Saturday, June 12, 1999
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Saturday, June 12, 1999 |
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Protest march by Cong men KILLIANWALI (Muktsar) June 11 — A large number of men and women led by PPCC Vice-President, Mr Jagmeet Brar and other senior Congress leaders today held a march from here to Muktsar in protest against the alleged enrolment of bogus voters by the Punjab Chief Minister in the Faridkot parliamentary constituency. Abduction, elopement on rise LUDHIANA: Has Ludhiana been overtaken by what is being humorously described as "...Aati Kya Khandala" syndrome, symbolising promiscuity and immorality? |
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Villagers mourn martyr DHURKOT (Ludhiana), June 11 — The body of Sepoy Ajmer Singh of the 15 Sikh Light Infantry who was killed in a mine blast while on deputation to 19 Rashtriya Rifles was consigned to the flames with full military honours here today.
AICC
observer’s Punjab visit starts Bank
employees oppose MoU KCF
terrorist arrested PSEB
directed to supply tender papers HC
upholds auction of contract Dam
inauguration may be delayed Filling
up of Ranjit Sagar dries Doab canal Rly
overbridge collapses "Suspend
attackers" of doctors Lance
Naik Puran Singh cremated Mutilation
of bodies condemned Soldier
cremated with full honours Punjab
bans sale of HP, Bhutan lotteries Revenue
patwaris arrested GND
Varsity convocation SAD-BJP
govt a failure: JD panel Pension
officials demand bribe, say ex-servicemen |
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Enrolment of bogus voters KILLIANWALI (Muktsar) June 11 — A large number of men and women led by PPCC Vice-President, Mr Jagmeet Brar and other senior Congress leaders, including Mr Lalli Badal, Mr Raghubir Chand, Mr Tripat Bajwa and Mr Mohinder Rinwa today held a march from here to Muktsar in protest against the enrolment of bogus voters by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, in the Faridkot parliamentary constituency to ensure the victory of his son Mr Sukhbir Badal in the Lok Sabha elections. Hundreds of vehicles carrying Congress flags and black flags started the march from Vashino temple. The protesters raised slogans against Mr Parkash Singh Badal for destroying the democratic system. Earlier addressing the gathering in the temple, Mr Brar alleged that Mr Parkash Singh Badal had made about 60,000 bogus votes in the Faridkot parliamentary constituency on the one hand while on the other he (Mr Badal) had got deleted the names of about 30,000 Congress workers from the voters list in the rural areas. He said that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Mr M.S. Gill, had been apprised of the situation with the documentary proof and the party expected justice from the CEC. He alleged that senior officials who were connected with the revision of electoral rolls were indulging in malpractice at the behest of Mr Badal and his family members. He said if justice was not done to the genuine voters and bogus votes were not cancelled, he would approach the Chief Election Officer of Punjab. He said there were no dissensions in the Congress and all Congress workers were bound to follow the directions of state as well as central high command. BATHINDA: The PPCC President, Mr Amarinder Singh, on Friday said that a panel of names of the candidates for the 13 Parliamentary seats of Punjab for the coming Lok Sabha elections would be sent to the Congress Parliamentary Board (CPB) after the ongoing meetings of workers were over. Talking to mediapersons here, he said at the block-level workers' meeting the viewpoint of each worker was being taken into consideration and the names for the panel would be shortlisted from the applicants according to the opinion of majority of workers. He said the exercise would be over by month end and the panel would be submitted to CPB by the middle of July. When asked whether the party would enter into an electoral alliance with the secular Left parties Mr Amarinder Singh said the Congress wanted to contest the elections on its own and the alliance would be made as per the directions of the high command. He said the name of Mr Lal Singh in the state election committee was included by him as he wanted to give representation to all sections of the society in the committee. The name of Mr Lal Singh was later approved by AICC President, Ms Sonia Gandhi. Mr Singh addressed the
workers meetings at Bhucho Rampuraphul, Maur, Raman,
Bhagta Bhai Ka and Bathinda. |
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Abduction, elopement on rise LUDHIANA: Has Ludhiana been overtaken by what is being humorously described as "...Aati Kya Khandala" syndrome, symbolising promiscuity and immorality? A spate of abductions, elopments and cases of sexual harassment of women in Ludhiana since the beginning of the year has touched off a fierce debate among the socially aware and civic-minded groups of citizens of the megacity to identify the causes and look for a solution. As many as 17 abductions have been reported in the city in the first five months of the year as against 16 in 1998 and just 13 in 1997. The police says these are not cases of abduction but elopements in which boys and girls have run away from home by mutual consent. Parents of the girls in their complaint to the police generally insist on having a case of abduction registered against the boy to put pressure on the boy's family to produce the fugitives. "They are not really abduction cases", says Mr Kuldip Singh, the city police chief. "Even though we know that in most of these cases, boys and girls have run away by mutual consent, we do our best to help the aggrieved parties in tracing the two. In most of the cases, boys and girls return home after some time, disillusioned with the experience...". He feels that it is the general permissiveness in society and the influence of the Western culture and erosion of the traditional Indian values as depicted in satellite TV channels which constantly bombard the impressionable minds of young boys and girls which are responsible for the rise in such cases. It is the duty of the society at large to come to the aid of our boys and girls and show them the right path. Mrs Shashi Khullar, president of Rupika Ladies Club, says she couldn't agree more. "I can tell you from personal experience that children try to copy what they see on TV. The way the actors and actresses dress, talk, behave and conduct themselves on the small screen profoundly influences children. They think, perhaps, this is the right way to live. Everybody seems to be falling in love with somebody or the other and run away from home...". The current spate of TV serials, depicting extramarital affairs is also influencing children. "They think that if no harm has come to the 'other woman' in the serial and the hero has got away with his fling, how could things go wrong with us", says Mrs Punam Sethi, who runs a study circle for the students in the city. "I interact them with on a day-to-day basis and from their conversation, it is very clear that they feel that life is for 'mauj masti' more than anything else". Mrs Shaila Grover, past president of Niharika Ladies Club, is of the view that if children are being exposing themselves to bad influence it is their parents who are to blame. "Most of the parents where these problems arise have no time for their children. They are busy in their daily routine. They are neither aware of their problems nor their hopes and aspirations. And when they need guidance, parents are not available. Naturally, they do what they think is right, which is not always so. Mrs Manmeen Madaan, president, Niharika Ladies Club, says that the break-up of the traditional joint family system has removed the close supervision which it provided for children. "In the joint family, children always had some elders or the others to turn to for help and guidance even if parents were too busy earning a livelihood. But in the modern-day nuclear families, the children have no one to turn to for help". "Look at the case of Harman in which the nine-year-old boy was kidnapped and murdered by his two teenage friends for ransom", says Mrs Pappu Abnash Singh, past president of Luxmi Ladies Club. "Does it not indicate a complete erosion of values and criminalisation of children for want of supervision and guidance by parents and society at large? Is it not their duty to educate their children and tell them what is right and what is wrong?" She is of the view that
all those concerned about this phenomenon should come
together and set up a helpline for children. "I can
provide them with a telephone and an office which could
be manned round the clock for offering help and guidance
to the children in distress." |
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Ankit — upcoming Sobhraj PATIALA: Tipped four years ago as a prototype of world famous trickster Charles Shobraj by the local police and media, Ankit Priyadarshi, who usually feigns himself as Director, WHO for India and Bangladesh on duping trips has once again managed to hoodwink the police. He is at large for the past one year. Interned in 1995 for seven years on five counts at the Central Jail here, the trickster went into an appeal and was released on bail in April 1997. He furnished two local sureties on bail amount of Rs 25,000 each. After a few appearances in a district court here, Ankit jumped bail. Efforts of the police to locate him at the address given by him, Shakti Bhavan, Khandpura, Puri, Orissa, have proved futile. Both the police and the two sureties Mehal Singh and Sham Lal of Banur village have cut a sorry figure. The latter have to deposit Rs 25,000 each as bail amount promised under surety, besides, the money they gave him on the promise of a job in WHO. Mr Balbir Singh Brar, Additional District Attorney, said non-bailable warrants against Ankit had already been issued by a district court here. But as he did not appear on the June 1 hearing, he was likely to be declared a proclaimed offender. Following the declaration he can be arrested by any state police. His picture and description would be made public. Ankit's police record reveals that he targeted doctors. Impersonating as the Director, WHO, he managed a helicopter to survey the earthquake-hit Latur area and was interviewed by Mark Tully for BBC. He is wanted in Patiala, Aurangabad, Goa, Jaipur, Delhi and Chandigarh. His knowledge of medicines, so-called high-profile job and contacts and above all his amiable disposition lures people. He has married two women and dumped them after digging on their cash. When in the jail here he used the WHO card to get another inmate arrange for his bail. Ankit married a girl from Rajpura town, took her to Delhi, lived for a few days in a five-star hotel, even borrowed money from the hotel by flaunting the WHO card. He walked on his wife. The woman had to pay all his bills. At Rajpura a number of creditors including a PGI, Chandigarh, doctor demanded money which they had loaned to Ankit. A few days before the marriage Ankit has admitted to the PGI with a severe back pain. He impressed the doctor and made him part with Rs 75,000. Ankit's wife went in appeal to the then ADGP, crime, who ordered registration of a case. Soon a detailed report about Ankit was published in The Tribune. The investigating officer, ASI Mohan Lal, got a message from the Goa jail that Ankit was with them. ASI Mohan Lal learnt there that Ankit was also wanted in a case at Aurangabad in Uttar Pradesh. He had married a woman who was the mother of his child. Ankit later blackmailed the woman by clicking her nude photographs. He even duped some of her relatives. But he ran away. At Goa, Ankit impressed a doctor researching on malaria. The doctor accompanied him to survey the earthquake losses in the Latur region. ASI Mohan Lal said ever
since he had been entrusted with the investigation of the
case, he has not been able to sleep properly. "I
went to Jaipur, Aurangabad, Delhi, Brindavan, Goa and
many more places to gather evidence against Ankit,while
bringing him to Patiala in train he twice unlocked his
handcuffs. I was able to overpower him only because he
had confided in me his secret that he loots those who
trust him. |
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Villagers mourn martyr DHURKOT (Ludhiana), June 11 — The body of Sepoy Ajmer Singh of the 15 Sikh Light Infantry who was killed in a mine blast while on deputation to 19 Rashtriya Rifles was consigned to the flames with full military honours here today. More than a thousand people from nearby villages, along with officers of T.A. 103 Battalion and the Sikh Regiment were present at his cremation. Col Manmohan Singh, Deputy Commandant of 715 (1) AD Brigade laid wreaths on the body on behalf of the GOC Western Command. Mr K. Sivaprasad, A.D.C. Ludhiana, laid wreaths for the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Mr Manjeet Singh Brar, SDM, laid wreaths for the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana. There was widespread anger amongst villagers over the absence of senior officials. Prem Singh, a villager, said I have learnt that the Deputy Commissioner is away for sangat darshan. He deemed it fit to go for the sangat darshan rather than pay his last respects to a soldier who laid down his life for keeping the boundaries of the country intact. Sepoy Ajmer Singh, 34, who had been in service for over 14 years, was posted at Fazilka before being sent on deputation to Kashmir valley. Talking to this correspondent, the distraught wife of Sepoy Ajmer Singh, Mrs Paramjeet Kaur said that she wasn't even aware her husband had been sent on duty to Jammu and Kashmir. Just three months ago, he had come home on leave. After he went, I received the occasional letters from him, but these stopped one month ago. Yesterday, some people from the Army visited our home and informed us about his death. We received the dead body at 6 'o clock in the morning today, she said. Sepoy Ajmer Singh was on patrol duty around Kangan, when the Army truck, in which he was travelling, along with 19 other colleagues, was blown up by a remote controlled improvised explosive device at Wangat. Six soldiers were killed on the spot and several others seriously wounded. Ajmer Singh was the youngest of four sons. Two of his brothers are serving in the Army. Among those present to
express their condolences were Mr Jagjit Singh Ghungrana,
Chairman, Punjab Agro-Industries and Lala Lajpat Rai,
Member of Parliament. Lala Lajpat Rai announced a grant
of Rs 1 lakh for the bereaved family. The villagers
requested him to appeal to the Chief Minister to raise
the level of the local government school from middle to
high school level and name it after Sepoy Ajmer Singh. |
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Auction of govt land to fetch Rs
100 cr GURDASPUR, June 11 — Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats Punjab said here yesterday that prime lands of Zila Parishads in Punjab have been identified for disposal through open auction. Proceeds in this regard were expected to exceed Rs 100 crore and would be spent for the development of the state. Mr Kahlon said that part of these lands which fell in the heart of the cities had been set apart for setting up establishments. Such lands are available in most of the district and sub-divisional headquarters and will enhance income of zila parishads considerably. Mr Kahlon added that there were several pieces of prime land market value of which came to the extent of rupees several crore had been encroached by people. Proceedings for getting such encroachments cleared had been initiated and Deputy Commissioners directed to help vacate encroachments. Mr Kahlon said that there were complaints that panchayat lands were being misutilised or were under control of previous sarpanches. He added that the District Development and Panchayat Officers and Block Development and Panchayat Officers had been issued directions to streamline working of panchayats and prevent irregularities. Mr Kahlon added that elections to Panchayat Samitis which could not be held earlier due to legal hitches would be held by the end of December. Mid-term election to the Lok Sabha in September also came in the way of earlier elections to Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishad. Mr Kahlon said that
recruitment of Panchayat Secretaries as advertised would
be held at the earliest. Test in this regard was being
held on July I. |
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AICC observer’s Punjab
visit starts HOSHIARPUR, June 11 — Mr Yagya Dutt Sharma, former speaker of the Madhya Pradesh State Assembly who has been appointed as party observer for Punjab by the AICC, reached here yesterday and met a number of deputations of party workers and various factions of the local District Congress Committee, identify prospective candidate of the party for the Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha seat in the coming elections to Parliament. Later talking to reporters Mr Sharma said that he had visited Ropar and Hoshiarpur parliamentary constituencies, so far, and found overwhelming enthusiasm for contesting Lok Sabha elections among party leaders. He said that 15 persons had applied for party ticket only from Ropar seat. 40 to 50 deputations of party workers and other organisations met him on Wednesday and pleaded for their respective leaders for the allotment of Congress ticket. Similarly there were seven aspirants including Mr Ambika Soni, General Secretary, AICC, Dr Kewal Krishan former Finance Minister Punjab, Mr Romesh Chander Dogra, President DCC, Hoshiarpur and Mr Ram Krishan Kataria, Secretary PPCC for party ticket in Hoshiarpur. He said that 30 delegations met him yesterday at Hoshiarpur in favour of their respective candidates. Mr Sharma said that he would visit Phillaur constituency on June, 11 Patiala on June 23 Sangrur on June 24, Bathinda on June 25 and Jalandhar on June 26. He would visit Amritsar on July 3, Gurdaspur on July 4, Tarn Taran on July 5, Ludhiana on July 10, Ferozepore on July 11 and Faridkot on July 12. After visiting all the aforesaid constituencies he would submit his report to the AICC on July 15, 99. He said that during his visit to Ropar and Hoshiarpur he found atmosphere in favour of the Congress in Punjab and there was every likelihood the Congress would contest all 13 seats in state. To a question he said that none of the PPCC leader made any suggestion for party alliance with any like-minded political party in state for the coming elections. Referring to resentment
among some senior leaders of Pradesh Congress against the
President of the PPCC for not including their names in
the state Election Committee he said that it was a minor
issue and would be resolved by the Congress high command. |
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Bank employees oppose MoU JALANDHAR, June 11 — Resentment prevails among bank employees against the "unfair" agreement made by leaders of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) by signing memoranda of understanding for overall increase of 12.25 per cent, including the cost of superannuation benefits. Mr DP Tank, president and Mr JN Kapoor, General Secretary, respectively, of the all-India Bank Staff Association alleged here yesterday that the agreement showed that leaders of the UFBU had surrendered to Indian Bank Association dictates. They said that the association had decided to fight the understanding entered between the UFBU and the IBA for unlimited and unquestioned computerisation and large scale transfers, retrenchment, retirements under the voluntary retirement scheme in the garb of development and reduction of surplus staff. It has also decided to resist change of service conditions and working hours of bank employees by the IBA with an "underhand" understanding with the UFBU. It has been decided by the banks to have shift system in branches, the association feels that it is not going to help increase business but would affect profitability of the banks. Instead of having shift system, banks should open more branches if they had surplus staff and utilise them at those branches where the bank shall have fresh business and cater needs of unbanked areas, they said. The association also opposed the MS Verma Committee report which was set up by the Reserve Bank of India in February, 1999. The association demanded setting up of special courts for dealing with cases of scams and scandals in banks. An organisation the
All-India Bank Staff Association, has been set-up
consisting of bank employees and bank employees unions
from all over the country to fight
"anti-employee" agreement of the UFBU with the
IBA and other issues, they added. |
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KCF terrorist arrested HOSHIARPUR, June 11 (UNI) —The Dasuya police has arrested a proclaimed terrorist, Harpal Singh, alias Happy, belonging to Khalistan Commando Force. The SSP, Mr R.P. Mittal, said in a press note here today that Harpal Singh along with terrorists Darshan Singh, Joginder Singh, alias, Jindo, Surinderjit Singh Malewal, Iqbal Singh Bagga and Sandip Singh had indulged in terrorist activities. He said while the other terrorists were killed in encounters in various districts Harpal Singh had escaped to Maharashtra. Harpal Singh and these
accomplices had fired indiscriminately from a car at
Hajipur crossing in Dasuya town on June 17, killing
Charan Singh and Kuldip Singh on the spot and another
person was injured seriously. |
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PSEB directed to supply
tender papers CHANDIGARH, June 11 — On a petition filed by M/s Desein Private Ltd, challenging the action of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), Patiala, in not supplying them the standard documents for making a tender as per the tender notice issued by the Board, the vacation Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Board to supply the company the standard documents today itself to enable them to file tender in time. The Bench comprising Mr Justice J.S. Khehar and Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill further directed that the claim of the petitioner be considered by the Board and the final decision be put in sealed cover to be opened by the court on the next date of hearing. It was the case of the petitioner company that it had vast experience of over three decades in power engineering and expertise in all aspects of design turnkey contracting, consultancy and contracts. The respondent Board published a tender notice for appointment of consultants of Guru Har Gobind Thermal plant, Bathinda Lehra Mohabbat, Phase II. The company asked for tender documents, but the Board by invoking pre-qualification condition in clauses b (i) (ii) and (iii) of NIT refused to supply the document. Contending that the
action of the respondent was arbitrary and
discriminatory, the petitioner's counsel contended that
the condition is liable to be struck down as violative of
the constitution and principles of natural justice. The
Bench allowed the Board to file a detailed reply by July
8, 1999. the Bench passed a similar order in another such
case. |
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HC upholds auction of
contract CHANDIGARH, June 11 — The Punjab and Haryana, High Court today upheld the auction of the contract for the collection of octroi conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Jalandhar on April 21. Mr Justice N.K. Sodhi and Mr Justice N.K. Sud, who handed down the order, dismissed a writ petition filed by Mr Rajinder Kumar, a resident of Jalandhar. The Bench also slapped costs on the petitioner. "The petitioner will be entitled to withdraw the sum of Rs 15 lakh deposited by him in (sic) this court." The stand of the petitioner was that as per the terms of the auction, every bidder was required to deposit a sum of Rs 15 lakh by way of earnest money. The reserve bid money was Rs 48 crore. He added that he was not allowed to participate in the auction. Nor was his earnest money accepted before the auction. Nirwair Singh Pawan Kumar and Company, who were allotted the contract, had not deposited the earnest money before the auction The earnest money was deposited on April 22 — a day after the auction. He also alleged that the contract was given to him at a lower rate than the reserve price. "It is true that the petitioner has for the first time offered before us a sum of Rs 48 crore, but it is after the event and, therefore, such offers cannot be taken not of," observed the Bench and added: "If such offers were to be accepted, the auction held by public authorities would never become final which would not be in public interest. Moreover, the court should be wary of persons like the petitioner who was neither eligible nor participated in the auction, and offers made by such persons and that too before this court are of no significance," the Bench concluded. The Judges further
observed that Mr Mohan Jain and Mr Rakesh Aggarwal,
counsel for the private respondent, contended that
repeated announcements were made on the public address
system calling upon the bidders to deposit the earnest
money and the auction was delayed to enable the
participants to deposit that amount. However, only five
persons deposited the earnest money. The court had also
viewed the video-tape of the auction. "We have,
therefore, no hesitation in holding that the petitioner
(Rajinder Kumar) did not deposit the earnest money and it
is for this reason that he did not participate in the
auction for which he has himself to blame. |
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Dam inauguration may be
delayed PATIALA, June 11 — The commissioning of Ranjit Sagar hydel project, which was expected by mid June, may be delayed as its lake is still to fill up. Talking to newsmen here, Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) Chairman S.K. Tuteja said only 465 metres of water had accumulated in the Ranjit Sagar lake while at least 485 metres was required for power generation. Mr Tuteja said the required amount was expected to be achieved by the end of the month or by the beginning of next month. He, however, said all machinery was in a state of readiness and a mechanical run had been carried out. Mr Tuteja said in the first phase 150 mw of electricity would be produced following which another 150 mw would be added in phases. Speaking on the availability of power, he said the position at present was comfortable and he did not foresee any shortage of electricity during the paddy season. When asked about frequent cuts in Patiala city, he said no announced cuts were taking place although there could some local distribution problems. Asked about the
financial health of the board, he said the board had
posted a profit of Rs 100 crore for the past financial
year. Answering to a question about losses suffered by
the board due to free electricity being given to the
agricultural sector, he said the board was being
compensated as the government was not taking any interest
on loans given to it. He, however, admitted that the
board’s profits would have been more if the subsidy
to the agricultural sector was withdrawn. |
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Filling up of Ranjit Sagar dries
Doab canal AMRITSAR, June 11 — Farmers of the border belt have been raising a hue and cry over the reduced quantity of water being released by officials of Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC). Farmers' crops have started wilting and the sowing of the paddy is being adversely affected as officials of Ranjit Sagar Dam are busy filling water in the reservoir so that the multipurpose dam will have the required head of water to begin generation of power at the earliest. The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee is likely to dedicate the dam to the nation before the issuance of notification for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Executive Engineer, UBDC Gurdaspur, through a telegram to the Chief Engineer (Field) Ranjit Sagar Dam has already expressed concern over the alarming situation being faced by farmers due to shortage of water in the canals. Now Mr Surinder Kumar Billa, president All-India Hindu Shiv Sena, in a communication to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has sought that water be released in canals immediately so that the tank of Durgiana Temple could be filled with water at the earliest. The sowing of paddy
which 'officially' starts from today had been adversely
affected by the canals going dry. |
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Rly overbridge collapses BATHINDA, June 11 — The main passenger over bridge connecting eight railway platforms at the local station collapsed late this evening. The cause of the collapse is not known. No railway official was available for comment. According to official sources said there was no loss of life and property in the bridge collapse which took place at 8.35 p.m. The foot overbridge collapsed over the goods train section and the spans of the bridge were stopped by five trains from touching the ground. Mr Harbans Lal, Station Superintendent, told TNS that there was no indication of sabotage in the incident and investigations were being made to ascertain the cause of the collapse. Due to the bridge collapse, five rail lines — number 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 — had been blocked affecting the traffic and would be opened for goods trains only after the bridge was repaired which may take about one month. The Railway Protection Force and general Railway Police personnel reached the spot about one-and-a-half hour after the incident and the bridge was closed for the passengers by them. Mr Lal Chand, Assistant Engineer, said the preliminary investigations had revealed that bridge had collapsed because of bends in the supporting pillars. The Station Superintendent said alternate entry and exit points were being made to enable the people to reach the railway platforms. He added that collapsing of the bridge would not affect the passenger train traffic and special arrangements had been made for the movement of military special trains. According to the
Assistant Engineer the bridge would be made functional on
temporary basis within a week. He added that a thorough
probe into the collapsing of the bridge would be done by
a special team of engineers. |
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"Suspend attackers" of
doctors PATIALA, June 11 — Condemning the recent incident of manhandling of doctors and other medical staff on duty at Indira Gandhi hospital, Shimla by senior police officers, the PCMS Association Rajindra Hospital and medical college here has demanded immediate suspension of the officers. The association, in a statement, said that incidents like this were increasing due to the absence of an action against persons misbehaving or manhandling medical staff on duty. They said most of the incidents involved influential persons and anti-social elements. The statement said recently in Rajindra hospital, here doctors and staff members on duty in the Blood Bank were threatened and assaulted by attendants of a patient related to a senior police officer. The statement demanded
immediate action against such persons to instil a sense
of security among the medical staff. |
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Lance Naik Puran Singh
cremated AMRITSAR, June 11 — The dead body of Lance Naik Puran Singh of Sikh Light Infantry was brought from Kargil to his native village Manikpura near Patti and cremated here with full military honours. According to Lt Colonel D K Bhardwaj, Lance Naik Puran Singh was cremated with full military honour in the presence of senior Army officers from Amritsar Cantonment. Colonel J S Balhara laid wreaths on behalf of Maj General Avtar Singh and all ranks of the Panther Division. Lance Naik Puran Singh
is the sixth soldier from Amritsar district to laydown
his life for the nation this year. |
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Mutilation of bodies condemned FEROZEPORE, June 11 — Mutilation of the bodies of six Indian soldiers by the Pakistani Army was an inhuman and barbaric act according to Mr Virendra Kataria, a member of the AICC an ex-MP and a former chief of the PPCC. At a press conference held at the residence of Mr Bal Mukand Sharma, a former Punjab Minister here today, Mr Kataria said that there was no harm in discussing the Kargil situation with Pakistan Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz. Asked to comment on the statement of newly formed NCP president, Mr Sharad Pawar that marriage was no substitute for political experience Mr Kataria was silent. In an emotional appeal
to Congressmen, Mr Kataria said that they should forget
their differences in view of the Lok Sabha poll as
ensuring a stable government was the need of the hour. |
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Soldier cremated with full
honours BATALA, June 11 — The funeral ceremony of Lance Naik Dalbir Singh was performed at his native village Bojewal (6 kilometres from here) on the Batala-Jalandhar road with full army and civil honours. Dalbir Singh died on June 8 in the fighting in the Kargil sector. He was 35 years old. Senior Army and civil officers of Gurdaspur district were present at the funeral ceremony. Mr SK Sandhu, Deputy
Commissioner Gurdaspur and Mr AK Sinha, SDM Batala, laid
wreaths on his body on behalf of the Governor, Punjab and
Chief Minister, Punjab. Captain Balbir Singh Baath, MLA
Sri Hargobindpur and Mr Jagdish Sawhney, MLA Batala were
also present and condoled the death of Dalbir Singh. |
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Punjab bans sale of HP, Bhutan
lotteries CHANDIGARH, June 11 — The Punjab Government today suspended the sale of lotteries of Himachal and Royal Government of Bhutan in the state with immediate effect. The order stated that lotteries of Himachal and Bhutan were neither fulfilling the essential ingredients of lotteries nor conforming to the laws applicable to lotteries in India. In suspending the permission on the sale of HP and Bhutan lotteries, a recent judgement of the Supreme Court has been cited. The Director, Punjab State Lotteries, in communication dated May 26 to the Chief Secretaries of all the states had asked that whichever state wanted to sell its lotteries within the state of Punjab must satisfy certain basic and essential characteristics of a lottery. As Himachal and Bhutan did not do so hence the ban on sale of the two lotteries. The two were not
following the provisions of the Lotteries Regulation Act
1998, especially Section 4. |
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Revenue patwaris arrested NAWANSHAHR, June 11 — The local police today arrested about 70 revenue patwaris who had been sitting on a dharna in front of the office of the SDM since June 1 as part of their statewide pen-down strike in support of their demands. The police removed the tents of patwaris forcibly and arrested them for violating Section 144, Cr.P.C. Cases were also registered against them under Section 188, Cr.P.C. Mr Jarnail Singh,
President of the local unit of the Revenue Patwari Union
criticised the attitude of the district administration
towards peacefully agitating patwaris. |
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GND Varsity convocation AMRITSAR, June 11 — The 25th annual convocation of Guru Nanak Dev University will be held on June 18 at Guru Nanak auditorium. Lt-Gen (retd) BKN Chhibber, Governor of Punjab and Chancellor of the university will preside over and confer degrees on the scholars. This was stated here yesterday by Dr RS Bawa Registrar of the university. Dr Bawa said that rehearsal for the convocation would be held on June 17 at 9 a.m. in Guru Nanak Bhavan City Centre. He said that the
candidates not allowing the rehearsal would not be
awarded degrees. |
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SAD-BJP govt a failure: JD
panel JALANDHAR, June 11 — A three-member panel of the state unit of the Janata Dal and the Youth Janata Dal headed by Mr Harish Khanna, coordinator, Steering Committee, Punjab which toured the state to know views of people on the performance of the Akali-BJP government in the state recently, has blamed the present SAD-BJP government for its dismal performance and poor law and order in the state. Mr Khanna alleged that cases of abduction of minor girls, particularly school going girls, rape, looting, murder and atrocities on Dalits were on the rise, and economic offences had also increased. Mr Khanna also alleged
that economy of the state was in a very bad shape and the
government was surviving virtually on loans. Moreover,
corruption was rampant in all government departments,
making a mockery of the anti-corruption drive of Mr
Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister. He said that there
were seven lakh educated unemployed youths in Punjab and
the government had done little in utilising the power of
youth. Janata Dal leaders feared that a Bihar-like
situation might develop in Punjab. |
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Pension officials demand bribe,
say ex-servicemen BATHINDA, June 11 — The Indian Ex-Servicemen League, Punjab and Chandigarh, Bathinda unit has alleged that ex-servicemen have to bribe officials for getting pension. In a press note issued here yesterday, Mr Sukhdev Singh, president of the union alleged that soldiers and their widows, who fought wars for the sake of country were being 'looted' by officials on one pretext or the other when they got pension. He appealed to the
authorities concerned to take steps so that ex-servicemen
could be saved from "corrupt" officials. He
added that the union also demanded that
one-rank-one-pension scheme be implemented for the
ex-servicemen. |
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Army recruitment rally JALANDHAR, June 11
— The Army is holding a recruitment rally on June 18
at Jyoti Stadium; Ferozepore, for Sikhs and other castes
(Majhabi, Ramdasia, Adharmi and Valmiki). Recruitment for
candidates belonging to other castes will also be held at
Guru Nanak Dev Stadium, Kapurthala, on the same day. The
candidates will be recruited as soldiers (general duty).
They should be 16 to 21 years old and matriculates. |
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