Monday, November 22, 1999
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Monday, November 22, 1999 |
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IT know-how: Punjab
follows AP pattern CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — For the Punjab Government, Andhra Pradesh is now the model, at least in information technology IT upgrade. The state government has drawn up plans to link administrative centres up to the block level with the headquarters and provide state-of-the-art information network. Ministry expansion soon: CM BATHINDA, Nov 21 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said criminal case would be registered against all officials of the Canal division (Irrigation Department), Bathinda, who were found involved in a Rs 2.5 crore scam. |
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Militant admits to planting bomb JALANDHAR, Nov 21 — The police have solved the mystery surrounding the discovery of a bomb near a newspaper establishment in the city last month with the arrest of foreign-returned ultra Kuljit Singh on Friday last. Water
climbs up in Gidderbaha
Sarpech,
a prized jewel Border
firing to stop: Aulakh 2nd
phase of pulse polio launched Granthi,
ragi held on rape charge Punjab
aid for Orissa's cyclone-hit Abducted
boy traced Galib
is PYC vice-chief Gang
of thieves busted Computerised
FIRs soon Buses
plying ‘sans’ valid permits |
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IT know-how: Punjab follows
AP pattern CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — For the Punjab Government, Andhra Pradesh is now the model, at least in information technology IT upgrade. The state government has drawn up plans to link administrative centres up to the block level with the headquarters and provide state-of-the-art information network. "The computer screen would tell any minister or an officer what is happening at the district, tehsil and block level. All information would go public and private citizens could also access a good deal of this information", a senior officer said. At the request of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who has lately been showing some interest in the latest technology, the Union Department of Telecommunication has been now requested to allocate a Mbit band width for the Punjab Information Network. This would facilitate fast connections. DoT has laid optical fibre cables with 24/12 fibres in Punjab and only a few cables with six-fibre strength. Punjab wants that the entire network be upgraded with six fibre as done by Andhra Pradesh. Mr Badal has written to the Union Government suggesting that Punjab Government plans to invest in Optical Fibre equipment to use these unlit pairs and 50 per cent of the extra transmission band width so generated by this extra optical fibre equipment on the unlit pairs. "Allocation of 2 M-bit band width to the Punjab Government. The unlit fibre will be extended to the Punjab Government's secondary node from the Fibre Distribution Frame and no equipment will be installed on the DoT premises. The entire equipment would be installed on our premises, "Mr Badal said. Punjab has sought permission to allocate unlit fibre as per alternative-I for the Information Technology Network project of the Punjab Government. "In case it is not feasible due to any reason, 2 M-bit band-width as per alternative II may be allocated", he said. This kind of linkage would mean fast communication not only by officers here downline, but also cross-communication too. "We are trying to bring everything on one net-work. This would cut down delays and red-tapism and also save money and labour. Imagine, the Chief Minister issuing instructions on the information network and seeking information about any development work straight on the line. It would be like electronic mail held solely by the government. Only sensitive information would be protected from becoming public. The rest anyone could see and store. It would add to transparency", officials claimed. While they have set some
timeframe, but as yet the working had been tardy as
compared to the way Andhra Pradesh has moved. But more
important would be how this information is used. If this
is just there in the machines and on cables, it would not
mean much. Officers conceded that work culture and a
fresh attitude, too, would need to be built up to back up
the system and keep vested interests out. "That is
the key question and we are aware of this", a senior
officer said. |
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Ministry expansion soon: CM BATHINDA, Nov 21 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said criminal case would be registered against all officials of the Canal division (Irrigation Department), Bathinda, who were found involved in a Rs 2.5 crore scam after the second inquiry being conducted by the DIG, Ferozepore Range, Mr Hardeep Singh Dhillon.Talking to newsmen here, he said Mr Alok Shekhar, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Development, Bathinda, who conducted the initial inquiry, had also been associated with the second probe. When asked why the district administration had not registered a criminal case against those officials who had been found guilty of embezzlement in the first inquiry, he said nobody involved in the scam would be spared. Mr Badal denied he had received a written complaint against two Cabinet ministers regarding corruption as published in a section of the Press. He said the ministry would be expanded shortly. However, he did not disclose how many persons would be inducted. Earlier, addressing a function to honour Mata Gurmi, who kept a 121-day fast by the Jain Sabha, Mr Badal appealed to the people to take a pledge to eradicate corruption. People should come forward to expose corruption in government departments. Mr Badal said religious bodies should contribute financially to the spread of education. They should construct school and college buildings. He said development committees should be formed by people in villages and towns to monitor various projects and check bungling. Mr Badal announced a
grant of Rs 5 lakh for Bhoj Raj Jain School where the
function was held. |
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Running Punjab, Badal style LUDHIANA: A curious mix of despondency and confusion appears to have over taken the Badal Government in Punjab in the wake of the parties’ electoral debacle in the recent parliamentary elections. The ruling SAD-BJP coalition lost 10 out of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Even the Chief Minister’s Son, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was a Minister of State in the Vajpayee government, was defeated. Although the SHSAD chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, whose 10 MLAs continue to be a member of the SAD primarily because of the anti-defection law, in concert with Mr Ravi Inder Singh and a few others did try to kick up a row in the SAD in its aftermath, the Chief Minister was able to manage things without much difficulty. The re-election of Bibi Jagir Kaur as the president of the SGPC for yet another term has also shown that Mr Badal continues to have control over the levers of power in the government, the party and the SGPC. However, there is considerable unease in the party. Although the party leadership has gone through the motions of discussing the issue, no serious attempt has been made to identify the causes of the electoral debacle and take corrective measures. Insiders ask if it is enough to blame the Congress and Mr Tohra for all the ills of the state and the present plight of the party? Has the performance of the government and its ministers nothing to do with the poll results? As a matter of fact, an attempt is being made by the party leadership to pretend that it is “business as usual”. The Chief Minister has chosen corruption as his new target of attack. He has been going about the state and asking people who had been forced to pay bribes to government officials for getting their work done to come forward and lodge complaints with the administration. Many individuals have made complaints at the Chief Minister’s meetings at Faridkot, Ludhiana and elsewhere. There has been prompt action on them, resulting in the suspension of several officials and return of the bribe money. But many in the party and the bureaucracy wonder if this is the right way to tackle the all-pervasive problem of corruption. Unless the system is made transparent and discretion of government functionaries minimised, it will be difficult to make a dent they feel. There is apprehension in the government and the party that Mr Badal’s style of holding public darbars where people are encouraged to lodge complaints of corruption may rebound. Things have already begun to show signs of going awry. Anyone can name anyone else of bribery and force the Chief Minister on the defensive. A case in point is his gathering at Humbran, near Ludhiana, a few days ago when certain members of the public named two ministers for seeking and accepting bribes beside a large number of other government functionaries. While the Chief Minister ordered action against the patwaris and JE’s, there was no response against the ministers, bringing forth the accusation from Mr Gurcharan Singh Galib, local MP and vice-president of the Punjab PCC, that the Chief Minister was protecting his ministerial colleagues. In Jalandhar, a patwari continue to serve in the same post even four months after the registration on FIRs in connection with his alleged involvement in a multi-crore-rupee land scam because he is said to enjoy the protection of the powers-that-be. Operation of private buses on unauthorised routes and the government’s attempt to scuttle bureaucratic action to curb the practice and plug the leakage of revenue by shifting concerned officers is another case in point. Doles and a please-all policy have spelt ruin for the state’s economy. Although a cabinet sub-committee has recommended that free power and water to the farm sector and other doles be “rationalised”, the Chief Minister has not shown any inclination to do this. Apparently, he is more worried about the political fallout of the ‘rationalisation” of free power and water supply to the rural sector on the forthcoming panchayat and zila parishad elections next month. Little wonder he has gone ahead and announced that free water and power to the farm sector will continue. But political observers emphasise it is time political considerations stopped outweighing sound fiscal practices. If panchayat and zila parishad elections can stall corrective measures today, the Nawanshahr by-election to the state assembly may do so tomorrow. The Chief minister has also managed to send out the wrong signal by withdrawing the provision for dealing with the arrest of violators in the Punjab Sales Tax following some resistance from traders and businessman. It is argued in the bureaucracy that either the government should not have enacted the provision or once enacted, should have stood by it. It is much the same story on privatisation of octroi posts in certain cities of Punjab. The measure had yielded an increase in revenue where it was introduced, even though it was unpopular with the traders and businessmen because of the attendant harassment and humiliation they had to suffer. But the government has given a go-by to sound economic sense and withdrawn that too. There is a realisation that Mr Badal’s quarrel with Mr Tohra is taking a heavy political toll with the Chief Minister forced to concentrate his attention on it all the time. But nobody is sure how to resolve the problem. Mr Badal’s ministerial team is not exactly bristling with talent either. Even the team of bureaucrats has put together to man key department could do with a reshuffle. Officers with a clean track record, commitment to the state’s development and a drive to get things done should be brought in rather than the dominant consideration being given “clan”. As one perceptive
officer put it, the ruling coalition is right now
displaying neither the will nor the skill to run the
government. Although Mr Chandrababu Naidu is looked upon
with envy in these circles and attempts are often made to
emulate his style of administration nothing of substance
is being done in terms of content. |
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Militant admits to planting bomb JALANDHAR, Nov 21(UNI) — The police have solved the mystery surrounding the discovery of a bomb near a newspaper establishment in the city last month with the arrest of foreign-returned ultra Kuljit Singh on Friday last. When a team of police officers, including two superintendents of police, supervised the destruction of the bomb wrapped with a message for the newspaper editor in an envelope soon after it was discovered around 10.30 a.m. on October 9, they hushed up the matter to prevent a scare. But interrogation of Kuljit Singh alias Jeet, arrested on November 19, revealed that Kuljit and two of his accomplices had planted the bomb after the newspaper editor refused to publish an advertisement the ultras wanted. Reliable police sources told UNI that advertisement had been faxed to the newspaper from abroad and that the three ultras, including Kuljit Singh who was sent from Britain to the city for the purpose, made futile attempts to get it published. The ultras had brought along Rs 60,000 to pay for the advertisement whose contents, however could not be ascertained, the sources added. Kuljit Singh has disclosed the identity of both of his accomplices to the police who have eluded them so far. One of them is known as Fauji while the second name has not been revealed. Interestingly, the police revealed the real identity of Kuljit Singh only reluctantly, apprehending that his sympathisers at home and abroad could move the courts to force police to announce his arrest. Intriguingly, the police had registered a case of sedition under Section 124-A of IPC and under Section 25/54/59 of the Arms Act and Sections 4/5 of Explosives Act and Section 18 of NDPS Act on November 16, but the arrest of Kuljit Singh was shown only three days later on November 19. Sources said Kuljit
Singh was codenamed as Ajit Singh Sandhu during
investigation by the police to hid his real identity. |
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Water climbs up in Gidderbaha BATHINDA, Nov 21 — The alignment of the recently constructed Banwala irrigation minor in the North-East direction near Gidderbaha, against the natural gradient of the land, has generated a controversy as the canal may not be able to carry water upto its tail. Sources say the difference of head between the Sirhind feeder, the source of the Banwala minor, and the minor is not sufficient to allow water to flow upto its tail. Water was released on a trial basis in Banwala minor on September 2,1999 at around 12 noon after closing the gates of Sirhind Feeder, sources said. But five hours later, despite the free board in the Sirhind feeder falling to just 15 inches threatening a breach in its embankment, only four inches of water was flowing in Banwala minor. Sources said water has never been released into the canal after September 2,1999 along more than Rs 1.30 crore has been spent on construction of the canal. Works done on the canal is also under a cloud with allegation that works were executed at a rate 10 to 15 per cent above the common schedule of rates (CSR) of the PWD and sanctioned premium (SP). Some bunglings have also come to light in the other works related to the minor. Sources claim the entire project is unviable because of defects in its basic design and execution and the canal may never carry water. Mr G.S. Sidhu, Executive Engineer, Canal Division, Bathinda, when contacted said Banwala minor was executed as per the design sanctioned by the Chief Design Office (CDO) of the department and the minor was not yet completed as it still had to be bricklined. He dismissed he controversy over the feasibility of the canal saying water had never been released in the minor until now. Mr Sukhminder Singh,
Superintendent Engineer, Canal Division, Ferozepore, who
along with DIG, Ferozepore is conducting a probe into
bunglings in works executed in the Bathinda canal
division, when contacted said complaint regarding defects
in Banwala minor had been received but he was yet to
visit the site to make inquiries. |
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Artefacts of princely era rust in
stores PATIALA, Nov 21 — Tourists flocking the famous Sheesh Mahal Museum and art gallery here go home marvelling at the rare artefacts and relics of the erstwhile princely times realising hardly that they had seen only 20 per cent of the total collection of the museum as the remaining gathers rust in the stores of the place. Antique items which have capability to attract more crowds are packed either in trunks or strewn around the dark and dingy stores. Due to lack of space to exhibit these shortage of supervisory staff and shortage of funds for chemical cleansing of the rare weapons, sculptures, paintings, dresses. Utensils and lot more are blocking re-surrection of these abandoned relics of the past. Though an effort has been made recently by the local staff to restore the grandeur of some of the stored items yet lot remains to be done in this direction. A recent visit to the Sheesh Mahal revealed that a few symbols of antiquity locked in storerooms for the past 20 years or so had finally found their way out. A number of 200-year-old silver plates mysteriously carrying engravings of astrological and zodiac signs, a beautiful bronze statue of a palace gatekeeper, a number of spears and dhals, rare Chinese mirrors, life-size wooden mirrors and portraits of the erstwhile rulers of Patiala are some of the fortunate ones “excavated” from the storerooms and exhibited in the museum. In addition marble busts of almost all rulers of Patiala along with their select British and Indian friends have also been cleaned. These new items, notwithstanding the museum eagerly await the day when most of the antique pieces lying in oblivion may finally find their way out. It would be quite a task to cleanse all of them and restore their grandeur as most of these besides carrying ravages of time also bear injuries of floods that inundated this region in 1988 and 1993. But apart from the will to resurrect the glory of these antiques the government will have to fill various vacant posts apart from providing more funds. Sources in the museum here said at least four posts of gallery assistant were lying vacant. There is only one sweeper who looks after the whole Palace apart from doing duty in the Quila Mubarak also. Interestingly, there is only one electrician for all museums in the state then there is shortage of security staff. One of the prime reasons for which the internationally famous medal gallery is lying locked. Several proposals were made to exhibit all material rushing in the store rooms but none has borne fruit. Sources in the department said though the museum collects highest revenue yet it was not given any special funds. They suggest that if some funds collected by the museum are allowed to be kept here then the resurrection work can gather momentum. Deputy Curator M.S. Mathur said the government was doing its best in its limited resources. Showing the latest exhibits he said one of the main problem in the exhibition of the locked antique items was the shortage of space also. He said earlier one room was reserved for chandeliers only but now other items are also exhibited here. He said the museum requires expansion of the building to accommodate all items. Sheesh Mahal is famous
for its painted chambers and unique glasswork done in one
particular chamber. Besides relics of the princely era,
there are several sculptures and statues found in
excavation from several places in the state and outside. |
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Sarpech, a prized jewel PATIALA: The Patiala sarpech (literally meaning head fastner) was one of the most elaborate of its kinds and a prized jewel of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala who wore it on special occasions. According to a photograph of the late maharaja in the Christie catalogue published on the occasion of sale of Indian jewellery by the house on October 6, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh is shown wearing the Patiala sarpech along with other precious jewels, pearls and military medals. Other photographs of the Maharaja are also to be seen wearing sarpeches, including one which has been displayed on the cover of K. Natwar Singh’s book, “The Magnificent Maharaja”, but none so splendid as the Patiala sarpech. The photographs also show separate details of the front and back of the sarpech. While the front glistens with diamonds, rubies and emeralds, the back shows the intricacy of craftsmanship with foliate motifs of red, green and blue enamel. The provenance of the sarpech has become a matter of contention. The catalogue says it was formerly the property of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh. Simultaneously, an official of the jewellery department of the auction house in a letter to Mr Raninder Singh, great grand son the late maharaja, has said the sarpech belonged a European collection before 1947 and was consigned to the house in Geneva. Chairman of the Institute of Punjabi Art and Culture, and Congress General Secretary Bir Devinder Singh finds this assertion hard to believe. He says the late maharaja died in 1938 following which his son Yadavindra Singh ascended the throne. He remarks that Patiala state ceased to exist in 1948 and that Yadavindra Singh continued to function as Rajpramukh of Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) till 1951. The Congress leader says following this logic, it was not possible for the sarpech to leave India before 1947. He says he had written a letter to Mr David Warren, head of the jewellery department of Christie, seeking detailed identity of the buyer and seller of the jewel as well as details of its ownership after 1938 when Maharaja Bhupinder Singh expired. Mr Birdevinder Singh states that it is intriguing that the sarpech had been auctioned in London after being consigned in Geneva as its rightful place was the medal gallery of the Archives Department at Patiala. He said he would urge the Centre to order a CBI inquiry into the episode as the sarpech was of historical and cultural importance for the people of Patiala and Punjab. Meanwhile, Pradesh
Congress President chief Amarinder Singh, who is a
descendent of the late maharaja, when contacted few days
earlier on the subject, had said that his family was
disturbed at the manner in which the jewel was sold by
Christie without informing it. He said Christie auction
house owner Lord Althrop had spoken to his son and
conveyed apologies of the house for not informing them of
the sale. He said he would also be writing to Christie on
the issue as it was the third time in the past five years
that artefacts belonging to the Patiala royal house had
been sold without informing the family giving rise to
misunderstandings. |
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Border firing to stop: Aulakh WAGHA, Nov 21 — The biannual meeting of the BSF with Pakistani Rangers at Lahore agreed to de-escalate tension at the border by ending unprovoked firing on both sides which has claimed lives of several innocent persons every year. This was the first meeting after Kargil conflict and the military rule in Pakistan. The 11-member Indian delegation comprising senior BSF officials, engineers of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), the Survey of India and from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was led by Mr A.S. Aulakh Inspector General, BSF (Punjab Frontier). The Pakistani team was led by Major-Gen Salim Ullah. After their four-day visit to Pakistan, the members of Indian delegation, which returned via the joint check post at Wagha this evening, said the Pakistani counterparts seemed "more cooperative" after the military rule. Talking to the press, Mr Aulakh said Pakistani Sikhs were unhappy over the decision of the SGPC not to send jathas of devotees to Pakistan for Gurpurb which falls on November 23. They had tastefully decorated the gurdwaras to mark the occasion. Both countries agreed to curb smuggling of narcotics and tackle unauthorised crossing of border by Bangladeshi nationals. "The irritants
stand removed though our Pakistani counterparts differed
on various issues", Mr Aulakh said. |
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2nd phase of pulse polio
launched BATHINDA, Nov 21 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today launched the second phase of the pulse polio programme at the local B.R. Jain School by administering drops to children. He said in Punjab 33 lakh children had been identified between the age group of zero to five years for administering drops. He said 16,000 camps had been set up in the state. Mr Badal appealed to the people to make the campaign a success so that the country could be free from the disease by 2000. Mr S.R. Ladher, Deputy Commissioner, said the campaign would continue for the next two days. SANGRUR: About 2.5 lakh children from zero to five years were administered polio drops in the district on Sunday, according to Dr C.P. Bansal, Civil Surgeon. As many as 1,094 camps were set up in the district. BATALA: A large number of children were administered polio drops at various camps held here with the help of the Lions Club, the Rotary Club, the Lions Club (Smile) and the Bharat Vikas Parishad. FAZILKA: As many as 29,500 children were administered drops in urban and rural areas of Fazilka block. Various social organisations like the Rotary club, the Innerwheel Club, the Lions Club and Bharat Vikas Parishad participated in the drive. GURDASPUR: Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Minister of State for Public Relations, and Mr S.K. Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, inaugurated camps at Sekhwan and Halla, respectively, in the district. More than 150 children were administered drops by 12 noon. ABOHAR: A large number of children were administered drops at 50 centres set by the Health Department with the help of various voluntary organisations. BARNALA: Mr Rahul Bhandari, SDM, inaugurated the second phase of pulse polio drive here by administering a polio drop to a child at railway station here. Dr S.S. Toor, Chief Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, and Dr Suresh Singhal, in charge, pulse polio drive, said about 12,000 children were administered drops here. However, in Dhanaula block about 24,000 children were administered drops, according to a press note issued by Dr Shamsher Singh, Senior Medical Officer, Community Health Centre, Dhanaula. SUNDERNAGAR: More than 12,000 children were administered drops at 114 booths in this subdivision. According to an official source, about 400 employees were engaged in the camps. HOSHIARPUR: As many as 1.80 lakh children from zero to five years were administered polio drops in Hoshiarpur district, Mr Iqbal Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, said. JALANDHAR: The Health and Family Welfare Department organised a function at Basti Bawa Khel, here on Sunday which was presided over by Mr Manoranjan Kalia, Health Minister, Punjab. He administered drops at Basti Bawa Khel, Sangat Nagar, Chougiti, Kot Ram Dass and Bashirpura. Mr Som Parkash, Deputy Commissioner, also administered drops at bus stand and railway station. FATEHGARH SAHIB: As many as 67,156 children were administered drops in the district. Mr V.K. Janjua, Deputy Commissioner, inaugurated the camp by administering drops to children at the Civil Hospital. SONEPAT: A large number of children were administered drops by the Health Department. People thronged the centres spread all over the district and long queues were seen in front of the centres before the scheduled time. ROPAR: Polio drops were administered to 1,27,941 children between the age of 0-5 years today in the district in the second phase of the special campaign against polio. As many as 832 camps were organised to administer polio drops in the district while 49 mobile teams also functioned. Several voluntary organisations like Rotary Club, Lions Club, Youth Clubs, Mehila Mandal, Istri Sehat Sabhas, besides nagar councils and panchayats, also participated. PATIALA: As many as 2.11 lakh children were administered polio drops today under the pulse polio programme in the district. District Civil Surgeon Rameshwar Chander inaugurated the drive in the morning at Ablowal village. He said it had been decided to take 2.53 children under the orbit of the programme and that the left out children would be given polio drops in the coming two days. The Civil Surgeon said 509 camps had been established in villages, 159 in towns and 60 in slums. In a separate function PEPSU Road Transport Corporation held three camps in the bus stand here in which 2.700 children were given polio drops. LUDHIANA: During the second phase of the pulse polio campaign, the Civil Surgeon, Dr (Mrs) Rajinder Kaur administered polio drops to children between the age of 0-5 years at Bhagwan Nagar camp and the primary health centre at Ghabaddi. Dr Harwinder Singh, district immunisation officer, said 2300 posts had been set up in the district to administer polio drops. KAPURTHALA: Mr Raghbir Singh, Transport Minister, today launched the second phase of administering polio drops to children in the district at a function held at the civil hospital. Dr Ajaib Singh Sandhu,
Civil Surgeon, said 729 teams had been constituted to
administer polio drops to 1,11,600 children in the
district. |
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Granthi, ragi held on rape
charge FATEHGARH SAHIB, Nov 21 — The district police has arrested Gurmeet Singh, a granthi, and Jaswant Singh, a ragi of Gurdwara Naumi Patsahi of Bhagrana village in the district, for allegedly raping an 18-year-old daughter of the "langari"of the gurdwara. Mr Paramraj Singh Umranangal, SSP, said here today that during his public grievance meeting, the girl along with her father, Swarn Singh, met him and complained that Gurmeet Singh and Jaswant Singh had threatened to eliminate her family, if she did not submit to their wishes. She also alleged that the two had earlier raped her by forcibly entering her house in the absence of her parents. The SSP said the granthi and the ragi had been arrested and had confessed the crime. The two were members of
a five-member gang and the three others were still at
large. He said the gang had also committed murders. |
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Punjab aid for Orissa's
cyclone-hit CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — Punjab is providing help to the super-cyclone hit people in the worst-affected Jagatsinghpur district of Orissa. This was stated by the Technical Education Minister, Ms Upinderjit Kaur, on her return here today after a week-long stay in Orissa. She headed a high-level delegation from Punjab to assess the damage done by the cyclone and to chalk out an action plan. An official press note quoting her said people were left with no food, no clothes and no homes. A large number of them had died. It was estimated that 1.5 crore people had been rendered homeless and crops destroyed on 10 lakh hectares of land. All state government and voluntary organisations will have to work tirelessly for the rehabilitation of the people, she said adding 300 truckloads of relief material — rice,wheat, chivra, clothes, gur, blankets, utensils, chappals, tarpaulins, polythene sheets — moved to Orissa from Punjab had since reached their destination and was being distributed to the needy. A Guru Nanak Dev
community kitchen had been set up at Jagatsinghpur from
where cooked food was served to one lakh people daily.
The preparation of food was being supervised by Sant
Mohan Singh "Pehowawale". Punjab, the statement
said, proposed to adopt a few villages for overall
rehabilitation. The immediate need there was for blankets
and polythene sheets. She appealed to the people to
contribute to the relief fund. |
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Abducted boy traced BATALA, Nov 21 — The police here has traced a minor boy who allegedly, according to his relatives was abducted on November 18, 99. Sukhwinder Singh son of Tarlok Singh of Mustarapur, at 10 p.m. reported the police that his minor cousin Balwinder Singh son of Charan Singh of Mustarapur police station Kalanaur aged 14 years had been kidnapped from his house by some unknown persons. This fact was brought to the notice of the police which sent parties to look for the boy. The cousins, other relatives and the mother of the child had come to Batala to attend a marriage at Randhawa Palace, Quadian Road. They left the boy alone in the house. The boy thus left alone in the house, took off on his own expecting to catch up with his family members and attend the marriage. The boy was spotted in
the area of ‘Sukha Singh Mehtab Singh Chowk’
near Batala bus stand at 5 p.m. on November 19, 1999. The
relatives of the boy were informed and he was restored to
the family at 8 p.m. the same day. |
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Galib is PYC vice-chief CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — Dr Vikas Singh Galib, a senior Congress worker of the region, has been appointed Vice-President of the Punjab Pradesh Youth Congress by the IYC president Mr Munish Tewari. Dr Galib, an industrialist by profession, hails from a well known political family of Jagraon in Ludhiana district Dr Galib had been general secretary of NSUI in 1985 and is at present a special invitee to the PPCC. He was given the party
ticket to contest the assembly election from Jagraon in
1997 by the party high command, but could not contest
owing to confusion in the allotment of the party symbol. |
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Gang of thieves busted HOSHIARPUR, Nov 21 (UNI) — The police today claimed to have busted an inter-state gang of thieves who specialised in stealing money from the scooters with the arrest of two of its members. Senior Superintendent of Police R.P. Mittal today said Jagram and Rinku alias Yogesh, both residents of Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh, were intercepted by Mukerian police near Mauri Chak railway bridge last evening when they were coming on a motorcycle. A body search led to the recovery of Rs 20,000 they had stolen three days ago and a country-made .12 bore pistol along with three cartridges. He said the accused
confessed to having committed several such crimes in
Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, adding they would follow a
customer into a bank and after he had drawn the money,
would follow him wherever he happened to park his scooter
then steal the money from its boot by using a key.
Several keys were also seized from them. |
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Computerised FIRs soon FATEHGARH SAHIB, Nov 21 — The Punjab Police has sent a proposal to the government for reorganisation of police districts following the creation of certain revenue districts. Mr Sarabjit Singh, Director General of Police, Punjab, while talking to The Tribune at Hansali village, today, after inaugurating an eye and dental check up cum operation camp being organised by Lions Club, Patiala Classic with the blessings of Sant Baba Ajit Singh ji, Hansali wale. He said Punjab was the first state where police had been modernised and computers installed at all district headquarters. Now computerised forms for writing FIRs were being introduced and computers will be installed at all police stations. He said the attitude of the police is being moulded through training to every cop at Phillaur. Answering a query he
said the police had definite clues about the Pathankot
blast suspects and they would be arrested soon. He ruled
out the possibility of revival of terrorism in the state.
On the problems of constables and other junior officers,
he said the Police Department had written to the
government that constables should not be considered
unskilled worker and their salaries should be fixed on
par with the other departments. |
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Buses plying ‘sans’
valid permits BATALA, Nov 21 — Certain buses are plying on the Amritsar- Pathankot route without valid permits allegedly due to the connivance of the authorities concerned with operators. This was alleged by Mr Kashmir Singh, president, Amritsar-Pathankot Private Bus Operators Union. He said here today that while these buses were never challaned, those having valid permits were frequently challaned. Mr Kashmir Singh said as
per rules, an adda in charge could not stay at a station
for more than there months, but in many cases the
officials had remained posted at particular stations for
more than seven years. He demanded an inquiry into the
matter. |
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