It survived forest fire, dogs
Wildlife officials rescue injured deer
By Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12—One of the numerous victims of a forest fire engulfing the Lower Shivalik Hills falling in Ropar district, a badly injured barking deer, which was rescued by a team of the Punjab Wildlife Department last week, is on the path of recovery and set to find a new habitat in a zoo or deer park soon.

The poor animal, which is rarely spotted in Punjab, except in a few pockets of the Lower Shivalik Hills , was found by a patrolling team of the Punjab Wildlife Department on May 10 in a perilous state, while it was running from the forest blaze near Garbagha village in Ropar district . On its way to the village, it had fallen prey to dogs, which had further wounded it by tearing off its skin at a number of places.

After watching the plight of the tiny antelope, the team, headed by Mr Balwinder Singh, Wildlife Inspector, rescued it from the clutches of a herd of dogs and brought it to his home in Ropar, where it has been convalescing ever since.

After getting the wounds stitched, the animal, was put under care of a veterinary doctor.

"The condition of the animal was so bad that it was unable to move around for a whole day on account of a number of wounds on almost every part of its body, particularly the large ones afflicting it around its hips and the neck. Initially, I thought that it was going to die, but thank God, it responded to the treatment well and is now out of danger ," said Mr Balwinder Singh.

According to Mr Gurmit Singh, Director, Wildlife Department Punjab, the wounds of the animal notwithstanding, the pace at which it was recovering was amazing. "So much so, that it is nibbling grass and fodder and is expected that it would be all right within a fortnight," he added.

The wild beast, also called Muntjac, has been declared a protected animal under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act. It is known for a peculiar sound like that of a barking dog, which it makes when in danger. Its population has been decreasing as its habitat in the area, particularly around the Sutlej river in Ropar district has been disturbed due to poaching and forest fires, which have been on a rise during the past few years, Wildlife sources said.

Regarding the rehabilitation plan of the animal, Mr Gurmit Singh, said once it regains its health, either it would be shifted to Chhatbir Zoo or sent to Moti Bag Deer Park in Patiala. "We won't release it into its natural habitat again as it is too weak to protect itself from other animals like dogs ," he added.

Earlier, a hog deer, which had fallen in a well at Kanpur village in Ropar district during its effort to escape from the forest fire, was rescued by the department officials on May 6. The animal was later released into its natural habitat, he claimed.

Beware! They may be selling lies
Criminals enter homes in garb of salespersons
By Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, May 12 — The criminal has changed his face. He is no more a 'burly' looking guy, but a suave, soft spoken and well-dressed person, who may knock at your door, posing as a salesman, a promoter of a product or flaunting his prowess to sort out odd jobs at home.

This new breed of swift and smart criminals may also come to your doorstep, claiming to be a representative of a company engaged in sorting out a water, electricity or gas problem — for which we are generally on the look out. Such types of criminals, who trick their way into a house and decamp with cash and jewellery, have surfaced in this fast developing township in the past few months.

Not restricting to this, they may even ask you to guide them to a religious place and rob you of your jewellery. Seems strange, but incidents in which aged women have been robbed of their jewellery on a roadside and that, too, in broad daylight and without any commotion have come to light.

Two such incidents, one each in March and April this year, throw light on the modus operandi of such tricksters. In broad daylight, two persons rang the door bell of a house in Sector 9 here on March 13. They said they had come to check the gas connection. An aged woman, who happened to be alone in the house, let them in and within seconds, the woman was locked in a room and the the cash and jewellery kept in the house was gone.

In another case in Sector 10 which took place on April 24, four car-borne youths came to a house, posing as employees of the Electricity Department. This time again, a woman occupant of the house, who is alone with her child, tells them that the electricity meter was outside. However, the youth insisted that they wanted to check the electricity points in the house. The woman kept her cool and did not open the door and informs her acquaintance on phone.

Perturbed over the incident, the House Owners Welfare Association of Sector 10 called a meeting of the residents of the sector to make them aware of such incidents and how to tackle such situations.

In another case, youths tricked their way into the house of an SDO on the pretext of handing over a gift in Sector 12- A here in October last and decamped with cash and jewellery. In this case, the police was able to lay its hands on the criminals.

The police is concerned about yet another class of criminals, who on the pretext of seeking donations from unwary residents dupe them. A student of ayurvedic medicine based in Delhi was caught collecting donations for holding medical camps on behalf of a fake association of doctors. The student, Parveen Singla, who was arrested in Sector 7 last Friday, on being interrogated by the police disclosed that he adopted the technique to make a quick buck.

The police cautions the residents to be alert of persons seeking donations; exchanging utensils in place of used clothes; beggars and those claiming to clean gold jewellery. The Superintendent of Police, Mr Alok Mittal, says the residents should satisfy themselves before letting a stranger in their house. If a woman occupants was alone in a house she should not let anybody in and ask the stranger to come later when others return.

In the case of the couple, who are on duping spree in and around Sectors 16 and 17 in the past three months, the police, with the help of the victims, have got prepared portraits of the man and the woman. The SP says the couple have duped at least six aged women of their jewellery.

Alleging interference, Kiran for probe into Gupta’s working
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12 —The Inspector-General of Police, Dr Kiran Bedi, today sent an "open petition" to the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), on behalf of the police force, requesting an independent inquiry into the functioning of the Home Secretary, Mrs Anuradha Gupta.

During an informal meeting with mediapersons this evening, the IG gave a copy of the petition that said, "The entire police force of Chandigarh requests the administrator to hold an open and independent enquiry from the professionals with management background outside the government into the functioning of the present Home Secretary — Mrs Anuradha Gupta — concerning her interference in the police functioning for the last few years"

The letter further states, "All records will be placed before the enquiry officers to establish how she and her department had been interfering, usurping and exercising the powers and responsibilities of supervisory police officers."

Handing out copies of the petition to mediapersons, Dr Bedi said she had done this in answer to media reports in which Mrs Gupta, had been quoted as saying that she ( Mrs Gupta ) never interfered with police functioning.

In the petition, the IG has cited an example when the Home Department had transferred even constable-rank functionaries on December 18 last year and marked the copies directly to them. A day before that the Home Department had suspended an SI and an ASI.

In the letter, Dr Bedi has alleged that many such records exists in the police files which shall be placed before the inquiry officers, besides other evidence.

The IG added that a copy of the letter had been sent to all heads of the units to collate their records forward these to their respective in charges, who may then forward this to the SSP headquarters for information. Besides this, all heads of the units in the police department have been asked to give in writing if they support such an inquiry, the IG added.

Copies of the letter have been sent to the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Adviser to the UT Administrator.

Bid to intimidate Admn: Gupta
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12 — The Home Secretary, Chandigarh, Ms Anuradha Gupta tonight issued following statement in reply to the IGP, Dr Kiran Bedi’s petition for an inquiry.

“ This is nothing but an attempt to intimidate the Administration into reverting the suspension of five police officials found prima facie guilty of forgery and other serious misconduct in murder investigations. None can claim that he or she is the only custodian or enforcer of law and justice . Umpteem institutions and individuals are doing so. Law and justice cannot be enforced without honesty and discipline on part of the enforcer. Any instance of misdemeanour , therefore , has to be severely dealt with. Law has to be applied to all uniformally and none working in the government , be it the police or some other department, can be an exception.”

“The Administration during the last two to three years dealt with corrupt unsparingly. We believe it is from the top that discipline and honesty have to flow and hence senior officials found involved in corruption and misconduct have been punished cutting across departments.”

“It is simplistic to believe that the suspension of the two Deputy Superintendents of Police and an Inspector found prima facie guilty of criminal misconduct including forgery, established after a proper inquiry by a senior judicial officer would affect the morale of 4000-strong police force — on the contrary it would send the right signals to all in the force that regardless of position and clout, the guilty would be punished . The police force is not an amorphous entity, thinking and acting alike— it consists of 4000 different individuals with minds and perceptions of their own.”

“Officers have a right to express fearlessly their point of view but at the same time have the responsibility of carrying out the lawful orders of the higher authority. The decision of the competent authority cannot be termed as interference — the wilful disobedience of lawful orders of the competent authority certainly constitutes indiscipline and insubordination of the worst kind. Misleading statements and propaganda are only a further irresponsible attempt to sow seeds of rebellion in a uniformed and disciplined force.”

“The Home Department is the administrative department of the police handling all such matters where decisions are required at the government level. It was on receipt of complaints of arbitrariness and lack of transparency in matters of postings that the Chandigarh Administration in consultation with the IGP had evolved a set of objective guidelines in respect of postings/transfers of police officers on 2.6.1998 to be applied to all uniformally and along with a mechanism to implement fairly the policy guidelines.”

“The guidelines clearly stipulate that the postings of the SHOs and in charge police posts should be done by the SSP, UT Chandigarh in consultation with the Dy Commissioner and the IGP. The government only formulates policies and leave it to the heads of departments to implement them. There has not been any interference from any quarter of the Administration in the matter of postings/transfers up to the level of Inspectors/SHOs except in those rare cases where the police officials have found involved in misdemeanour. “

“The Administration, however, is duty bound to ensure compliance of policy guidelines and take note of any violation. Deputy Superintendents of Police postings as per delegation orders rest with the Adviser who has been doing so only in consultation with the IGP. Following suspension of two DSPs on 7.5.99, the new IGP was advised by the Adviser to post other DSPs at her own level, under intimation to the Administration. The accusation of interference in matters of transfers or postings is incorrect.”

“Where there is a complaint about wrong action, inaction on part of the police and the Administration is petitioned, the government cannot be a mute spectator incapable of intervening. ‘Intervention’ cannot certainly be termed as “interference”.

“It is sometimes helpful to get complaints of serious misdemeanour investigated by a senior officer outside the department to ensure objectivity. The newest IGP has received the fullest cooperation right from the day she arrived in Chandigarh and the Administration has only tried to facilitate her in implementation of new police initiatives. On this particular issue of suspensions, however, the Administrator felt that the misdemeanour was too serious to deserve a lenient view and the public interest has to over ride the interest of certain individuals. None can be allowed to hold the system to ransom and none is immune to the law of the land.”

Computers installed to be dumped
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12 — The repeated breakdowns of computers installed at the UT Food and Supplies Department have not only posed problems for the staff but has also delayed the computerisation of records of the department.

The network, installed by the National Informatics Centre at a cost of about Rs 13 lakh last year, has been "problematic" ever since. The aim of the installation of computers was to make the process of issuing ration cards faster, besides ensuring that the data on ration card-holders was available in the form of a ready reckoner. This would not only have helped the staff keep track of the cards but also enabled the department to rule out duplicity and attempts by the public to wrongly claim the cards.

According to sources, as many as eight computers with an equal number of printers were installed at all the public dealing windows, besides the distribution counters and the administrative section. Most of them have been placed in one side of the counters and are gathering dust.

The functioning has been so erratic that the staff still continue to maintain registers for noting down the particulars of the applicants and the numbers of the cards allotted to those who have fulfilled the conditions. In the words of an employee ''these computers are just showpieces" of the attempt of the department to go online.

Sources said to begin with a 15-day training to operate the system was "inadequate" for the staff who had never handled or worked on computers previously. Most of the senior employees has just given up attempting to learn the basics. In view of the frequent breakdowns some of them had even forgotten the commands they had learnt at the training camp.

While many agree that "repeated false commands force the system to hold up", some of them also point out that the present system is "slower and outdated" to begin with and is not suited to their needs.

They also add that there are no trained professionals to put the system online in the case of a breakdown and there is hardly any maintenance. As a result the system remains closed for days together affecting their work. What is the use of the machines if they still have to perform their jobs the old way? they question.

On the other hand, officers of the department maintain that apart from occasional snags everything is all right. However, to ensure that such breakdowns do not occur they have written to the Director, Food and Supplies, to allow them to employ three computer professionals on contract basis who would not only help them operate the system but also train them in developing software suited to their kind of work.

The proposal for approval was pending with the Director, the sources added.

Punjab workers stage rally
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 12 — The Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged a rally in front of the office of the Labour Commissioner of Punjab in Sector 17 to highlight the problems being faced by the industrial, brick-kiln and contract workers of the state, here today.

The protest was attended by workers from all over the state. They raised slogans against the government for allegedly pursuing anti-worker policies resulting in unemployment and closure of a large number of factories. The rally was addressed by Mr Balwant Singh and Mr Chander Shekhar, State President and General Secretary, respectively, of the CITU, Mr Mangat Ram Pasla and Mr Inderjeet Singh, among others.

The speakers said the government should fix the minimum wages at Rs 3,500 per month for unskilled workers, Rs 7 per point DA, higher wages for skilled workers, strict implementation of labour laws. They demanded extending factory laws to brick kilns and abolition of the contract labour system to reduce the alleged rampant exploitation of labour in the state.

They also expressed their concern at the rising number of closure of factories in the state and said that the displaced labour should be given unemployment allowance on the pattern of West Bengal.

A memorandum was later presented to the Labour Commissioner, who assured the delegation that the needful would be done.

Salesgirls protest against cops
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12—To protest against the alleged attitude of lower-rung police officials towards them, a number of door-to-door salesgirls held a meeting at Panchayat Bhavan here today. They alleged that they were not being allowed to work and, at times, had been threatened by such officials.

Talking to TNS, a number of salesgirls alleged that though there was no directive from the higher police authorities, some officials, particularly the beat officers, did not allow them to work. "They even took me to the Sector 19 police station a week ago, where I was threatened and detained for more than an hour," said Rita Makeshwar, a salesgirl.

Anita Thakur, another salesgirl, alleged that misbehaviour by the beat officer was a routine affair. "They search our bags as if we were thieves," she alleged, while saying that she was asked by a police official not to work as a salesgirl as it was the order of the Inspector- General of Police.

"On inquiring from the police headquarters, it was learnt that no such orders had been issued by the IG," said Mr Neelkant Vashisht, President of the local Social Welfare Association, who along with Mr Davinder Babla, President of the local unit of the Samajwadi Janata Party, addressed the meeting of the salesgirls.

They demanded that harassment of the salesgirls should be stopped and action taken against the erring cops.

Creation of Khalsa discussed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12 — Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi today held a symposium on the occasion of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa at the Auditorium of Government Museum, Sector 10.

In his keynote address, Mr J. S. Ahluwalia, Chairman, Punjab School Education Board, said that the creation of Khalsa can be discussed at three levels — that in context of the Sikh history, India's history and the civilisation of the world.

Mr Ahluwalia talked about the halimi raj which was the divine manifesto given by Guru Arjun Dev that was later developed as Khalsa by the tenth Guru Gobind Singh, as a "motor force". Emphasising the fact that the Sikh religion is a liberal religion, he added that the Sikhs need to remember Pargat Guru di dey, because any religion can become dogmatic when an organised clergy tries to mar the liberal spirit.

On the issue of Sikhism of not having become a universal religion, Mr Ahluwalia said that universalism is not about having Sikhs all around the globe. He said that religions like Islam, Buddhism and Christianity did manage to spread all over the world because they integrated into the cultures of the various diverse nations.

He said that though we talk of the 'Panj Piaras', all of who not only belonged to different castes but also different ethnic backgrounds, the Sikh community tends to mix both Punjabiat and Sikhism which can be very limiting. To enter into the 21st century, Mr Ahluwalia said, there is need to come out of "Punjabised Sikhism".

Mrs Anuradha Gupta, Home Secretary, Chandigarh, also expressed her views about Sikh religion being the ultimate example of purity of thought and action. Mrs Gupta said that it was the tenth Guru who gave Sikhism its final form and promoted the use of weapons for the good of society.

She said that it needs to be discussed whether Sikhism grew out of an evolution or a revolution. While emphasising the relevance of the tenets of Khalsa in the present day, the Home Secretary also said that there needs to be a discussion on the why the religion remained confined largely to Punjab.

The other speakers included Prof Darshan Singh and Mr B. M. Sagar.

Arrest warrants against PML MDs
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12 — The court of Ms Jatinder Walia, Judicial Magistrate (First Class), has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for June 10, 1999, against the Managing Director and the Deputy Managing Director, Mr A.S. Bindra and Mrs Kanwar Jeet Kaur, respectively, of Punjab Meats Ltd, on two complaints filed by Ceat Financial Services Ltd under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instrument Act.

The PML had hired one photo-copier from Ceat Financial Services Ltd. The cheques issued on account of hire-purchase charges to Ceat Financial Services had been dishonoured on presentation.

More colleges for nurses sought
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12 — More and more nursing colleges should be opened for the nurses to obtain university-level education in nursing to keep abreast with the latest advancement in medical sciences, opined Prof B.K. Sharma, Director, PGI, while inaugurating the international nurses week celebrations at the PGI here this morning.

Prof Sharma appreciated the efforts of the nurses for organising week-long activities in all the three hospitals — the PGI , GMCH , Sector 32, and the General Hospital Sector 16--- of the city.

Mrs Rajinder Dhadda, President, Trained Nurses Association of India, Chandigarh branch, asked nurses to work hard, gain more knowledge and skill and look after the patients in hospital with tenderness and care.

She also stressed that nurses needed an independent directorate, better quality educational facilities, better communication skill and better working conditions to achieve better status for claiming a better future.

Various activities like declamation contest, on-the-spot poster making, sports and panel discussions are to be organised by the Trained Nurses Association during the week.

Meanwhile, in a separate function , Dr Y.N. Mehra, a trustee of the Tilok Tirath Vidyawati Chhuttani Charitable Trust said that the conceptual competencies in the nursing profession needed to be strategically spelt out and practised. Joint planning and close interaction between service and teaching staff was fundamental for quality care of indoor patients, he added while presiding over the inaugural function of the International Nurses Week at the Chandigarh Medical Centre (CMC) here today.

Dr Mehra lamented that experienced and better qualified staff tended to shift preferences towards administrative jobs. They should bridge the gap between theory and practice and actively supervise the day-to-day nursing care, he concluded.

Earlier, Mrs C.Earnest, Chief Nursing Officer, C.M.C, while introducing this year's theme: "Celebrating Nurses' Past: Claiming the Future," said the explosion of knowledge in medical and surgical related technology has not only created super specialities in curing diseases, but has also thrown up the challenge of specialised patient care, particularly in paediatrics and geriatrics.

Portrait gallery inaugurated
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12--On the occasion of Technology Day, Dr S.K. Vasudeva, Additional Director of the Terminal Ballastic Research Laboratory, Chandigarh, inaugurated the scientists portrait gallery at the CSIO in Sector 30 here yesterday.

The portraits of eminent scientists like Sir C.V. Raman, Dr S.S. Bhatnagar, Dr Homi Bhabha, Dr D.S. Kothari, Dr S. Ramanujam, Dr P.C. Mahalanobis, Dr S.N. Bose, Dr K.S. Krishnan, Sir Jagdish Chandra, Dr Meghnad Saha and Dr M Visveswarayya have been displayed at the gallery.

In a talk on "Advances in explosive technology", Dr Vasudeva highlighted various developments which took place since World War I. He said though many energetic materials had been synthesised, yet most of them had not been used for the application in armament stores because of safety reasons and cost-effectiveness.

Dr Vasudeva also highlighted the development of explosive technology for engineering application especially in the areas of explosive technology and cladding techniques.

Order to arms licence holders
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH,May 12 — The District Magistrate, Mr M. Ramsekhar, has ordered that all arms licence holders shall supply information in writing about the arms in their possession to their respective police stations within 15 days .

Any breach of this order shall invite action under Section 188 of the IPC. While issuing the order under Section 144 of the CrPC, the DM observed that several arms were remaining with members of the public without the knowledge of the law enforcing agencies.

SNIPPETS

Jail management course ends
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12—A series of four three-day training courses on human rights and prison management concluded at the Institute of Correctional Administration, Sector 26, here today.

At the valedictory function held at the Institute, Justice Iqbal Singh appealed to the prison officers to look to the scriptures for guidance and be compassionate to the prison inmates .

Citing practical examples to implement human rights in prisons, he urged the officers to discipline themselves. He also stressed upon proper selection and training of officers and was of the opinion that employment must be provided to ex-prisoners.

Justice VK Bali shared his experiences and suggested reduction in overcrowding in prisons while advising officers to hate the crime and not the criminal. ``Crimimals are victims of circumstances and should be treated with sympathy,'' he said. Eighty prison officers of the rank of DIG Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent among others from the region attended the course. They were educated about various human rights initiatives and their possible implementation at an operational level at their work places in order to make the issue of prison management a success and ensure implementation of human rights.

Put off PG entrance tests: students
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12 — In view of the failure of the teachers to carry out their duties during the 27-day agitation in the beginning of the 1998-99 session, the Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC) has demanded the postponement of the entrance examination regarding admission to various postgraduate courses to be held between June 8 -12 by at least 20 days.

According to a statement by Mr Akhil Kumar Goyal, Secretary of the council, the declaration of the seven days' holidays for the celebration of the tercentenary of the birth of Khalsa, in addition to the previous strike, had put tremendous undue pressure on the students of undergraduate courses.

The postponement of the examinations of undergraduate classes by one month due to the conflict between the managements of private colleges and the university had further added to their anxiety as students preparing for their final year could not prepare for their entrance exams. Similarly, non-availability of entrance forms for various classes at the PU cash counters had also led to harassment of the students.

The career of students was at stake and it would be unfair on the part of the authorities to make the students suffer for no fault of theirs.

In case their demands were not met, they would stage a dharna in front of the office of the VC on May 17, he added.

Lord Hanuman statue installed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12 — A 5-foot-high statue of Lord Hanuman was installed at the Sheshnag Temple in the Mansa Devi complex, Mani Majra, here today.

Built by Mr Ramesh Kumar, a resident of the Sector 25 Kumhar Colony and sweeper by profession, the statue weighs 2.5 quintals and has been completed in a period of over two months.

Mr Ramesh Kumar, who did not have any training in statue-making, said he was inspired to make the statue out of reverence for Lord Hanuman. He built the statue although spending Rs 1,300 on its construction material did pose some problems, he said.

''Its my desire to make different types of statues in future also, provided some government or non-government agency extended me some financial help,'' he added.

200 students for physics Olympiad
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12—About 200 students of the plus two level will appear in the Indian National Physics Olympiad to be held on May 15 and 16 at Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, which is one of the 11 centres where the test is being conducted countrywide.

The students will compete for a place in the 35-member select group which will undergo a three-week intensive training in physics theory and laboratory work at Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai. At the end of the training, a five-member team will be selected to represent India at the International Physics Olympiad—1999.

The 200 participants for Indian national Physics Olympiad have been selected on the basis of their performance in the National Standard Examination in Physics (NSEP) conducted by the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) who have been conducting this examination every year. All 35 finalists at the Indian National Physics Olympiad will be awarded gold medals for their excellence in physics at a specially organised function for the purpose.

Dr Iqbal Krishan, the coordinator of the centre in the city, said here today that there would be a four-hour physics theory paper preceded by a five-hour laboratory test on the same day. ``The problems given in the test are based on plus two level physics but deal with entirely new situations requiring all the ingenuity of the student to solve them .The test would be conducted under the strict supervision of an all- India observer,'' he informed.