Tuesday, December 14, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Tuesday, December 14, 1999 |
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Campaign
against graft exposed: SHSAD |
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3 of family hurt in acid attack Few Pakistanis attend retreat Gang of cheats busted, 2 held Corruption charges: Dang for CBI
probe Balachaur, a subdivision of
anaemics New turn to sarpech row SAD-BJP combine
‘anti-Christian’ Badal briefed on resolution Disparity in Punjab PMT rules Ban public use of liquor: Chawla |
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Campaign against graft exposed:
SHSAD CHANDIGARH, Dec 13 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal’s so-called campaign against corruption has been exposed by a group of officers led by the Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda. Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, General Secretary of the Sarab Hind Shiromani Akali Dal said this to mediapersons at his residence this morning. Mr Badal should explain his position on this issue and also let people know that what action he had proposed against the minister against whom senior officers posted at Bathinda have sent a detailed resolution-cum-complaint to the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister, he said. Mr Chandumajra said his party would prominently discuss this and other issues pertaining to the performance of the Badal Government at the working committee meeting scheduled on December 20 at the Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali. When people raised the issues pertaining to corruption at Sangat Darshan organised by Mr Badal, then the Chief Minister bleamed the Opposition parties for defaming the government. Now senior officers, including a Deputy Commissioner, were saying that a minister was trying to hush up a scandal in the Irrigation Department. This belied Mr Badal’s claim. Mr Chandumajra claimed that there would bigger scam than Bofors in the Irrigation Department. Only inquiry by the CBI could expose such a scandal. He said if Mr Badal was sincere to weed out corruption in the State he should not even wait for a second to order such an inquiry. In the last three years about Rs 450 crore were allocated to Thein Dam project, but only Rs 150 crore had been spent on the project and remaining had been pocketed by certain officers and politicians. "Let there be an inquiry to expose all that", he added. He said the scandal after scandal was coming to light. There was a scandal with regard to illegal plying of buses. There are scandals in irrigation and drainage departments. All these matters were brought in the notice of Mr Badal by the former SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. Instead of initiating any action to expose scandals, Mr Badal threw Mr Tohra out of the party, Mr Chandumajra said. Among other issues to be
discussed at the working committee meeting are: attack at
Dhakki Sahib Dera, problems facing government employees,
price of sugarcane and cotton, unemployment and issues
pertaining to Punjab, including the transfer of
Chandigarh, Punjabi speaking areas etc. |
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Teachers resent govt move JALANDHAR, Dec 13 — Opposing the move of the Education Department to deploy retired commissioned officers of the Army as heads of flying squads to check copying in the Punjab School Education Board Examination, the Government School Lecturers’ Union, Punjab, has said such an exercise will demoralise teachers and lecturers. In a resolution passed during a union meeting, the lecturers’ body said the move by the Education Minister to appoint Army officers to check copying would generate a wave of resentment among members of the teaching community as they would feel that they were unable to check the menace. Moreover, there was no need for such an action as the menace had been contained to a great extent by the recent board decision to supply five different types of question papers among students during examinations. The rest of the problem could be solved by the department with the help of teachers’ unions and by ensuring proper coordination between the board and attention of the Education Department said a statement issued by the union president, Mr Jiwan Parkash Sharma, here today. Stressing that the Education Minister instead of relying on retired Army officers, should repose faith in teachers, Mr Sharma urged the former to review his decision. He also urged the minister to order a probe into the allegations of corruption against the Principal, Government Senior Secondary, Civil Lines, Ludhiana, by her own staff. The union demanded
promotion to the posts of Principal should be made from
amongst lecturers and headmasters in the 80:20 ratio or
according to their actual strength. It sought relaxation
in experience for being eligible to apply by the posts of
Principal recruited directly by the Punjab Public Service
Commission. |
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A landmark faces
demolition Patiala: The ever-expanding traffic "demon" is all set to swallow the beautiful Fountain Chowk on the Mall Road in this city. While Memorial Chowk, another pleasant sight to the eye is already mired in controversy over its demolition orders to facilitate the flow of traffic, the 40-year-old Fountain Chowk is next in line. Though at present the district administration has not ordered its demolition but directions to shorten its circumference are enough to deface its beautiful architecture. Work has already begun on the plan to instal traffic lights at the chowk to regulate vehicular movements and to end traffic jams. The electric wires for traffic lights have been laid. According to the blueprint of the plan, the outer circle of the chowk including the footpath and an inner layer of landscaping with boundaries of redstone would be removed. While acknowledging the problem of traffic control, the residents still stress on saving the monument. "Though it is not a historical monument and only 40 years old but yet most of the Patialvis had grown up seeing the chowk," says Mr Manmeet S.P.Singh art teacher and former Chairman of Cultural Heritage, Rotary Club. Comparing it with the Mumbai’s favourite Flora Fountain, he said the chowk attracts the passers-by with its beautiful architecture. In the evenings, the fountain, decked up with colourful lights, makes the sight more memorable. Even several books and magazines highlighting places worth seeing and monuments in the city had given due importance to fountain chowk. Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh Bir said the traffic problem had assumed alarming proportions in the city."Owing to frequent traffic jams at Fountain Chowk "we had to take the harsh decision of removing an outer circle of it and instal traffic lights,"he said. He revealed that initially the administration had plans to remove the entire structure but keeping in view the public sentiments only a small portion would be removed. He said, however, if the problem was not solved even after the installation of traffic lights then the chowk would have to be removed. Interestingly, a look at the traffic problem makes one conclude that defacement or dismantling of Fountain Chowk seems inevitable. But if some other alternatives like diversion of both light and heavy traffic and construction of Sangrur-Patiala bypass which had been passed long back but still not materialised can take the heavy load away from the city roads and ultimately from the chowk. Fountain Chowk was built in ‘comparative’ better times in 1955-56. Traffic flowing in from four busy roads Rajbaha, The Mall, Lower Mall and the Sangrur road— meets at the chowk causing traffic bottle-necks. The problem had been further aggravated by the inflow of trucks from Sangrur and Dakala side, most of whom had to just pass through the city in absence of bypass. The recent construction of dividers at the Rajbaha and The Mall with no outlets in between have accentuated traffic concentration at the chowk. It has also been
suggested that if traffic coming in from the Lower Mall
is diverted towards Thikri Wallah Chowk and then made to
enter the Rajbaha through Leela Bhavan, then Fountain
Chowk might be saved. |
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Verdict reserved on MLA's plea CHANDIGARH, Dec 13 — Mr Justice C.H.B. Chalapathi of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today reserved judgement on a petition filed by Mr Ajit Inder Singh, MLA from Sardulgarh Assembly constituency for registration of an FIR against Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Chairman, Punjab Agricultural Marketing Board for allegedly showing disrespect to the national flag. According to the petitioner, Mr Bhunder, even before his appointment of Chairman of the agricultural marketing board on June 26, 1997, went from Chandigarh to Bhikhi and Mansa, Sardulgarh and Bathinda on the board car, addressed meetings and flew the national flag on his car even when he held no position in the Mandi Board. Thereby he insulted the national flag and during those days he made people to believe that he had been appointed chairman. It was contended by counsel for the petitioner the respondent insulted the national flag by violating the instructions on the subject. On behalf of Mr Bhunder
it was contended that the petition was politically
motivated, because the respondent opposed the petitioner
in election. It was further contended that every citizen
had the right to fly the national flag. Thus no
illegality has been committed by the respondent. |
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3 of family hurt in acid
attack LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — A case of three persons throwing acid at three members of a family in a drunken state, allegedly because of a minor scuffle over a road accident here yesterday has come to light. Nirmal Singh (60), and his two sons Parminder Singh (27), and Bhupinder Singh (22), have been admitted to Christian Medical College and Hospital with acid burn injuries. Talking to this correspondent, Nirmal Singh informed that there had been a minor scuffle between one of his sons, Paramjit Singh and Dara Singh, Rohit and another person, when his scooter banged into their scooter on the Tajpur road yesterday. "The three were drunk, they abused and beat up Paramjit. He came back home and told us about the incident. I, along with my two other sons Parminder and Bhupinder went to Dara Singh's dairy to sort out the matter," he says. When the three accused saw Nirmal Singh with his sons, they threatened them to go away or they would throw acid at them. When they did not relent, the accused threw acid at them. Alleged Parminder Singh, who received burn injuries in his face and has lost partial vision in the left eye. "The police came to record our statement, but no case has been registered so far. I have learnt that the police has nabbed the three accused but it has let them off. Later these three persons hurt themselves and got admitted to the Civil Hospital, to show that we too hurt them. Nirmal Singh said he
feared that justice could be denied to them as the other
party was getting false FIRs registered against them in
connivance with the police. |
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Few Pakistanis attend
retreat HUSSAINIWALA, Dec 13 — If the low turnout of Pakistani civilians at the daily retreat between the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Sutlej Rangers here is any indication, the joint checkpost here is not popular with Pakistani residents. Although the reasons that keep Pakistani civilians away from the ritual are not known, the BSF officials here attribute the low turnout to the fear psychosis arising out of the recent military coup in that country. The Indian side, the ceremony evokes a good response owing to the euphoria over the Kargil victory, Pakistani civilians are shying away from the ritual as it involves the forces, a BSF officer said. A visit to the joint checkpost during the retreat revealed that the Indian civilians outnumbered the visitors from the other side of the border even on working days. The sense of involvement of the Indian visitors is high and they keep on encouraging the BSF troops during retreat by clapping and cheering them. Although the visitors from Pakistan are mainly from Kasur district, their turnout too remains comparatively low. This is despite the fact that the Pakistani authorities have raised an attractive gateway on the other side. Another reason being cited for the poor turnout of Pakistanis is the ‘religious fundamentalism’ in that country, which bars women from attending social gatherings. Meanwhile, the authorities here have ruled out the possibility of allowing interaction between the civilians from both sides in the near future. "That is possible, only after the hostilities are resolved at a higher political level between the two countries", an officer quipped. As of now, the district administration is planning to develop this joint checkpost to bring it on a par with Wagah in Amritsar. To start with, the administration has planned to raise a huge gateway on the Indian side of the border. This will cost Rs 32 lakh, according to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, who has prepared a comprehensive plan for the beautification of Hussainiwala border before March, 2000, to commemmorate Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom day. Besides, the Cantonment
Board is being persuaded to shift its dumping site from
the road stretch leading to the checkpost. "This is
necessitated to ensure that the road leading to the
border does not remain an eye sore" Mr Sidhu said. |
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Gang of cheats busted, 2 held GURDASPUR, Dec 13 — The police has busted a gang involved in extortion of money from innocent persons with an allurement to pay back double the amount after three years. According to Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, the police today arrested Rakesh Verma and Rakesh Kumar, both residents of Pathankot in this connection. Mr Bachan Lal had complained to the police that on May 3, 1996 Shamir Kumar of Pathankot met him and told him that if he would deposit any amount with the said company he would be paid back double the amount after three years. Mr Bachan Lal deposted Rs 25,000 with the company through Rakesh Verma in the presence of Shamir Kumar and he was issued a receipt. When Mr Bachan Lal went to get back the double amount after the date of maturity, he was told by the firm’s headquarters that the said receipt was forged and he had been defrauded by the accused who had posed themselves as officials of the company. A case under Sections 420/468/ 471/120-B, IPC, has been registered against the accused. The police is searching
for another accused Ashok Kumar in the case. |
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Corruption charges: Dang for CBI
probe AMRITSAR, Dec 13 — Veteran CPI leader Satya Pal Dang today demanded a CBI probe into charges of corruption against ministers during the last Congress government in the state. In a letter to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, copies of which were released to the Press here, he stated that the present government led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal was not interested in pursuing these corruption charges. Mr Dang pointed out that the arrest of Mr Brij Bhupinder Lali, former Congress minister, who was arrested last week on the charge for siphoning off a fraction of amount from the Jawahar Rozgar Yojna Scheme. He said actually the amount misappropriated ran into crores. He remarked that Mr Badal’s present action was an eyewash as he had not taken any action against officers of the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats. He pointed to the Prime Minister that an independent probe by the CBI into other cases involving Congress ministers found guilty by the Lok Pal was rejected by the then Governor, Lt-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd). Mr Dang felt that the
present SAD-BJP combine government in the state had done
little to curb rampant corruption and only symbolic cases
had been registered. |
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Balachaur, a subdivision of
anaemics BHADDI (Balachaur), Dec 13 — Worms are an intrinsic part of the lives of thousands of villagers in this under-developed Kandi belt in bordering Himachal Pradesh. Health authorities estimate that most of residents of a cluster of settlements around this village and of the entire Bleacher subdivision suffers from anaemia, primarily caused by a very high incidence of worm infection among them. While health authorities deny having treated other serious diseases like goitre during the past two years, a considerable number of residents suffer from thyroid disorders leading to goitre. This is attributed to the deficiency of iodine in drinking water. During a survey of the area, most residents of Bhaddi and adjoining villages like Jitpur, Boongri, Swajpur and Nanowal said they were getting water from a "bowli", at distance of 2.5 kilometres from the village, where spring water from the hills is collected. The water is untreated and unfit for human consumption and the source of most maladies. However, Health Department officials hold the wrong habits of the residents as the main contributory factor in disease. "It is true that more than ninety per cent people of the area suffer from worm infection, caused by hookworms and roundworms and perhaps the number is highest in the state. But this is mainly because of unhygienic habits of people, particularly those living in rural areas, who prefer to walk barefoot", said Dr Ramesh Gupta, Senior Medical Officer at Balachaur Civil Hospital. He said anaemia too was an outcome of worm infections and on the average three-four such patients visited the hospital daily for treatment. Dr Gupta admitted that a number of residents, particularly from sub-mountainous areas, were suffering from goitre, but he denied having received any such case in the hospital during the past two years. "Most cases are of simple goitre or enlargement of thyroid glands, and can be treated by making them consume iodised salt on a regular basis. But, the problem is that people take it casually and do not come to us for treatment", he added without specifying the number of goitre patients in the area. On the other hand, Dr Sohan Lal and Dr Yashpal, both private practitioners here maintained that besides worm infection, goitre was one of the major problems in the region. "Nearly two per cent of the 2000 strong population of five-six-seven villages around us are patients of goitre, and all of them suffer from worm infection. The root cause of the problem is the unfit drinking water, supplied to us through pipes directly from a "bowli" of natural water. The filters in it have been rendered ineffective as no one has bothered to clean these after their installation about 30 years back", he said holding the Public Health Department responsible for their plight. "The purity of water is such that you hold it in a glass for a while and you will find deposits of some white foreign matter at the bottom", said Ashwani Kumar, a teacher. He complained that villagers have urged the authorities concerned a number of times to do something to ensure safe drinking water to residents of the area, but nothing has been done so far. Though none of the officials at the village dispensary were available for comment, Dr Sohan Lal said though the health authorities had been distributing medicines for treatment of worm infection in the area, nothing concrete was being done to tackle the source of the problem. "We have met the Deputy Commissioner a lot of times, but the situation is the same", says Dr Yashpal. Though the Xen, Public
Health, Balachaur was not available for comment, a report
of the department said 118 out of 121 villages of
Balachaur block have been provided with "protected
water supply". Efforts were being made to do so in
the remaining two. One village is "becharag"
(abandoned). |
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New turn to sarpech row PATIALA, Dec 13 — The controversy surrounding the sale of former Patiala ruler Maharaja Bhupinder Singh’s sarpech refuses to die with a new communication from Christie’s revealing the sarpech was auctioned atop a turban specially brought from India. According to a letter from Christie’s, which was released to the press by Congress General Secretary Birdevinder Singh, a turban was specially made and brought from India by a representative of the auction house to display the sarpech. The letter, written by a London representative of the auction house, however, makes it clear that the turban shown in the catalogue as worn by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh was not sold. In the light of the letter, Mr Birdevinder Singh alleged that a ‘fake’ turban was sent from India to add to the antique value of the sarpech. He has also challenged the authenticity of a communication received from the Geneva office of Christie’s by Pradesh Congress chief Amarinder Singh’s son. He alleged that an attempt was made to close the matter by Christie’s Geneva representative Rahul Kadakia by saying the Patiala royal turban had not been auctioned and only a turban ornament had been auctioned by the house. Demanding a CBI inquiry into the sale of Indian jewels conducted by Christie’s on October 6, Mr Birdevinder Singh said he would take up the matter with Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). He said he and other leaders would meet the Akal Takht Jathedar to submit facts regarding the case. The Congress leader said it was unfortunate that Akal Takht and the SGPC had not reacted to the issue. He said, however, the Sikh bodies could institute a commission to go into the entire case. He said Mr Amarinder Singh could have no objection to it as he had also petitioned Akal Takht as a Sikh in the case involving alleged visit of former SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra to Nirankari Bhavan here. The Congress General Secretary said in case the PPCC chief had nothing to hide, he could explain his views to Akal Takht as the matter now involved auction of a turban brought from India. He said Mr Amarinder Singh should also take a definite stand on the issue as he had not reacted to the auction of the Indian jewellery earlier even though he was in London at that time. He also alleged that the
sarpech was not part of any European collection before
1947 as claimed earlier by Christie’s. He said
complaints in this regard had already been submitted to
the Centre. |
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SAD-BJP combine
‘anti-Christian’ JALANDHAR, Dec 13 — Dubbing the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party combine as "anti-Christian", the Dharam Yudh Morcha has criticised Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s proposed participation in a function in connection with Christmas at Gurdaspur on December 17. In a statement here
yesterday, Mr Hamid Masih, Mr Freddy Joseph and Father
Benjamin Karam Chand, all morcha leaders, said there was
unrest among the Christian fraternity as it felt that the
SAD-BJP combine had clamped an unannounced ban on
Christianity in the state and "anti-Christian"
forces were out to disrupt Christian functions in league
with the bureaucracy. Mr Badal, if sincere towards the
Christians, should repent for the atrocities on them and
take action against the fundamental elements in the state
before attending the function, they demanded. |
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Jalandhar gets intelligent network JALANDHAR, Dec 13 — To provide facilities such as free phone service (FPH), virtual calling card (VCC) account credit card (ACC), virtual private network and universal access number, the local telecommunication authorities have commissioned an ‘intelligent network’. According to a press
note issued here today, the General Manager Telecom
(Jalandhar district), the facility would be useful for
different categories of telephone subscribers. under the
VCC scheme subscribers buy a card available in
denominations of Rs 105, 210 or Rs 525 from the customer
service centre at the central telegraph office to make
local, outstation and international calls from any
telephone number, including a PCO. |
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Badal briefed on resolution CHANDIGARH, Dec 13 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who returned from Delhi today, has been briefed about the resolution passed by the Bathinda district administration against the Minister of State for Irrigation, Mr Sikandar Singh Maluka. Informed sources told TNS that Mr Badal will discuss the matter with officers concerned tomorrow. The Chief Secretary, Mr R.S. Mann, who was faxed the three-page resolution, would also give his views on the subject. It is for the first time
that 11 IAS, IPS and PCS officers have passed a
resolution condemning the "misbehaviour" of a
minister and even alleged that he wanted to hush up an
embezzlement case which surfaced in the Irrigation
Department recently. |
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Disparity in Punjab PMT rules BATHINDA, Dec 13 — Though students of the state vying for a berth in the medical colleges of the state and in various other states have been suffering on account of ‘discriminatory’ admission rules, the Punjab Government has failed to amend the rules so far. The state government has been showing reluctance to amend the existing admission rules even though Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and other senior officials have promised to do so time and again. At present any student who had studied in Punjab for five years or had passed class X or class XII from any recognised institution of any state is eligible for appearing in the medical entrance test (PMT). However, in other states only those students are eligible to appear in entrance tests who had passed class XII from the state concerned only. Mr Hardev Arshi, leader of the CPI in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Dr Ajit Pal, president of the PCMS Association, Bathinda, Dr Rajesh Maheshwary, president of the IMA, Bathinda and Mr Ashok Gupta, president, Medical Entrance Problem Redressal Forum, have taken up the matter with authorities concerned but to no avail. Mr Arshi said he also took up the matter in the state assembly and was assured by Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh that existing admission rules would be reviewed but nothing had been done in this regard. He stated that he had also written a letter to the Chief Secretary, Punjab, Mr R.S. Mann, to look into the matter. Sources said due to this disparity, the students of Punjab were suffering a lot as their share was being eaten up by students of other states. On the other hand the students of Punjab were not allowed to appear in the entrance test of any other state. Dr Ajit Pal said the Punjab Government had rationalised the admission procedure for the entrance test of the engineering colleges but it had not changed the existing criteria for the medical colleges. The PCMS Association and the Medical Entrance Problem Redressal Forum have also urged the Punjab Government to make arrangements for conducting the PMT on the pattern of the University of Rajasthan where the answersheets were provided in triplicate and out of three one copy was given to the student at the end of the examination. They said after the
declaration of the results, the questions and answers
were published in leading newspapers so that the students
who had appeared in the test could compare their answers
and evaluate themselves. |
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2 arrested in spirit case FEROZEPORE, Dec 13 — (UNI) — The police today arrested Mehtab Singh and his 16-year-old daughter in connection with the death of 11 persons of nomadic who had died here after consuming spirit. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) H.S. Dhillon told newsmen that the police would go for a magisterial inquiry into the matter. According to the police, Mehtab Singh and his family used to prepare and sell spirit. His wife and son have absconded. The local Sadar police station has registered the case under Section 304 of the IPC against the accused. Mr Dhillon said the police had recovered the bodies of the deceased from three different places adjoining the cantonment railway station. He said the matter had been brought into the notice of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and DGP Sarabjit Singh. The cause of the deaths
was revealed following post-mortem at the local civil
hospital. |
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Spirit contained
‘drugs’ FEROZEPORE, Dec 13 —Nineteen-year-old Bhami’s parents — Amba Dass and Shanti — were among the 11 persons who had died after consuming illicit liquour here on Saturday night. In her statement to the local police, Bhami stated that she had been living with her parents in a jhuggi along the Ferozepore-Fazilka railway track in the cantonment area. She was living with her parents as her husband had deserted her two years ago. Bhami and her parents were rag-pickers. She said her parents used to drink illicit liquor regularly. She said either she or her parents used to bring spirit from Mehtab Singh, alias Billa Doctor, a resident of Basti Tankan Wali. she alleged in her statement that Billa, his wife Balbir Kaur and their children had been selling ‘spirit’. On the day of the incident, Bhami went to the shop of Mehtab Singh to get ‘spirit’ for her parents worth Rs 15. She said Mehtab Singh told her that the spirit was very strong as he had mixed ‘good’ drugs in it. Bhami said she informed about this to her parents. Bhami’s parents
drunk spirit, had their dinner and went to sleep. But
they were unable to see anything when they woke up in the
morning. After sometime, they were unable to speak, Bhami
stated and added that later they died. |
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Man sets himself, paramour
ablaze LUDHIANA, Dec 13 — A case of a young man burning his paramour, 20-year his senior, and himself, allegedly in a state of depression has come to light. According to information available 22 year old Babbi had an affair with 45 year old Indu Bala for over nine years. Both were employed in a hosiery in Shivaji Nagar and had recently been thrown out by the employer. Sources reveal Indu Bala was troubled by the fact that Babbi had begun to eye her daughter. Thus when Babbi went to Indu Bala’s house today they had an altercation, during which Babbi poured kerosene oil over himself and Indu Bala and set both of them ablaze. While Indu Bala
sustained 50 per cent burns, Babbi sustained 100 per cent
burns. Both of them were admitted to the L M Civil
Hospital. |
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Gang of cheats busted PATIALA, Dec 13 — With the arrest of a conwoman, the police claims to have busted a gang of cheats indulging in the supply of fake registration copies of stolen vehicles. Mr Harpreet Singh Sidhu, SSP, said in a press release here today that the police raided the house of Seema Sharma, the alleged leader of the gang and arrested her. A case under Sections 379, 411, 420, 407, 468, 471, IPC, had been registered against her in October but she had been at large since then. Mr Sidhu said the police also recovered a large number of fake registration copies from her house. He said another alleged member of the gang, Vinod Kumar, was already arrested. The SSP said Seema
Sharma had been remanded in police custody till December
14. |
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Ban public use of liquor:
Chawla AMRITSAR, Dec 13 — The BJP MLA, Mrs Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, today lashed out at the administration for allowing public consumption of liquor and indiscriminate firing during marriages. Mrs Chawla said that the government had banned the use of alcohol on roads, but it was generally seen that during weddings, liquor flowed without inhibition. Under the influence of liquor, some policemen and rich people used their firearms, accidentally killing a number of people. The government must come down heavily against such elements, she said and suggested that public consumption of liquor should be banned. With regard to carrying of firearms in public, Mrs Chawla added that the government must work out modalities so that weapons were not allowed at public functions to avoid any unsavoury incident. Recently, during a
marriage celebration at Ludhiana, a Customs Inspector, Mr
Kalsi, under the influence of liquor, had allegedly shot
dead an autorickshaw owner, she pointed out. |
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Mr S.K. Tuteja CHANDIGARH, Dec 13 — The Punjab Government today placed the services of the Punjab State Electricity Board Chairman, Mr S.K. Tuteja, at the disposal of the Government of India for appointment as Development Commissioner, Small Scale Industries with immediate effect. A press note issued
today said that orders about appointment of the new
chairman would follow in due course. Till then the
Principal Secretary, Irrigation and Power, has been asked
to make internal arrangements for the disposal of the
work. |
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