavan
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 15 — The Governor of Punjab-cum- Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut-Gen BKN Chhibber (retd), and his wife, Rama, were "At Home" to distinguished citizens at Punjab Raj Bhavan here this evening.

Freedom fighters, gallantry award winners, retired and serving defence officers, bureaucrats, technocarts, politicians and others were present. Widows and families of Kargil martyrs were extended special invitation for the programme.

Gatka, dances of South India, Gujarat and Rajasthan were also organised. Representatives of foreign students at Panjab University were also among special invitees.

The Punjab Chief Minister and members of his Council of Ministers were conspicuous by their absence.