Monday, June 7, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Monday, June 7, 1999 |
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Higher
ex-gratia for martyrs’ kin mooted CM wants special funds for killed
jawans' kin |
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Bank
officials fumble in embezzlement case Punjab to exploit falls for power
generation Barnala sidesteps issue of
candidature Engineers agitated at girl’s
abduction Clarify about sant, Mann asks
Taksal Lack of funds hit jail
construction Transplantation of paddy made easy Rice millers’ plea to CM Armed clash over land 3 held for theft of Rs 10 lakh
rubber goods Probe sought into youth's mystery
death SPCA move to sterilise dogs Double murder detected |
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Higher ex-gratia for
martyrs’ kin mooted CHANDIGARH, June 6 — The Punjab Sainik Welfare department has mooted a proposal to enhance the ex-gratia amount for the defence personnel killed in action while protecting the borders to Rs 2 lakh. At present the maximum amount of ex-gratia for such persons is Rs 25,000. The department has submitted a proposal with regard to enhancement in ex-gratia to the Punjab Government. It is expected to be taken up at the next Cabinet meeting. Brig Kuldip Singh Kahlon, Director, Sainik Welfare, Punjab said the issue of raising memorial of Sqn Ldr Ajay Ahuja, who was killed in action in the Kargil sector a few days ago, has been taken up with the administration of Bathinda district. The district Sainik Welfare Officer posted at Bathinda had been directed to coordinate with the district administration for selecting a suitable site for the memorial. Instructions had been sent to all District Sainik Officers in the state to be in touch with the families of those defence personnel killed in action in recent days in Kargil sector or elsewhere while protecting India's territorial integrity. Brigadier Kahlon said there existed an elaborate Central and state government policy for extending help to the dependents of the jawans and other ranks killed in action. There was a provision made by the Punjab Government to give top priority to the widows or wards of the defence personnel killed in operation. The priority was given only Class III and Class IV jobs. There are nearly 1,250 widows of defence personnel killed in action since 1962 China war. Giving out details Brigadier Kahlon said as many as 368 widows were listed after China war, 279 after war against Pakistan in 1965, 308 in 1971 in a war again against Pakistan and besides this 95 widows were listed after Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka where the Indian Army was sent to restore peace. After Operation Meghdoot in Siachen 19 widows were listed and in other internal operations 178 widows were registered with the Sainik Welfare, Punjab. He said the Central government provided full reimbursment of the amount incurred on books, hostel fee, uniforms for the wards of the Jawans killed in action. Apart from this there was a 10 per cent reservation of jobs for the widows of defence personnel killed in action for group "C" jobs in all Central government departments and 20 per cent reservation for group "D" jobs. There was also 14.5 per cent job reservation for such women in all centralised banks. Regretting that there
was not much awareness among the widows and other
dependents for availing such facilities, he said he had
instructed the Sainik Welfare Officers at the district
headquarters to educate the families concerned in this
regard. |
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CM wants special funds for
killed jawans' kin CHANDIGARH, June 6 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, said today that the country should set up a special fund for the well-being of the families of those defence personnel who are killed in action while serving the nation. "Those families should be adopted by the country. Looking after them should be the responsibility of the nation." Mr Badal told a press conference at Punjab Bhavan that he had already spoken to the Chief of the Army Staff and written to Delhi to give the state government a list of all Punjabis killed in Kargil operations so that suitable steps could be taken to provide their families succour. The Cabinet at its next meeting would take up the issue and evolve a policy. Referring to the fund, Mr Badal said if this were to happen he would give Rs 1 lakh as his "personal" contribution. Answering a volley of politically loaded questions, the party chief said a meeting of the political affairs committee of the party will be called soon to consider "appropriate action" against those who had left the party. He did not subscribe to the word "split". To a pointed question he said the issue of Mr Surjit Singh Barnala having attended the parallel conference on Baisakhi at Anandpur Sahib had been sorted out. "I am satisfied with the explanation given by Mr Barnala. I cannot disclose what he said. The matter is closed". Mr Badal charged Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and others with hobnobbing with the Congress. On Mr Tohra's repeated appeal to him to recognise Bhai Ranjit Singh as Jathedar and showing disrespect to Akal Takht Mr Badal said appointment and removal of the Jathedar was prerogative of the SGPC executive, which represents the "sangat". Did Mr Tohra not do same things during his tenure of 25 years?, he asked. The Chief Minister said
if the Congress felt that a "false case" has
been registered against Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal at
Nabha let it present facts. The government would have the
matter probed by anyone if the congress was keen on doing
so. |
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Tie-up with Mann LUDHIANA, June 6 — The Janata Dal high command is likely to veto the move by its Punjab unit chief, Mr Jagir Singh Ganesh, to forge an electoral alliance with the Akali Dal (Amritsar) headed by hardliner Simranjit Singh Mann for contesting the Lok Sabha elections. Insiders in the Janata Dal here indicated today that the party high command had sought an explanation from Mr Ganesh for taking a policy decision without consulting it or anyone in the state unit. This follows a virtual revolt in the ranks of the Punjab Janata Dal over the announcement by Mr Ganesh a few days ago that the party might tie up with Mr Mann. Several leaders, including Mr Harish Khanna and Mr Sohan Lal Sathi, have publicly protested against the move. They pointed out that none of the office-bearers or 11 members of the Steering Committee of the Janata Dal was taken into confidence by Mr Ganesh before making the move. Nor had the issue been discussed by the party in any forum. The proposed tie-up with Mr Mann was against the avowed objectives, policies and programmes of the party. While the Janata Dal had all along forged alliances with parties working on secular lines and had chosen to lose power than ally with fundamentalist forces, it was an admitted fact that Mr Mann had been pursuing a separatist line and was now perhaps the sole protagonist of the concept of "Khalistan". By openly stating that Kashmir was not an integral part of India, Mr Mann had exposed his real anti-national face, said Mr Khanna. Janata Dal leaders have held a series of meetings at different places in the state, including Ludhiana and Jalandhar, following the announcement of the proposed tie-up with Mr Mann by Mr Ganesh where it has been decided to take up the issue strongly with the party high command. According to Mr Khanna, the all-India General Secretary of the party, Dr Bapu Kaldate, has been apprised of the situation who has assured them that the matter-will be looked into. Insiders ascribe the present controversy in the party on the electoral tie-up with Mr Mann to the fact that Mr Ganesh is a political greenhorn, not very well versed with the intricacies of the political scene in Punjab. He owes his appointment as the state party chief not so much to his political astuteness as to the fact that he may be more acceptable to BC/SC voters. The Janata Dal does not count for much in Punjab. It does not hold any seat in the 117-member Punjab Vidhan Sabha. In the dissolved Lok Sabha, the former Prime Minister, Mr Inder Kumar Gujral, was elected from Jalandhar on a Janata Dal ticket but his entire election campaign was conducted by the Akali Dal (B) supremo, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, with a reluctant BJP extending support to him. It is unlikely now that
Mr Gujral will seek election from Punjab this time. The
Janata Dal leadership is yet to apply its mind to the
number of parliamentary seats it will contest in Punjab.
Mr Khanna, who is senior vice-president of the Janata
Dal, has let it be known that he is an aspirant for the
party ticket for the Ludhiana parliamentary constituency.
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Bank officials fumble in
embezzlement case TARN TARAN, June 6 — A fraud of lakhs of rupees committed three years back in the local branch of the State Bank of India has remained unsolved even though a couple of years have passed. According to bank sources the amount was embezzled by a clerk of same bank branch, who was recruited by the bank on compassionate grounds after the death of her husband who was a class IV employee of the bank here. As his wife, the woman in question, was a matriculate so she was recruited a clerk and was given the job of collecting amounts under challan form no 32-A to be deposited by the different government departments or for official purposes just as revenue by the patwaris, lambardars, stamp vendors besides arhatias and others. Once about three years back one tehsildar of the local tehsil issued arrest warrants of a farmer who was found guilty of not repaying the amount to be given to the government, when the farmer concerned was arrested and a copy of receipt of challan form no 32-A was shown by the farmer showing the amount deposited in the bank. Two more such cases came to light and these were brought to the notice of bank officials. Bank officials initiated an inquiry into the matter and the woman-clerk was involved in the inquiry. Since then the woman clerk did not attend the bank and she was suspended, later. Bank officials are regularly sending her subsistence allowance every month at her address given to the bank which is not being received by the woman clerk concerned. The matter was handed over to the police by the bank. The investigating officials of the police want to know the exact amount embezzled which is not even known to bank officials and this point becomes bottleneck for registering a criminal case. So bank officials have failed to lodge a criminal case against the said woman clerk. Bank authorities have recently served a charge-sheet on the clerk but the authorities fear that the letter would not be received by her. So embezzlement has
become a headache for bank officials. |
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Punjab to exploit falls for
power generation GURDASPUR, June 6 — Mr Jagjit Puri, Chief Executive PEDA said here today that the Punjab Government had imported Chinese technology to produce electricity by microhydel generation. As many as 32 falls in the Kandi areas had been identified which would produce 35 megawatt electricity. Mr Puri said that contract in this regard would be given in private sector on the basis of build own and operate (BOT). Thirty falls in Punjab have been given on contract in the private sector and 30 more falls identified by the state will be given also in private sector to generate power. The cost of generating power under microhydel technology comes out to be Rs 5 crore per megawatt. Mr Puri said the cost of power generation will go down to Rs 3 crore per megawatt because government had allowed the use of main canal for microhydel generation. The target to the government is to generate at 14,000 megawatt by this technology in due course. Mr Puri said that the Punjab government had sought technology from Denmark and Switzerland to produce electricity from cow dung. Punjab will be the first state in this regard and has selected Habowal in Ludhiana district to start Rs 11,000 crore project in this regard for which technical evaluation had already been made and central government clearance obtained. The government of India would finance the project, he said. Mr Puri said that all sugar mills would have their own power-generation plants based on biogas. The government has permitted Rana Sugar Mill, Buttar 47 km from here on the Batala-Jalandhar road to set up 10 megawatt biogas based energy plant which will involve an expenditure of Rs 40 crore. The mill will use five megawatt for its internal consumption and will sell the balance of 5 megawatt to the Punjab State Electricity Board on remunerative prices. Power purchase agreement among PEDA, sugar mill and Punjab State Electricity Board had already been signed. Mr Puri said that
fluorescent lamp (CFL) was being promoted in a big way.
It saves 75 per cent energy and lasts 20 years. |
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Sangrur LS seat PATIALA, June 6 — Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Surjit Singh Barnala has said the proposed merger of sick public sector undertaking Punjab National Fertilisers and Chemicals (PNFC) with National Fertilisers Limited (NFL) is being examined at the highest level. Talking to newsmen here last evening after attending a function organised by the state Karamchari Dal, Mr Barnala said the modalities for the merger were being worked out at the request of the PNFC. He, however, said it would not be an easy task as NFL did not want to take up a liability. Mr Barnala said his priority was to safeguard the interests of the employees of the PNFC which had been closed for want of funds for the past three months. When questioned on the huge accumulation of foodgrains in Punjab, Mr Barnala said 9.15 lakh tonnes of foodgrains had been transported from the state in April and 8.50 lakh tonnes in May. He had held a meeting in this regard recently and now steps would be taken to transport more than 11 lakh tonnes of foodgrains from the state every month. He said the country was also getting a good response to the export of foodgrains. While 42 lakh tonnes of basmati and seven lakh tonnes of coarse rice had been exported by private traders last year, the government now expected 10 lakh tonnes of wheat to be exported. Mr Barnala sidestepped the issue of whether he would be a candidate for the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat following a statement by Akali Dal secretary-general S.S. Dhindsa that Education Minister Tota Singh might be fielded from there. However, when asked whether the split in the party would harm its prospects at the hustings, he said a division was always harmful. Mr Barnala also said he did not like the split in the party. "I made efforts to ensure the split did not take place but unfortunately I was not successful", he said. He described his attending former SGPC chief G.S. Tohra's meeting at Anandpur Sahib as a sentimental reaction to a religious occasion. Earlier, at the Karamchari dal function, Mr Barnala lauded the services of Mr Kulbir Singh, general secretary of the dal, who retired recently. The speakers included
dal president Hari Singh Tohra, Finance Minister
Kanwaljit Singh and Subordinate Services Selection Board
Chairman Jasdev Singh Sandhu. |
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Engineers agitated at girl’s
abduction ROPAR, June 6 — The local unit of the PSEB Engineers Association has expressed concern over the police's failure to trace the daughter of an engineer of Ropar Thermal Plant (RTP) allegedly abducted by some boys of the local government college some days ago. In a fax message, to the Chief Secretary, Punjab the D.G.P., and the Regional Secretary of the association, Mr Charanjit Singh alleged that the accused were being shielded as they belonged to an influential family. Even a meeting of the association with the SSP and a request by the Chief Engineer of the thermal plant to the Deputy Commissioner had failed to yield any result. According to the police, the FIR lodged by the girl's father says the girl, was appearing for her B.A. II examination was allegedly abducted from the college by the son of a local educationist, and two other boys in a Maruti car. The police has registered a case under Sections 363, 366 and 120-B, IPC. But the three accused mentioned in the FIR had got a stay on their arrest from a local court till June 8. The police has also
failed to trace the girl. Mr Charanjit Singh warned that
the association might launch an agitation on the issue
following a protest rally to be held at the plant
tomorrow. |
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Clarify about sant, Mann asks
Taksal AMRITSAR, June 6 — For the first time, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), led by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, has urged the Damdami Taksal (Bhindranwale) to clarify whether Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was killed during Operation Bluestar or he was still alive. The Damdami Taksal had been claiming that Sant Bhindranwale was still in "high spirits" at an unknown place. This was the reason that the bhog ceremony of the sant had not been performed so far though his body was identified by his own brother. The SAD (Amritsar) today said that there was lot of confusion in the minds of Sikhs on this issue. If Sant Bhindranwale was dead then his "shaheedi samagam" should be held. On the other hand, the Khalra Action Committee, the All-India Sikh Students Federation had already announced that Sant Bhindranwale was no more. The action committee had earlier announced that the bhog in the memory of the sant would be held at Akal Takht today, but this was not allowed by the SGPC. The Khalra committee had earlier announced that the bhog ceremony would end the controversy regarding the sant. Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar of Akal Takht, while performing the ardas at Akal Takht today said that Sant Bhindranwale and his followers had fought against the Army operation in 1984. Most of the Sikhs had laid down their lives while protecting Akal Takht and the Golden Temple from the Army operation". The Akal Takht Jathedar,
who was a confidant of Sant Bhindranwale, did not clarify
whether the latter was dead or alive. However, the SGPC
chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, said that Sant Bhindranwale had
announced that he would not leave Akal Takht at the time
of Operation Bluestar. She, however, pleaded that the
SGPC should not be involved in the controversy. |
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Lack of funds hit jail
construction ROPAR: Even eight years after its construction began, the district complex here is nowhere near completion. More than 60 per cent of the work remains unfinished for want of funds. The jail is being raised on 24 acres and is expected to house 825 prisoners from the district and the neighbouring districts of Fatehgarh Sahib and Nawanshahr. At present, the town has a sub-jail where only 30 undertrials can be kept. The convicts have to be sent to the central jail at Patiala. Construction of the jail building was started in 1991-92 when a sum of Rs 23 lakh was released for the project. This was enough to raise the 12-foot high boundary wall. In the next two financial years no funds were provided and the work stopped. Since 1994-95 some funds had been earmarked every year but these were not enough to complete the project. If the shortage of the funds continues, the jail cannot be made operational even in five years. Till now two boundary walls, an administrative block, barracks for 200 prisoners, a segregation ward for 40 prisoners and some inner roads have been built. The incomplete part of the project includes barracks for 125 prisoners, another 135 barracks for women prisoners, a guard room, sentry posts, a maintenance store, a gurdwara, a temple, eight watch towers, a canteen, a factory complex, a hospital and an armoury. Besides, residences for the jail staff, including the Superintendent of Jail, are yet to be constructed. In the absence of these, the jail cannot be made functional. The district administration recently wrote to the I.G. (jails) to initiate steps for the early release of funds. At present, work on the water works and provision of basic amenities is in progress in the constructed area. About 100 prisoners from the district are lodged in the central jail at Patiala. According to sources, the district jail will have a staff consisting of a Jail Superintendent, his deputy, four assistant superintendents, warders and other employees, besides a medical officer, a pharmacist and matrons. With the shifting of
prisoners from Patiala after the completion of the Jail,
relatives of convicts will also get easy access to them
as now they have to travel to Patiala to meet their
convicted kin. |
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Transplantation of paddy made easy PATIALA, June 5 — Mechanised Japanese transplanter will revolutionise paddy transplantation in Punjab. Farmers were all praise for the transplanter during its demonstration at Naseerpur farm near here recently. Besides transplanting seedlings in a single line, at a regular distance which ensures equal nutrients and sunlight to all plants, the transplanter would make deweeding process easy. The transplanters is powered by a four-cylinder air-cooled OHV petrol engine. It transplants six rows of seedlings at a time with a width of 30 cm between the two seedlings . The planting depth as well as the number of seedlings to be planted in every hill can also be controlled. The machine has a power steering with anti-puncture tyres and wheel disc. It costs Rs 6 lakh. The promoters are, however, hopeful that the price would come more down once the duty of Rs 1.5 lakh on it is waived. Agricultural Department officials said the government was considering subsidy on the transplanter. Farmers said the transplanter at Rs 3 lakh would be within their reach. They, however, feel the machine, which can transplant paddy in eight to 10 acre per day, can be let out. Jasjit Singh Sandhu of Tarain village near Dakala said the transplanter can help farmers to get two paddy crops in a season. One basmati and another coarse rice crop can double farmers' profit. A promoter Rakesh Kad said the transplantation of seedlings takes place with mud attached to the roots which results in their immediate growth, whereas in manual transplantation soilless seedlings on transplantation pale before striking roots. He said a mat type nursery had to be reared for this operation. Mr V.K. Sharma,
Additional Director, Research and Engineering, Punjab
Agricultural University, said field preparation was a
stringent requirement for transplanting paddy with
PAU-developed machines. He said this machine has its
entire weight on its wheels due to which the float which
transplants paddy does not drag mud with it. The cost
could be a handicap. |
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Rice millers’ plea to CM LUDHIANA, June 6 — The Punjab Rice Millers Association has appealed to the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal to withdraw Arbitration cases against the rice millers initiated by Markfed and Punsup agencies on account of losses suffered due to sale of paddy crop in 1994-95. Mr Tarsem Saini, president of the association, said that at a meeting with the Chief Minister in 1997, he was convinced and had decided in principle that no penal action would be taken against the rice millers. However, he alleged that these arbitration cases had not been withdrawn. He said that the rice millers would not be storing paddy of the government even though it would lead to deterioration in their economic condition. He has appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene with the central government for the movement of rice from the state so as to accommodate the rice from the balance paddy stocks of the 1998-99 crop. Mr Saini also appealed
to the millers of the state to unite and not to lift the
paddy stocks of other mill owners. |
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Armed clash over land JALANDHAR, June 6 (UNI) — In an armed clash over a land dispute in the nearby Khurla King village, a car was burnt and two trucks damaged while a few people suffered minor injuries today. The dispute was over 50 marlas allegedly sold by Victoria Cross winner Maj Parkash Singh to one Arjan Das 25 years ago. Both the seller and purchaser are dead, but their legal heirs are fighting over the possession of the land and are involved in litigation. The trouble erupted when Alep Parkash Singh, daughter of Maj Parkash Singh, along with 40 to 50 men descended on the scene in two trucks, two Tata Sumos and one Ambassador car to prevent Satya Devi and her associates from building a boundary wall on the land. More than 100 armed men, allegedly attacked the party of Alep Parkash Singh, leading to the clash. Bahujan Samaj Party district president Pawan Tinoo, reportedly a resident of the same village, who had been supporting Satya Devi, was present. Satya Devi is the wife of Vaisakhi Ram, one of the four sons of Arjan Das, who had purchased the land. She came from Britain recently to take possession of the land. The police registered
cases of trespass and criminal intimidation and detained
at least eight persons. |
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3 held for theft of Rs 10
lakh rubber goods KAPURTHALA, June 6 — The police here arrested three persons on the charge of stealing rubber goods worth Rs 10 lakh booked in a truck from Tamil Nadu for transportation to Chandigarh according to Mr Iqbal Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police. The SSP identified the arrested persons as Suba Singh of Mothanwala village, Gurdev Singh of Maqsoodpur village and Nirmal Singh of Saincha village. The SSP said that a transport firm of Jalandhar loaded 10 tonne rubber trade mark MRF tyres alongwith 185 tyres of jeep in a truck bearing registration number H.G.A. 7485 with a driver who disclosed his name Nirmal Singh and Gurdev Singh of Faridabad, the owner of truck on February 20, 99 from Coimbatore Tamil Nadu, for transportation to Chandigarh but the truck did not reach Chandigarh. The owner of the goods later got a case registered for the embezzlement of the goods under Section 407 IPC at a police station at Coimbatore against the driver and owner of the truck. The SSP added that the police intercepted a jeep driven by one Suba Singh of Mothanwala village carrying 12 containers of Rubber Mark MRF near Palian bus stand on the Sultanpur Lodhi-Kapurthala road on May 24, 99 and on questioning the driver of the jeep could not show any papers owning rubber and on suspicion the police took into possession of rubber worth Rs one lakh in its possession. Later the owner of firm identified the goods. On interrogation, Suba
Singh confessed that he along with Nirmal Singh and
Gurdev Singh loaded the rubber with intention to usurp it
from Tamil Nadu. The police has also recovered 26
containers of rubber and the truck from their possession.
The arrested persons confessed that they had sold the
goods to Brij Lal of Patiala who is yet to be arrested. |
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Probe sought into youth's
mystery death BATHINDA, June 6 — Mr S.R. Ladhar, District Magistrate today ordered a magisterial probe into the death of Vinod Kumar, a youth of Partap Nagar locality, who died under mysterious circumstances in the Civil Hospital here yesterday. Mr Ladhar ordered the magisterial probe on the complaint of Mr Ved Gupta, general secretary, People Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), Punjab unit. According to the complaint, Vinod Kumar was found injured near a cinema house on the night of the June 4. He said that police had made out a case of suicide ignoring his injuries, including those inflicted by a sharp- edged weapon. Sources said that doctors who attended on Vinod at the Civil Hospital said he had died of poison but during the post mortem stab wounds were found on his body. The viscera has been sent to the laboratory for chemical examination. Mr Gupta in the
telegrams to the DGP, Punjab Police, IG (Crime), Chief
Minister, Punjab, Deputy Commissioner and SSP, Bathinda
demanded a thorough probe. |
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SPCA move to sterilise dogs ROPAR, June 6 — The Ropar district Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has drawn up a plan to sterilise the stray dogs and bitches in order to lower incidents of rabies and wipe out disease from the district. Population of stray dogs and bitches is about 12,000 in 914 villages and seven towns of the district. The SPCA has planned to sterilise 300 stray dogs and bitches every year. This will be continued for seven years under the Animal Birth Control Programme (ABCP) to check proliferation of dogs. According to sources, 1000 persons get affected with rabies by a dog bites annually in this district. Execution of this plan, will give relief to people who and livestock sometimes die of rabies. Stray dogs and bitches will be picked up by catchers. After sterilisation, these dogs and bitches will be housed for a week till their wounds heal. These dogs will also be immunised against rabies and notched on the ear before their release in their original locality. Mr Chetan Aggarwal, President of the SPCA, Ropar district, said that the SPCA had drawn up this project to save people from rabies, as killing of dogs or bitches was illegal under the act. Mr Aggarwal said that
sterilisationRs 1200 to the society which including cost
of medicines (Rs 600), catching of dog or bitch (Rs 40),
hospitalisation/ housing expenses of an animal for 10
days (Rs 300), attendant's charges for 10 days (Rs 100)
and doctors fee for per operation and post operative
charges (Rs 150). |
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Double murder detected JALANDHAR, June 6 (UNI) — Two men were brutally murdered and their bodies, with eyes gouged out and arms severed, were found in the fields of one Jasbir Singh in Chachowal village under Shahkot police station today. The police said that the bodies were later identified as those of Bakshi of Chak Kalan village and Dharam Singh of Khosa Dal Singh village. Both victims were Dalits in their mid-thirties. The crime came to light when Balbir Singh, who tills the land on lease from Jasbir Singh, found the bodies with a cycle and unsheathed sword lying near them. The police has
registered a case of murder under Sections 302 and 34 of
the IPC and removed the bodies for autopsy. |
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Pak spy gets 9 years' RI LUDHIANA, June 6 (PTI) — A local court here has sentenced a Pakistani spy to nine and a half years of rigorous imprisonment. Judicial Magistrate Rakesh Kumar pronounced the sentence on the spy Daniel Masih, alias Peter Parkash, on June 3, sources said today. Daniel, nabbed by the
local police in August last year, had been charged under
various sections of the IPC after a some maps and plans
of the various Indian airports was recovered from him. |
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Bhai Ranjit gives cops
anxious moments AMRITSAR, June 6 — It was a tense day for the Amritsar police today following unconfirmed reports that the sacked Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh would make an attempt to reach Akal Takht to pay homage to those killed in the Army operation in June 1984. A heavy police presence was visible around the residence of Bhai Ranjit Singh throughout the day. The confusion increased following a rumour that Bhai Ranjit Singh had left for an unknown place. It is pertinent to
mention here that Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president SAD
(Amritsar) had earlier announced that Bhai Ranjit Singh
would perform 'ardas' at Akal Takht on June 6 to coincide
with the Operation Bluestar. |
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‘Make aviation body
functional’ PATIALA, June 6 — The Patiala Aviation Club Workers Union today demanded that the state government make the Civil Aviation Authority, set up by it in 1997, functional. In a statement here, the union President, Mr Barinder Singh said though the Civil Aviation Authority had been registered as per the law, but had not started functioning till yet. On the other hand, the Haryana Government had completed the process of setting up in three months a similar authority. Mr Barinder Singh said
all employees of flying clubs of Punjab and AME College
were suffering due to this. These employees were not
getting regular salaries. Salaries for 15 months were
pending and the employees were also not getting pension,
gratuity and other retirement benefits. |
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Seminar on traffic management JALANDHAR, June 6 — The NGO Helpline organised a seminar on traffic control here yesterday. The chief guest, DIG, Suresh Arora, speaking at the seminar said the population of the city had crossed 10 lakhs, with 3.75 lakh vehicles plying the city's roads which have not increased in width or size, in the past 20 years. Another 3,700 vehicles are being added each month, he said. The traffic police has also not kept pace with just 1,000 personnel for a multiplicity of duties including night patrolling, and VIP duty. The Jalandhar police unveiled a traffic programme, under which congested chowks like, Jyoti Chowk and Ambedkar Chowk, will be made reduced in size. The Deputy Mayor, Mr GS
Narula, speaking at the seminar admitted that roads had
been encroached upon, sometimes in league with municipal
corporation staff. The traffic police announced a
campaign from Friday to check the violations including on
helmets and tinted glasses. |
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Badal distributes Rs 1.65 cr
among farmers FEROZEPORE, June 6 — The SAD president and the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has asked people of Punjab to beware of tactics of the former SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who wanted to mislead them for his vested interests. He was addressing a gathering of villagers at Armanpura (Asal) village, near here, yesterday evening, where he inaugurated the building of Bibi Bhaniji Students hostel in the complex of Guru Ram Dass Public School. On this occasion, Mr Badal also distributed cheques worth Rs 1.65 crore as compensation amongst 3,740 farmers whose land is situated on other side of fencing on the Indo-Pakistan Border in this district. A total of 6,291 acres of such land falls in this district. Expressing concern over the allegations being levelled against him (Mr Badal) by Mr Tohra, the SAD chief said that Mr Tohra had nothing to do except to criticise him. But, he (Badal) didn't believe in the criticism of any one, he said. Mr Badal said that certain forces were bent upon to disturbing peace in Punjab and hoped that people of Punjab would never allow such forces to succeed. Mr Badal said that Mr Tohra had launched a campaign against him at the instance the Congress. Mr Badal asked the voters of Punjab to reject the Congress which he said was responsible for the attack on the Golden Temple in Amritsar and 1984-riots. People should not accept any foreign-origin's person for post of the Indian Prime Minister, he added. Mr Badal said Rs 750
crore would be spent on the repair and construction of
roads in the coming months.Among others, the minister of
State, Punjab Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon also spoke. |
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SGPC, Sant Samaj row over
"siropa", "prasad" AMRITSAR, June 6 — Four senior SGPC executive committee members yesterday reacted to the statement of some Sant Samaj leaders criticising the SGPC for discontinuing the age-old practice of bestowing "siropa" and giving "prasad" of "patasas" in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple. The SGPC executive committee members, Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, Dr Jodh Singh, Mr Partap Singh and Mr Satnam Singhpura in a statement criticised the Sant Samaj leaders and said that nobody could be allowed to impose his views on the Sikh ideology. The statement released by the publicity section of the SGPC said that changes in the traditions in the sanctum sanctorum were made as bestowing of "siropas" and giving of "prasad" of "patasas" did not fit in the Sikh ideology of equality. Under the Sikh ideology, specially in Sikh shrines there is equality for all and due to wrong traditions devotees paying obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum by offering Rs 100 could get siropas whereas devotees who could not afford to pay this amount felt embarrassed. Anything which can be obtained by paying money was not in accordance with the Sikh principles, they added. They claimed that the SGPC had been getting complaints from within and outside the country against this practice and appeal were made to the SGPC that tradition of show of wealth should be stopped. The members said the matter was discussed at the general house meeting of the SGPC in March last and it was decided to do away with this practice. This decision received praise from all Sikh quarters. Supporters of Sikh ideology from India and abroad praised it as in accordance with the Sikh thinking. They said that it was surprising that Gurmat Sidhant Parcharak Sant Samaj president, Sant Mangal Singh Satlani and five other Sikh saints had criticised this decision by toeing old ideology of "mahants" as bestowing of "siropas" began during the reign of "mahants" in the Golden Temple. They appealed to the
Sikhs to beware of the "misleading" propaganda
of the leaders of the Sant Samaj. |
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Traders threaten stir LUDHIANA, June 6 — The Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal has warned the state government that the traders would start an agitation, if the government tried to implement the purchase return policy. At a meeting of the
mandal held here yesterday under the presidentship of Mr
Ajit Singh, the members said that all traders were
opposed to the implementation of the policy and the
government earlier had agreed that this would not be
implemented. |
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