Wednesday, September 8, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Wednesday, September 8, 1999 |
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Assembly
homage to martyrs DGP told to probe bribery charge |
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FIR
sought against SGPC member Probe ordered into Bholath poll
clash Badal expresses regret Gang of robbers busted, 3 held Servant drugs family Re-opening of poultry farm
demanded SGPC meeting on schedule Lawyers observe strike Malta probe panel to visit
Pakistan |
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Assembly homage to martyrs CHANDIGARH, Sept 7 — The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today made obituary references about eminent persons and Kargil heroes, besides victims of train accident in West Bengal and earthquake in Turkey. The Leader of the House, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, mentioned the names of Mr Kalpnath Rai, former Union Minister; Pandit Mohan Lal, Punjab's former minister; Master Kundan Singh, Mr Davinder Singh Garcha, Mr Amritpal Singh, Mr Om Parkash Gupta, all MLAs; Mr Ishar Singh Balianwali, and Mr Ram Nath Bhalla, both freedom fighters. Referring to Kargil heroes and martyrs, Mr Badal said India was proud of its jawans and also sad about those who laid down their lives for the country. While enunciating the schemes framed to extend "moral and material" support to the families and kith and kin of the Kargil heroes, the Chief Minister took the opportunity to congratulate the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee for his deft handling of the situation on the diplomatic front, and earning appreciation the world over for the country. Mr Vajpayee's able leadership had enhanced the prestige of India in the comity of nations. It was, perhaps, for the first time that instead of the usual urn containing the mortal remains of the jawans killed in action bodies were respectfully handed over to the families and cremations carried out with state and military honours in respect of every rank. Tributes were paid to the persons and victims of events mentioned in the obituary reference by the Leader of the Opposition, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, a CPI MLA, Mr Hardev Arshi, a BSP MLA, Mr Shangara Ram Sangura, a BJP MLA and Minister, Mr Balramji Das Tandon, a SAD (Mann) MLA, Mr Ajit Inder Singh Moffar, and an Independent MLA, Mr Dhanwant Singh Dhuri. In their obituary references both Mr Jagjit Singh and Mr Arshi made some suggestions in respect of government help to families of Kargil war. The BSP MLA said Kashmir symbolised the country's unity and integrity. Mr Arshi felt that the government should have acted "early" on reports sent from the field about Pakistan mischief. "The intruders were regular Pakistan army men," he added. The Speaker, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, also paid his respects. He said a copy of the House condolence resolution would be sent to the families of the deceased. The House observed a
two-minute silence. Later, it was adjourned till
Wednesday morning to meet at 9 am. |
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Punjab Cabinet hails voters CHANDIGARH, Sept 7 — The Punjab Council of Ministers, at its meeting here on Monday evening expressed deep gratitude to the people of the state for peaceful elections to the Lok Sabha. It placed on record its appreciation of Punjabis reaffirming their faith in the democratic traditions. The Council of Ministers also decided to start 'kharif' season procurement of paddy with effect from September 15. The Finance Department was instructed to release immediately the required funds to obviate any sort of difficulty in getting time cash credit limit from the Reserve Bank of India and State Bank of India for the kharif season, 1999-2000. The meeting reviewed the arrangements as regards storage, transport, labour, cartage and availability of gunny bags in the state for procurement of paddy. The council also approved a proposal of the Subordinate Services Selection Board for charging a fee extending from Rs 60 to Rs 100 in case of general category candidates and Rs 15 to Rs 25 for reserved category candidates for filling Class III posts. The scheme was evolved
on the basis of the practice prevailing in the Punjab
School Education Board, Punsup and the Department
Selection Committee of the Education Department. The
Implementation of the scheme is likely to make the Board
financially viable. |
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DGP told to probe bribery
charge CHANDIGARH, Sept 7 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Director-General of Punjab Police to get an inquiry conducted into the allegations levelled by Mohd Samsheed, a resident of Manimajra about his illegal confinement, torture and demand of illegal gratification. Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi, who handed down this order on the petition seeking a probe, directed the Punjab DGP to take such action as was required under law within three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. In his petition Mohd Samsheed stated that Inspector of the CIA staff at Patiala and the DSP (Detective) tortured him and refused to release him until he paid Rs 1.30 lakh. He further alleged that these police officials also obtained his signatures on blank paper. He was released on the condition that he would pay Rs 1 lakh by August 23, 1999. He had also prayed before the court to issue directions so that he was not harassed. The Judge observed that
he did not find any ground for issuing the directions
sought for but there was a clear averment in the petition
against the police officials that they demanded money
from the petitioner to release him. |
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PHRC for action against cops PATIALA, Sept 7 — In a far reaching decision, which may have reflection on the role of police in dealing with dharnas, the Punjab Human Rights Commission (PHRC) has recommended action against two police officers, who illegally detained 47 teachers, including some women, staging a peaceful dharna outside Punjabi University on August 10, last year. According to a copy of the orders sent by post to the complainant teachers of Punjabi University, Mr A.P. Bhatnagar, ADGP, PHRC, has recommended to the state government through the Home Department of taking suitable action against the police officers concerned in the illegal detention of 47 teachers. In fact, this was the first ever complaint of its kind, where protesters (teachers in this case) had moved the commission regarding the violation of their human rights to protest peacefully against the non-acceptance of their demand. Mr Y.P. Sharma, Inspector, PHRC, who visited the university regarding the inquiries in the case a few months ago had confirmed to this correspondent that the complaint was the first of its kind. According to the investigation report of Mr Sharma, appended with the orders, the incident took place in the evening of August 10 last year outside the Punjabi University. The teachers were staging a dharna at the site demanding UGC pay scales. Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, Human Resources Development Minister, was scheduled to attend a function in connection with Khalsa tercentenary celebrations. At 5.30 p.m. just before the arrival of the Union Minister, a police party, led by SHO Ashish Kapoor took away the teachers to Ghanaur police station where they were kept till 11.30 p.m. The teachers, after their release, protested against the police highhandedness when they were just staging a peaceful dharna and complained to the human rights commission. The enquiry, while mentioning the name of SHO Ashish Kapoor also said that the complainant teachers which include office-bearers of the Punjabi University Teacher Association, the Punjab University Teachers Association, deans, directors and head of various department, also named Mr P.S. Grewal as the officer responsible for detaining them. Mr Kapoor in his statement to the commission had denied any high-handedness. He said he detained the teachers on the order of his senior who apprehended that the teachers would gherao the Human Resources Development Minister. Mr P.S. Grewal, in the statement to the PHRC denied giving any such order. Talking to this correspondent here today, Mr Grewal, who is serving as AIG (Railways), maintained that he was not on duty at the site of the dharna. "My duty was at the guest house in the campus and I had no knowledge of what happened outside". Mr Grewal said the PHRC
had not given due weightage to his statement and he would
fight against the order through the office of DGP,
Punjab. |
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FIR sought against SGPC
member KHANNA, Sept 7 — Leader belonging to Akali Dal (Amritsar) and Sarab Hind Shiromani Akali Dal supported by local Congress leaders, today called on the SP (Headquarters) and urged him to register an FIR against Mr D.S. Cheema, member, SGPC, and son of local Akali Dal (Badal) MLA, Mr Bachan Singh Cheema, for his alleged beating up of Hakim Singh of Akali Dal (Mann). Mr Simranjit Singh Mann and Mrs Balbir Kaur Khalsa, Lok Sabha candidate for Srab Hind Shiromani Akali Dal for Ropar constituency, led the delegation. They alleged Mr D.S. Cheema on September 4 beat up Hakim Singh and Bhai Amrik Singh Isru. Other leaders, who accompanied the delegation included Mr Charan Singh Lohara, general secretary Akali Dal (Mann), Mr Swaran Singh Sandhu, member working committee, Akali Dal (Mann), Mr Ravinder Pal Singh Bagli, president Shiromani Akali Dal (A), Khanna, Mr Lakhbir Singh Kalal Majra, working committee member, SHSAD, Mr Ranbir Singh Khatra and the Block Congress Committee President Mr Ashok Tiwari. Talking to newspersons Mr Mann said the SP had assured them of an early registration of FIR. Mr D.S. Cheema, when contacted, denied the incident and said, it was Hakim Singh and Amrik Singh Isru who abused him in Cheema village in the presence of his relatives. And also that they tried to hit his car apart from threatening him to eliminate him. It may be recalled that
an FIR has already been registered with the police as per
the version of Mr D.S. Cheema. |
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Probe ordered into Bholath
poll clash KAPURTHALA Sept 7 — The district administration has ordered an inquiry into poll violence in Nijampur village and Zaid village of the Bholath Assembly constituency of Phillaur Lok Sabha seat. The inquiry has been ordered following a deputation of prominent workers of Congress led by Mrs Santosh Choudhry, a Congress nominee for the Phillaur Lok Sabha seat and Mr Sukhpal Singh Khera, secretary PPCC today met Mr V.K. Singh Deputy Commissioner and Mr Iqbal Singh SSP and brought to their knowledge the high-handedness of Akali workers during poll in the Bholath Assembly constituency of this district and stabbing of a Congress worker at the hands of Akali workers. Mr Darshanjit Singh
Dhindsa DSP (Headquarter) has been deputed to inquire
into the poll violence and asked him to submit his
report. Following assurance that a fair and impartial
inquiry will be held, the proposed dharna & blockage
by Congress workers at Subhanpur village on the G.T. Road
has been put off, Mr Sukhpal Singh announced. |
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Badal expresses regret CHANDIGARH, Sept 7 — Following regret expressed by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, regarding the slapping and snatching of the camera of a news photographer allegedly by his son, Mr Sukhbir Singh, the Committee for Coordination Against Attacks on the Freedom of Press here today suspended its agitational programme for the time being. A spokesman of the committee said the Chief Minister expressed regret when a delegation of the committee met him at his office to apprise him of the incident and to seek action against those involved in it. The spokesman said the Chief Minister told the delegation that he was deeply concerned about the incident at Kotkapura on the polling day. The Chief Minister said he would arrange soon a meeting between Mr Sukhbir Singh, Mr Ajay Verma, the photographer, journalists and some IAS officers. Mr Badal assured the
delegation members that he would get the camera returned. |
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Gang of robbers busted, 3
held SANGRUR, Sept 7 — With the arrest of three persons, the Barnala police claim to have busted a gang of robbers with terrorist links, according to Mr Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota, district police chief, Barnala. A police party consisting of Mr Ajaib Singh, SP (D), Mr Surinder Pal Singh, In Charge, CIA, Barnala and Mr Harbhajan Singh, SHO, Dhanaula, during a nakabandi intercepted and arrested three persons going on two scooters and seized three pistols and several live cartridges from them. The arrested include Harbans Singh, son of Jangir Singh, resident of Keharoo village under Dhuri police station, Baldev Singh, son of Gurbax Singh, resident of Hathan village police station Malerkotla, and Raghbir Singh, alias Bawa, son of Kartar Singh, resident of Bamal village, police station, Dhuri. During interrogation, they confessed that they had links with slain terrorists of the KLF — Gurmukh Singh Bari of Mansa and Pargat Singh and Hardev Singh of Ina Bajwa. These terrorists had been killed in different police encounters. The arrested revealed that they had earlier surrendered before the police and in the presence of their respective village panchayats. They were then pardoned to bring them back in the main stream, said Mr Sahota. However, after remaining inactive for a few years, they secured three pistols from Vinod Kumar, alias Bittu of Dhuri and resumed looting. They confessed of looting Rs 5.25 lakh from a wholesale liquor shop, Rs 1.50 lakh from a commission agent, Rs 97,000 from PSEB employees posted at Handiya grid, looting employees of petrol pumps besides committing several more such acts, added Mr Sahota. A case has been
registered against them at police station Dhanaula. |
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Servant drugs family LUDHIANA, Sept 7 —A Nepali Servant, Suraj Bahadur, allegedly drugged three members of a family on Rani Jhansi Road here and escaped, after ransacking the house. According to the information available, Raj Thapar, his wife Neelam Thapar and their daughter Manu Thapar 20 were found to be heavily drugged and their house ransacked when their sweeper came early in the morning today. The sweeper then raised an alarm and the three were rushed to a private nursing home where they were stated to be out of danger. It is learnt that the
servant, Suraj Bahadur, mixed some intoxicant in their
food and then ransacked the house. It was also discovered
that various lockers in the house had not been broken but
opened by using keys. The servant had been employed by
the family only 20 days ago on the recommendation of a
servant in a neighbouring household. While Suraj Bahadur
is still at large, the police has rounded up the servant,
who recommended him. |
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Re-opening of poultry farm
demanded GURDASPUR, Sept 7 — The closure of development projects one after another by the district Animal Husbandry Department has caused resentment among the affected persons in the district. More than five years ago a sheep breeding farm at Dhar Kalan, under Pathankot subdivision, spread over in more than 100 acres aimed at providing highbred sheep to the people of the area to give them self-employment, was closed for reasons best known to the department. According to official sources, the sheep breeding farm was closed and replaced by rabbit farm with fresh investment of more than Rs 15 lakh but the amount allegedly went down the drain and the farm was closed more than a year ago. The official sources said that the rabbit farm, after closure would be used for running a goat farm but nothing had been done in this regard, so far. The staff operating the farm had been asked to stay back to look after the property of the farm, which comprises of huge sheds and residential accommodation each for class-II, class III and class-IV employees. The official sources said that the poultry farm here had also been closed since long. The poultry farm had sheds and requisite machinery to rear more than 10,000 chicks at a time including parent flocks. It is spread over in eight acres of prime land valued at several crores of rupees. Insiders said on the condition of anonymity that the land of the poultry farm, which is lying vacant was likely to be leased to private individuals with influence in political circles. It was also being rumoured that certain influential persons were trying to purchase the land on a reserve price much below the market value of the said land. The residents of the
area contended that the poultry farm should be made
functional because the residents of the area being
comparatively poor, could be employed by starting their
own small poultry farms under self-employment schemes
with adequate loans raised by banks to the Department of
Animal Husbandry. |
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SGPC meeting on schedule AMRITSAR, Sept 7 — Mr Kulwant Singh, Secretary, SGPC, has said the general house session of the Shiromani committee to elect the President and other office-bearers was not being pre-poned as rumoured by certain senior leaders of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal. The SGPC Secretary
alleged that some pro-Tohra members had been propagating
that the election to the SGPC was being held on October 3
before the announcements of Lok Sabha election results.
He said that the results of the Lok Sabha elections would
not be a threat to the present set-up of the SGPC. He
claimed the Badal Dal would emerge "victorious"
after the results. The election of the SGPC chief would
be held as per schedule i.e. in third week of October. |
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Lawyers observe strike LUDHIANA, Sept 7 — Working in the district courts remained paralysed for the second day on Tuesday following a strike called by the District Bar Association in protest against the alleged inaction by the administration to provide adequate accommodation to practising lawyers of the association in the new district courts complex. Mr K.R. Sikri,
president, District Bar Association, said he had convened
a meeting of the association on September 13 to discuss
further plan of action to be initiated in this regard. |
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Malta probe panel to visit
Pakistan HOSHIARPUR, Sept 7 —The mission probing the Malta boat mishap has decided to send two delegations to Sri Lanka and Pakistan in October-November to meet survivers and parents of the deceased. In a press note here today, Mr Balwant Singh Khera, Chairman of the mission, said the mission would try to coordinate efforts for the prosecution of the guilty and providing compensation to the affected families. He said the mission would also visit Italy and Greece next year to coordinate the efforts of non-government organisation and the governments concerned in this regard. Mr Khera said a defence
and legal aid committee would be set up to pursue legal
cases in the countries concerned. He sought the
cooperation of human rights organisations in India and
abroad. |
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