Saturday, November 20, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Saturday, November 20, 1999 |
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Bhinder
challenges film star's election PPCC panel on police excesses |
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Inspectors
offer to expose nexus Bridegroom among 7 killed in
accident Speaker ‘misusing’ his
position Compensation case trial stayed
More medical teachers quit Minister flayed ‘for
shielding guilty’ Coup setback to traders’
hopes MC employees sans salaries since
June Work begins on ‘sarv sanjha
van’ 12 held for making synthetic ghee Police yet to arrest killers of
banker 2 PAP cops held for snatching
chain Ban on holding of fairs Villagers drinking untreated water |
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Bhinder challenges film star's
election CHANDIGARH, Nov 19 — The election of film star Vinod Khanna, BJP MP from the Gurdaspur constituency, has been challenged by Mrs Sukhbans Kaur, defeated Congress candidate, in an election petition field today in the Punjab and Haryana High Court praying for setting aside the election on the ground of various corrupt practices. Mr Khanna had won by a slender margin of 1399 votes over the congress candidate. The petitioner has averred that after the dissolution of Parliament on April 26, 1999, the respondent ceased to be a member of Parliament and as such the MPs-Local Area Development Scheme funds could not be utilised even on his request. It was alleged that he got assistance from Mr S.S. Kanwal Union Deputy Secretary for Programme Implementation in getting Rs 1 crore released and the same was credited to the Account of Additional Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur on May 26 when no funds could be sanctioned or released from the MPs fund. It is alleged that Mr Khanna obtained and procured the assistance of Mr Kanwal, a public servant and thus committed a corrupt practice as envisaged under Section 123 (7) of the Representation of the People Act. He is also alleged to have obtained the assistance of Mr S.S. Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, who was Returning Officer for the constituency, by utilising the MPs fund in furtherance of his election. It is also alleged that Mr Khanna got the assistance of Mr Som Nath Hoshiarpuri, an IAS officer, in signing back-dated cheques from the fund and issuing the same. A number of cheques were allegedly distributed to panches and sarpanches who promised to vote for him. It is also averred that the returned candidate was guilty of misuse the MPs funds after dissolution of Parliament and his election was void because of the corrupt practice committed by him. The election petition
has been fixed on December 9 for scrutiny. |
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PPCC panel on police excesses CHANDIGARH, Nov 19 — The President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Capt Amarindeer Singh, has appointed a three-member commission of party leaders to collect "facts" on cases registered against Congress activists during the pre and post Lok Sabha election period in Ferozepore district. Talking to TNS, Capt Amarinder Singh said here today that he had received several complaints from party activists with regard to police excesses on them in Ferozepore district. Holding the Ferozepore SSP, Mr Gurcharan Singh Pherurai, responsible for alleged police repression on Congress workers in that area, Capt Amarinder Singh said several cases under Section 307, of IPC, had been registered against them. He said Mr Romesh Singla, a General Secretary of the PPCC, Mr S.S. Shergil, former Deputy Advocate-General, and Mr Surjit Singh Chinna, a retired SP, had been made members of the Commission. Following the report of the commission, he said the party would file a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High court against the SSP, Mr Gurcharan Singh Pherurai. The SSP was very close to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s family. The SSP had a totally partisan attitude towards Congress party workers, he added. He said he had authentic information from reliable officers that there was a move to appoint Mr Gurcharan Singh Pherurai as member of the Punjab Public Services Commission (PPSC) where three slots were vacant. "It would be a black day in the history of Punjab and the PPSC if such officer, who is partisan towards Congressmen, was appointed member of the Commission," Capt Amarinder Singh said. "I would move to the Punjab and Haryana High Court against such an appointment," Capt Amarinder Singh asserted. Seeking a high-level probe to find out that how Mr Pherurai's daughter topped in the PCS (Executive) final examiantion, Capt Amarinder Singh said a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court should be appointed for holding such an inquiry. The PPCC chief said he had got information that the girl was an average student. Alleging foul play in her topping the PCS examination, Capt Amarinder said if such things continued to happen then there would be no scope for PCS aspirants belonging to ordinary families. Earlier, speaking at a public meeting in the state, the President of the Sarab Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, had sought an inquiry into allegations regarding the PCS executive examination. It is not first time
that Mr Gurcharan Singh Pherurai is facing allegation
with regard to his indifferent attitude towards
Congressmen. In October this year, the Election
Commission of India had directed the Punjab Government to
shift Mr Gurcharan Singh Pherurai from Ferozepore till
the counting of votes was over. The Punjab DGP was
directed to shift the headquarters of Mr Pherurai. This
action by the Election Commission was ordered following
media reports and complaints lodged by the Congress
nominee from Ferozepore, Mr Hans Raj Joshan, alleging
large-scale rigging, booth capturing and violence by
Akali leaders in connivance with the police on the day of
polling. |
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Inspectors offer to expose nexus CHANDIGARH, Nov 19 — Inspectors of the Punjab Food and Supplies Department have, in a representation to the Chief Minister and the secretary concerned, drawn their attention towards ongoing corruption in the allotment of rice shellers in various districts. The representation referred to a meeting the inspectors' union had with the Chief Minister in which he asked them to lead an "honest life". It wondered if such instructions were meant only for the inspectors or were applicable to senior officers as well. The inspectors pleaded that to get to the bottom of the matter their president should be invited to reveal in confidence modus operandi alleging that each sheller's allotment was done for a consideration, Rs 20-25,000 and the money shared. The inspectors were forced to make regular payments during the "season" and postings and transfers were done keeping in view "earnings". The inspectors' union said its members were like "pet fish" for seniors, who could grab any one of them as they had neither a godfather nor the courage to speak out. The union asked the Chief Minister to send his confidants to shellers selected for custom milling for a thorough probe. "Your alone being honest will not help", they said. Copies of the
representation have been sent to the two Ministers of
Food and Supplies, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal and Mr Chiranji
Lal Garg, and the chief secretary. |
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Speaker ‘misusing’ his
position CHANDIGARH, Nov 19 — The president of the Punjab State General Categories Welfare Federation, Mr Shyam Lal Sharma, has criticised the statement of Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, with regard to reservation in government jobs etc. Mr Sharma said the Speaker was misusing his position by supporting Scheduled Castes. He said obstacles were being created in the way of implementation of the judgement of the Supreme Court. Thousands of posts were vacant which were to be filled by promotion, he added. He alleged that the
reservation policy had been implemented in a wrong manner
and only rich Scheduled Castes were reaping the benefits. |
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Compensation case trial stayed CHANDIGARH, Nov19 (PTI) — The Punjab and Haryana High Court here today stayed the trial in the sessions court at Amritsar in three cases filed by three persons taken into custody after Operation Bluestar in 1984, seeking compensation for what they described as illegal detention. The three petitioners, in their petitions in the court of District and Sessions Judge at Amritsar had claimed a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for their alleged illegal detention after Operation Bluestar. They were detained in jails of Punjab and in central jail at Jodhpur in Rajasthan. The petitioners are Balwinder Singh of Sirsa district (Haryana), Ranjit Singh and Dhanna Singh, both of Amritsar district (Punjab). Mr Justice M.L. Singhal issued notice of motion for January 7 to the petitioners, Punjab Government, Deputy Commissioner and Police Chief of Amritsar and stayed the proceedings in the trial court at Amritsar. The directions were passed on a petition of Union of India which argued that the matter had been heard in the High Court here earlier in the case of one Gurrattan Pal Singh versus Union of India in which the High Court had held that the detentions were legal. The counsel for the
Union of India said that the suits filed by the three
petitioners were not maintainable in view of this. |
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More medical teachers quit AMRITSAR, Nov 19 — Lack of facilities, non-pay arrears, lack of promotional avenues and "primitive" working conditions have forced at least 10 medical and dental professors and assistant professors, including two principals of dental colleges, to resign in less than three months. At least eight professors and assistant professors had resigned on similar grounds earlier. According to a circular by the Director, Research and Medical Education, dated November 10 (letter number 1ME Punjab 99/26571-771), which had sought no-objection certificates from principals of medical and dental colleges, the 10 professors and assistant professors have either sought pre-mature retirement or resigned. They are Dr O.P. Nar and Dr Malkit Singh, principals of dental colleges in Amritsar and Patiala, respectively, Dr Ravi Kapoor, Dr M.S. Gulati, Dr Phool Chandera, Dr V.K. Maini, Dr Harbans Kaur, Dr Gurdip Singh, Dr Daljit Kaur Tiwana and Dr Inderjit Kaur Dang. Dr Manohar Singh and Dr Rajinder Singh Sidhu, president and secretary, Punjab State Medical and Dental Teachers Association (Amritsar), said the ‘exodus’ was alarming and would result in resentment against the state government. They said if the trend continued, medical and dental colleges faced the danger of being de-reconised by the Medical Council and Dental Council of India. They claimed that research and education in the medical and dental colleges had arleady been hit with shortage of staff. Dr Baljit Singh Dhillon, general secretary, Punjab State Medical and Dental Teachers Association, alleged that principals of dental colleges in Amritsar and Patiala had resigned following reimbursement of pay arreas of the employees as per the ‘oral instructions’ by the state government. He said the ‘crisis of sorts’ in the colleges was the result of the ‘indifferent’ attitude of the state government. The portfolio of medical research and education was with the Chief Minister who had no time to redress the grievances of the employees. The Punjab State Medical and Dental Teachers Association has threatened to boycott the examinations of MBBS (final year) scheduled to begin from December 1 if the state government fails to accept the "genuine demands. This would result in delay in internship of students. For this delay the government would be responsible, the association has warned in the second phase of the agitation, the medical and dental teachers would force the closure of OPDs and emergency in all hospitals. Even then if the government failed to come to the rescue of the agitating teachers, the latter would resort to resignations enmass. The association feels
the state government has resorted to
"dilly-dallying" so far as payment of pay
arrears are concerned. The Finance Department released
the required budget of Rs 9.6 crore for the medical
teachers in September, yet the arrears are not being paid
to the employees. |
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Minister flayed ‘for
shielding guilty’ TARN TARAN, Nov 19 — The role of a cabinet rank minister from the area was condemned by the SAD workers and leaders for using his position to prevent the police from arresting the culprits responsible for forcing Kanwalpreet Kaur to commit suicide against whom a case under Section 306 of the IPC is registered by police station, Sarhali. The leaders were paying tributes to the deceased today at Nagoke village at the bhog ceremony. Kanwalpreet Kaur daughter of SAD worker Balwant Singh of Nagoke village was married about three years back to Jaswinder Singh of Dhottian village who committed suicide on November11,99 and a case under Section 306 of the IPC is registered against Jaswinder Singh, the husband father-in-law Om Singh, mother-law Darshna and baby sister-in-law of Kanwalpreet Kaur who allegedly tortured for bringing inadequate dowry and later she committed suicide. The Sarhali police station has registered a case in this regard but no arrest is made till date. The minister in question
is Mr Ranjit Singh Bhrahampura, Minister for Cooperation
Panjab. |
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Punjab seeks Rs 4,420 cr grant CHANDIGARH, Nov 19 — Punjab has sought a grant of Rs 4,420 crore for resolving its special problems from the 11th Finance Commission, which was in Chandigarh recently. The memorandum presented to the commission has a separate chapter on seven special problems which can be tackled only if the state gets a special financial package. In fact, the quantum of assistance to a state is determined by Parliament. However, no law has been enacted by Parliament in this regard. Therefore payment is made through an order of the President after considering recommendations of the Finance Commission. Punjab has talked of difficulties and disadvantages due to its geographical location and being a border state. The state lacks mineral and energy source and is away from sea ports, coal and other mines. All these factors affect industrial growth. Therefore, the memorandum seeks special assistance for border areas - Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepore districts — which have a 553-km-long border with Pakistan. Every time there is a war Punjab gets affected. During the Kargil conflict two lakh people shifted from border areas to safer places in Punjab. Farmers in border villages plough the last inch of their land along the border. Farmers lose cultivable land. Border roads need repairs due to frequent Army movement. The commission has been requested for at least Rs 200 crore over a period of five years for maintaining infrastructure in the border belt. The other special problem is hefty expenditure on salaries and pensions due to the implementation of recommendations of pay commi-ssions, both Central and state ‘s own. Punjab spends Rs 1,200 crore for implementing recommen-dations of its own pay commission. Water logging in south-western areas of the state is another special problem mentioned in the memorandum. Some such pockets are in Gurdaspur, Ludhiana and Nawanshahr districts. A total of 2,13,225 hectare is water logged. Punjab’s Ninth Five Year Plan has a provision of Rs 509 crore for tackling the problem. This sum is insufficient. Punjab has sought Rs 300 crore for tackling water-logging problem on 1.50 lakh hectare. Stagnation in
agricultural growth is another worrisome area. This has
been there for the past two decades. As a result there is
high un-employment rate, lack of diversification and
value addition. There is lack of demand from the farm
sector and high incidence of indebtedness among farmers.
This results in their bankruptcy. |
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Fruit for monkeys PATIALA: Saplings are grown on berms in cages.This is common. This practice in a forest is a wonder. At Bir Bhunerheri on the Patiala-Devigarh road this experiment is on. Under the project called Bundle Plantation fruit trees have been planted in 10 cages of the wildlife sanctuary. These trees are being raised for monkeys. Lest the hoppers don’t trample the saplings these are caged Of late monkeys have trespassed into nearby villages in search of food.They vandalise houses, fields and sweet shops. Even children are not spared. They snatch away food items from their hands. Children are even bitten by monkeys. "While planting saplings monkeys would keep a watch from distance. The moment we left the scene, they would pounce at it. The saplings would be either uprooted or chewed," the wild life officer said, adding that "if by chance, the saplings survived the fury of monkeys, the blue bull would gobble it up" . "This method is quite popular in England", says Mr Jagdeep Singh.The project was taken up by the Chief Wild Life Warden B. C. Bala. The trees grown under the project are mango, guava, jamun, falsa and bahera. The fruits are for the monkeys and the leaves for blue bulls. After hopping on the cages the monkeys have accepted these as an integral part of the jungle life . After few years the
trees would bear fruits. Neither monkeys nor blue bulls
would take to villages for food. |
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Coup setback to traders’
hopes FEROZEPORE, Nov 19 — The military takeover in Pakistan has come as a setback to the business prospects of local traders, who were looking forward to reopening of the Hussainiwala border here after the Delhi-Lahore bus service was started through Wagah in the neighbouring Amritsar district early this year. About 10 km from here, the Hussainiwala border was opened to passenger traffic besides traders after the 1965 Indo-Pak war. However, it was closed after the 1971 war. Vegetable and fruit merchants, who were earlier engaged in trade with Pakistanis, hoped that the border would be thrown open to traffic after the Lahore summit. Their optimism was shortlived after a low-intensity war broke out between the two sides of the border in Kargil sector of the Kashmir valley. The subsequent military coup in Pakistan has eclipsed all hopes nurtured by them. It is estimated that 400 businessmen had the license to carry out trade with Pakistanis but mainly four city-based merchants were engaged in the fruit and vegetable trade with the other side of the border. They were Manohar Lal, Chandar Bhan, Rampal Gulati and Deena Nath (both partners). Attributing economic backwardness in the district to the closure of the Hussainiwala land route, these traders have been pressing upon ruling parties to get the nearest gateway to Pakistan opened. "Ferozepore has been the worst hit by hostilities between the two sides of the border", Manohar Lal lamented. Recalling the good old days, Rampal Gulati, said at least "100 truckloads of fruit were sent to and fro everyday. This also helped the local cab owners, whose business flourished". "Keeping in view the frequent visits of businessmen from other side, a proposal was chalked out to construct a five star hotel in the city." His partner Deena Nath chipped in: "Ironically the city doesn’t have a good hotel even 28 years after the war", he said. While Banana and Mango, besides seasoned vegetables were exported to Pakistan, dry fruit was mainly imported from the other side. The situation changed after the 1971 war when a bridge across the Sutlej connecting the city with Kasur in Pakistan was blown up by the Indian Army to stop advancing troops from the other side. "Political will appears to be lacking, otherwise things would have changed for the better", Deena Nath said, adding "A strong lobby of Amritsar-based traders seem to have influenced the authorities in keeping our demand in abeyance". Seeking the intervention
of the Ministry of External Affairs, Manohar Lal said:
"Once a second land route is opened, the
authorities, too, shall be able to pocket revenue by way
of custom duty". |
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MC employees sans salaries
since June NANGAL, Nov 19 — Nineteen newly appointed employees of the local municipal council have not been paid salaries since their appointment in June this year. The appointments of these employees, which include, eight octroi clerks, nine pump operators, one driver and a mason, joined their duties on June 24. However, just two days after their joining, the Director, Local Government, dismissed them on the charges of irregularities in the selection process, adopted by local municipal council. Thereafter these selected candidates went to the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the decision of the Director, Local Government. The high court in a decision on September 18, 1999, held their dismissal as illegal and directed the local council to pay them salaries from the date of their appointment. However, even after this the local municipal council has not been able to pay salaries to these employees because the Director, Local Government, has not granted them permission in this regard. Instead, the Director has directed the local council to move a special leave petition in the Supreme Court, to challenge its own selections. The president of the local municipal council when asked to comment about the decision of the Director, Local Government, said the council was seeking legal advice. Meanwhie, harassed
employees are alleging they are just being victimised due
to revalry between Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Supply
Minister, who represents the area and Mr Balramji Das
Tandon, Local Government Minister. |
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Work begins on ‘sarv
sanjha van’ ANANDPUR SAHIB, Nov 19 — Work for setting up a ‘sarv sanjha van’ on an area of 10 acres near Charan Ganga Stadium began here today with the cleaning up of the plot by the youths who are attending the eight-day Khalsa Tercentenary National Integration Youth Camp. The camp has been organised by the National Youth Project with the cooperation of the Punjab School Education Board under the aegis of Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib. In the ‘sarv sanjha van’, the youths will plant saplings which they have brought from their respective states and the ones provided by the Punjab Forest Department. The planting of saplings will start tomorrow, Mr S.N. Suba Rao, Director of the National Youth Project, said here today. The youths from Bihar have brought the saplings of litchi, peepal, neem, jamun, mango, sheesham and sagwan, which they will plant here in memory of Khudi Ram Bose, Dr Rajindra Prasad, Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagwan Mahavir, Maharishi Valmiki and others. The Andhra Pradesh youths have brought bamboo saplings to be planted in memory of Ram Babu, a social worker. The Assam youths are here with saplings of Arjun, agru, silikha, bhanwra, orange, and silver oak. The Gujarati youths have
brought saplings of limrro, bohnia, borsali, garmarro,
gulmohar, and shyam tulsi to be planted in memory of
Pramukh Swami Maharaj and other religious gurus and
freedom fighters. The youths from Himachal Pradesh will
plant saplings of litchi, apple, mango and lemon, while
those from Uttar Pradesh will plant saplings of amla,
mango, bill and peepal in memory of Guru Gobind Singh. |
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12 held for making
synthetic ghee AMRITSAR, Nov 19 — The police here today arrested 12 persons in connection with the manufacturing of synthetic ghee by mixing tallow illicit liqour and grease etc. According to district police chief Parmpal Singh Sidhu a huge quantity of tallow illicit liquor and grease etc were seized after surprise raids on a tip-off. Giving details Mr Jatinder Jain SP (city) said that the persons who were arrested under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including 272, 273, 420, 295 A and the Prevention of Food Audltration Act 1954 and the Prevention of cruelty against animals Act 1960. The names of the alleged accused are Chander Shekhar alias Chandi, Ashok Kumar, Mangla, Sunil Kumar, Tila Singh, Satpal and Jagir Singh. In another raid in Dana Mandi and Gate Bhagtanwala Manoj Kumar, Billu and Dholla were arrested. However, kingpin Tarlok Singh alias Laddu, Ashik and Kala are absconding. The SP (city) said that
the alleged culprits were using primitive method of
manufacturing synthetic ghee. The tallow and fat of dead
animals was being mixed with the illicit liqour and
grease for manufacturing the duplicate ghee. A large
quantity of tallow was recovered from the spot. The
machinery for manufacturing the duplicate ghee had also
been sealed. He said, while one factory was running for
the past so many year’s another factory was opened
recently. He said the duplicate ghee was very dangerous
for human consumption. The official of Food and Supplies
were also involved in making the raids. |
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Police yet to arrest killers of banker AMRITSAR, Nov 19 (UNI) — Despite having claimed to have uncovered the mystery behind the sensational murder of Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC), manager Naresh Mahajan, the city police is yet to arrest alleged culprits involved in the incident that shocked local residents. Though an FIR had been registered in this connection against a local Congress councillor and his industrialist brother and three OBC officials, but no arrests had been made so far. The police high-ups recently decided to relieve SP (city) Jatindra Jain as investigating officer of this case and instead transfered it to the crime branch. This move was resented by Mr Banarsi Dass Mahajan, father of Naresh Mahajan who had been alleging that the cops under pressure from high-ups were trying to hush-up his son’s murder. In a memorandum sent to the Union Home Ministry yesterday, the elder Mahajan urged the ministry to intervene in the case to ensure justice and also described as incorrect police claims that the family of the deceased had requested that the case be handed over to the crime branch. Mr Naresh Mahajan working as manager with the local branch of the OBC, was found murdered in his car in the Ranjit Avenue locality on October 22 last year. The family members right at the outset had pointed an accusing finger at some of the bank officials whom they alleged were running a parallel banking system with the help of un-accounted money of certain local industrialists and Mr Naresh Mahajan had been opposed to this system for which he had to pay with his life. The investigations in the case were first handed over to the then SP (city-II) Sukhdev Singh Brar however later he was changed and the then SP (headquarters) Rajinder Dhoke was appointed investigating officer until his transfer in the middle of this year. Subsequently the present SP (city) Jatindera Jain took over the case and due to his efforts he managed a break-through and issued warrants against five persons all of whom were now obsconding as per the police claims. Though local police officials had denied that pressure was applied for transfering the case to the crime branch however the family of deceased claimed that those named in the FIR were well connected in high circles and possessed the money power to hush up the case. This murder had of late
acquired a political angle with the Congress state
general secretary Raj Kumar alleging that the police in
order to hide its own short comings had implicated a
Congress councillor while on the other hand a local BJP
councillor Dr Renu Goel demanded that those named in the
FIR should be immediately arrested and if this was not
done she would take up the matter with the Chief
Minister. |
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2 PAP cops held for snatching chain KAPURTHALA, Nov 19 (UNI) — Two constables of Punjab Armed Police (PAP) were caught on the spot however their third accomplice,also a PAP cop, escaped after the threesome snatched gold chain and mobile phone of a city resident here last night. Senior superintendent of Police Iqbal Singh, confirming the incident and arrest of the two cops under Section 356 of the IPC, identified the accused as Harvinder Singh and Waryam Singh, who were caught by the people, and their getaway accomplice constable Anil Kumar. Witnesses said that the three motorcycle-borne cops, in an inebriated state, came to a barber shop at Seenpura around 8 p.m. and snatched gold chain of Gaurav Sharma when he emerged from the shop after getting his beared shaved. They tried to drive away on the motorcycle, however when Sharma raised an alarm, people in the vicinity gathered. When Sharma tried to inform the police of the crime, his mobile phone, too, was snatched by the cops. However, people managed to overpower two of them, while the third accomplice managed to escape on the motorcycle taking away the chain and mobile phone with him. The booty has yet to be recovered from the absconding cop. Not knowing that the accused caught by them were cops in civvies, the angry people bashed them up and took them to the city police station after parading them in the city bazars. After taking over the accused,the cops at police station bolted its gate from inside, which further agitated the people. When anti police slogan-shouting crowd swelled to 100 they started beating the gate of the police station threatening to break it. The gate was opened half an hour later. Bajrang Dal district unit president Naresh Pandit said that the Sharma is his nephew. He demanded severe action against the cops. The case was later registered on the direction of the SSP. All accused, though
posted at PAP complex at Jalandhar, lived at police lines
here. Constable Harvinder Singh is son of Assistant
Sub-Inspector Darshan Singh, who is posted in the same
police station where the accused were kept in protective
custody till the SSP ordered registration of the case and
their arrest. |
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Bridegroom among 7 killed in
accident DERA BASSI, Nov 19 — As many as seven persons, including a bridegroom, of a marriage party died on the spot and 12 others were injured seriously in an accident here today. According to sources a Tata Sumo (HR-11-9708) carrying the marriage party rammed into a truck which had already met with an accident on the national highway at about 7.30 p.m. The deceased include the groom Girvar Prasad (22), Ram Sahaya (60), Santosh Kumar (40), his wife Baljati (35), Pintoo (2), Reshma (20) and Pinki (10). The injured have been rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32. Eight others including the bride, Ms Rajani, who were seriously injured, have been shifted to the PGI. According to eyewitnesses the Tata Sumo collided so forcefully that its direction got reversed and the occupants were thrown out. The marriage party has
returned to Bapu Dham Colony, Sector 26, Chandigarh. |
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Ban on holding of fairs PATIALA, Nov 19 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir banned holding of any entertainment shows, fairs and circuses without prior permission of the administration. In a statement issued here Mr Bir said he had directed all municipal councils not to allow anyone to hold any show without the permission of the Deputy Commissioner. He said before being granted permission to hold any event the organisers would have to obtain no objection certificates from police authorities, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and the Excise and Taxation Department. To ensure that the structure created for the event was safe, the organisers would have to take permission of the Public Works Department. The State Electricity Department would also have to give no objection certificate to the organisers, he added. Mr Bir said it had also
been decided that gambling would not be allowed in any
fair. Besides these events which had the capacity to
cause injury to other’s or were vulgar in nature and
degenerated womanhood, would not be allowed, he stated. |
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Villagers drinking untreated water BATHINDA, Nov 19 — Residents of Ganga and Dansinghwala villages have been consuming untreated water for the past more than two months as the authorities concerned had failed to supply water from the waterworks. In a letter written to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the residents have appealed to him to make arrangements for proper supply of water to the waterworks so they can get treated water for drinking. The residents pointed out that due to non-supply of water in Raunta Rajbaha, the common waterworks of Ganga and Barkandi village was not getting water and it was lying closed since September 10 this year. They added they had been drinking untreated water and various types of diseases were spreading in the villages. They also pointed out that the state Irrigation Minister, Mr Sikander Singh, had laid the foundation stone for bricklining Raunta Rajbaha on June 11 this year but no work in this regard had been started so far. They demanded that the Chief Minister should visit the villages and ensure full water no Rajbaha. They added that capacity of Raunta Rajbaha should also be increased by 20 per cent. omplaint of the student. Sarbsukhman Preet Singh and his father, Dr Rajinder Singh. The complainants had alleged that Sarbsukhman Preet was not being readmitted in Saint Thomas Senior Secondary school after he had failed to get the required pass percentage. The forum has ordered
the school authorities to readmit the student after
charging the fees and other charges as per the school
rules. |
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Civilian alleges intimidation AMRITSAR, Nov 19 — A civilian resident of the local cantonment here who had rubbed the Army authorities the wrong way had to pay with the water supply to his house being cut. Former Indian Test cricketer Swaranjit Singh, alias Butt, who had complained of rampant corruption in the Cantonment Board a few days ago, got the shock of his life when he learnt that water supply to his house had been "deliberately" blocked a few days ago. Mr Swaranjit Singh in a letter to the Army Commander, Western Command, Lt-General Vijay Oberoi, copies of which were released to Press here yesterday, expressed horror over cutting of the water supply. He alleged that it was a deliberate attempt to stifle his voice though intimidation by the local authorities who, he alleged, had decided to teach him a lesson for talking about the corruption in the local Cantonment Board. Mr Swaranjit Singh, who settled here in his ancestral home after spending 20 years in England, alleged that under the Cantonment Act of 1924 the board was an autonomous body open to the public but the present incumbents had been shunning all attempts to meet residents of the cantonment area to listen to their grievances. He urged the General to
personally look into the problems of the residents who
had to go through difficult times on account of civic
amenities, water and power supply, sanitation and
cleanliness. |
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Home Science convention ends LUDHIANA, Nov 19 — The three-day 23rd biennial conference of the Home Science Association of India concluded at Punjab Agricultural University here today. Speaking on the concluding function, Dr G S Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor of PAU, said that enpowerment of women was the basic element for the progress of the country. During this conference,
delegates had come up with the recommendations to change
the nomenclature of 'home science' to "family and
community sciences". The conference further endorsed
that home science curriculum should be user oriented,
gender neutral, need-based, holistic and
intra-disciplinary. More than 500 delegates from home
science institutions across the country had participated
in this conference. |
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Relief for Orissa cyclone-hit KHANNA, Nov 19 — Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, SGPC, flagged off a ration truck for Orissa cyclone victims at Gurdwara Manji Sahib Kotan, 15 km from here, today. She had come here to attend a bhog ceremony of Shri Akhand Path organised to celebrate her victory in the SGPC election. She said the SGPC was organising a langar in Orissa for cyclone victims. She said a wagon of ration would be sent to Orissa every alternate day. Meanwhile, the Northern
Railway will provide wagons free of cost to the SGPC to
send relief material for cyclone victims. This was stated
by Bibi Jagir Kaur while talking to mediapersons, here
today. |
||
Probe into misuse of panchayat ABOHAR, Nov 19 — The SDM, Mr Darshan Singh Grewal, today directed SHO city police station to probe allegations levelled against the sarpanch and panchayat secretary of village Dhaani Latkan Singh the state government had issued a grant of Rs one lakh to the panchayat for the construction of primary school building. The sarpanch and the secretary had reportedly withdrawn Rs 49000 on the basis of a resolution purported to have been passed on July 3, 1997 and August 3 but certain members of the panchayat including Mr Bhagwan Dass, Mr Satnam Dass, Ms Jamna Bai, Ms Paramjit Kaur had described the resolutions as fabricated. They claimed no such
meeting was held. The Block Development Officer Abohar
issued notice to the sarpanch on September 24 alleging Rs
67,000 had been misappropriated but the department had
not so far, taken action against the sarpanch. Members of
the Panchayat today requested the SDM to book the
sarpanch and the secretary for committing fraud. |
||
One dies in mishap LUDHIANA, Nov 19 — One person was killed and another injured when the scooter on which they were travelling was hit by a truck at Giaspura Chowk here today. According to an information, the driver of the scooter Dinesh Kumar killed on the spot while the pillion rider Pankaj Puri was admitted to Mohan Dai Oswal Hospital. The police has recovered
the truck but the driver escaped. |
||
Computer education from January 1 CHANDIGARH, Nov 19 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today announced that computer education would be introduced in selected schools and colleges from January 1 next. Presiding over the review meeting of the computersation projects in the State, Mr Badal said the government has decided to take a leap forward in information technology (IT) by establishing a high speed statewide information technology network covering all the district headquarters and important towns, says an official press note. For this fibre optic cables were being taken on lease from the Department of Teclecommunications which would also be used for government’s internal telephone facility, video conferences and data transfer between Government offices. Mr Badal said the future
economic development of the State depended on the
adoption of IT at three levels, namely, human resource
development, indistries and electronic governance.The
State also had a proposal to establish a geographic
information system covering all the villages, towns and
districts of Punjab, which would help all the departments
in better planning, monitoring and effective
implementation of various schemes. A budget provision of
Rs 25 crore existed for the purpose. |
||
Octroi hike on textiles goes CHANDIGARH, Nov 19 — The Punjab Government today withdrew its order on hike in octroi on textile goods the immediate effect, according to an official press note. Presiding over a meeting
of the representatives of the various associations of
wholesale cloth merchants from different districts today,
Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Local Government Minister, after
hearing the grievances of these associations agreed to
withdraw the hike in the octroi. |
||
Mandi Board chief gets
extension CHANDIGARH, Nov 19
— According to an official notification issued today
by the Punjab Government, the term of Mr Mal Singh
Ghumman, Chairman, Punjab State Agricultural Marketing
Board, has been extended for three years, along with
eight official members and two non-official members. Mr
Charanjit Singh of Jagraon and Mr Jarnail Singh Dogarwala
of Kapurthala are the non-official members of the board. |
||
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