Travel agents dupe workers: probe ordered
AMRITSAR, Sept 8 — On the basis of a request made by the Indian Embassy in Bahrain, the Punjab Government has reportedly ordered a probe into the alleged over-charging by some travel agents from some workers belonging to Amritsar and Gurdaspur in the name of securing good jobs for them in Bahrain.

Scribe’s FIR not registered
FARIDKOT, Sept 8 — Naresh Shegal, a reporter from Kotkapura, who was reportedly manhandled, along with Ajay Verma, a photographer of Desh Sewak, by Mr Sukhbir Badal and his gunmen near a polling booth on September 5, is running from pillar to post to get an FIR registered against the attackers but without any success.

War hero's memorial neglected
AMRITSAR: Amritsar has the distinction of being the home of the first martyr who laid down his life while recapturing 13620 Hill (known as "Crooked Finger" in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir in 1965.

Pharmacy college reaffiliated
NANGAL, Sept 8 — The All-India Council of Technical Education (AITEC), has restored its affiliation to the Shivalik College of Pharmacy. Earlier, the AITEC had delisted the college on the plea that the college didn't have its own building.

Commandos for Bihar
PATIALA, Sept 8 — Inspector-General of Police K.L. Likhi today flagged off a special train taking two commando police battalions to Bihar to assist in the smooth conduct of parliamentary elections there.

• Youth Akali Dal office-bearers
• Case of "panja" fixation
• Musical nite on Sept 11

Punjab Speaker on CPA panel

CHANDIGARH, Sept 8 — The Speaker of Punjab Assembly, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, has been nominated to the executive committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) for Asia region.

This was announced by the Vidhan Sabha Secretary, Mr O.P. Varma, in the House today amidst thumping of desks.

Mr Atwal is the first-ever Speaker of the Punjab Assembly to have been given such an honour. He will have a three-year tenure as a regional representatives for Asia.

The formal election will take place at the 45th conference of the association scheduled from September 17 to 23 at Tobago in Port of Spain.

The Leader of the House, Mr Parkash Singh Badal; the Leader of the Opposition, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh; and several others congratulated the Speaker. Mr Badal suggested that a House resolution be passed and given to the Speaker.

* * *

Earlier there were heated exchanges between Congress MLAs and the Treasury Benches over certain remarks purportedly made by a minister, Raja Narinder Singh, in respect of Scheduled Castes and Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. The Speaker kept saying that there was nothing on record and there was no reason to drag the issue. But the Congressmen remained adamant. Ultimately Raja Narinder Singh said though he had not made any snide remarks but still if someone felt hurt he apologises for the same.

Mr Bhattal was seen in the House for the first time today. She had come in quietly towards the fagend of the extend sitting of the House when discussion on the Punjab Municipal Bill was on.

* * *

Replying to a call attention motion of Mr Satyapal Saini (BJP), Mr Parkash Singh Badal said a fault was detected in the gate of pen-stoke tunnel-1 at Thein Dam because of which emergency gate could not be lifted. Consequently the commissioning of unit-4 was affected. The matter had been discussed at the highest level. It is hoped power generation will be possible by December-end after the defect had been removed.

* * *

There were some questions related to the Kargil issue. These were put by CPI MLAs, Mr Hardev Arshi and Mr Ajaib Singh Raunta. Mr Badal and the minister concerned, Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, said the government was committed to giving every possible help to the jawans who had died or became disabled. Proper policies have been laid down. The schemes were applicable to defence and paramilitary personnel from Punjab, who have participated and suffered in all military operations, including counter-insurgency in the defence of the country. The cut-off date is January 1, 1999.

To a supplementary, Mr Badal said any case prior to the cut-off date, if brought to the government notice, will be accommodated. At least 53 persons have received the benefits intended for the jawans. If someone wanted to use the death or disability money outside Punjab the government had no objection to that, he added.

* * *

The Minister for Labour and Employment told the House in a written reply to a question by Mr Ajaib Singh Raunta that the following mandays were lost due to either industrial workers' strike or a lockout in Punjab in the first seven months of 1999: Hoshiarpur 5,750; Sangrur 17,171; Ferozepore 1,36,347; Gurdaspur 77,000; Amritsar 1,64,792; Patiala 23,625; Ludhiana 725; and Ropar 2,028.

* * *

As on March 31, a total of 2,94,813 applications were pending with the Punjab State Electricity Board for tubewell connection, according to written information given to the House in answer to a question by Mr Sher Singh.

* * *

Under the age-old pension scheme, the beneficiaries numbered 610,380 as on March 31, 1999. The money required for disbursement in 1998-99 was Rs 11969.19 lakh while actual disbursements was Rs 5105.95 lakh. Mr Hardev Arshi, whose question elicited this written information wanted more money sanctioned to cover all listed persons under the old-age pension.

* * *

Against Rs 70.62 crore provided by the state to the Health Systems Corporation till August 31, the expenditure incurred was Rs 85.25 crore. Higher expenditure target was met since state allowed the corporation to raise a bridge loan of Rs 25 crore. The corporation receives indirect assistance from the World Bank.

Punjab Youth Cong dissolved
Tribune News Service and UNI

JALANDHAR, Sept 8 — The Punjab Youth Congress (PYC) President Mr Davinder Singh Babbu has dissolved the 85-member body of Youth Congress in the state. However, the district presidents will retain their posts.

Briefing the media here today Mr Babbu said the state body of Youth Congress had been dissolved. On the directions of the All-India Youth Congress President, Mr Munish Tiwari. The new appointments would be made after assessing the workers' performance in the Parliamentary elections. The party workers, who had worked actively for the party, would be promoted, he said. He however, warned that disciplinary action would be taken against those who worked against the party's interests.

Meanwhile, the PYC President charged the administration in the Faridkot and Ferozepore Lok Sabha constituencies with harassing the Youth Congress activists who tried to thwart the ruling Akali party activists to influence the voters in illegal manner during the polling on September 5.

He alleged that party's Abohar unit leader Subash Vij had been falsely implicated in a case of attempt to murder at the behest of ruling Akali party candidate Zora Singh Mann in the Ferozepore constituency.

While raids were being conducted at the houses of Moga unit President Gursharanbir Singh and Mukatsar unit President Bikramjit Singh Bhullar by the police to harass them.

Both Muktsar and Moga were part of the Faridkot constituency where Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar of the Congress was locked in the battle against Punjab Chief Minister’s son and Union Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

The PYC president condemned the assault on Desh Sewak photographer Ajay Verma and demanded registration of case against Mr Sukhbir Badal.

Mr Babbu said that besides dissolution of the state executive, the Batala unit of Youth Congress had also been dissolved and its President Davinder Sharma removed for "non-performance" during the election.

Meanwhile, the PYC president has expanded the three-member disciplinary action committee of the party with the induction of Subash Vij of Abohar and Malwinder Singh Chahal of Kapurthala.

The original three members were Chairman Dharminder Rana, Shushil Malhotra and Sukhwinder Singh.

Attack on SAD men: 12 Cong workers booked
From Our Correspondent

ABOHAR, Sept 8 — Twelve senior Congress workers have been booked under Sections 307, 323, 148, 149, 427 and 506, IPC, here for allegedly damaging a mini bus and injuring some SAD workers on Sunday.

According to a complaint lodged by Jathedar Jeet Singh of Kerakhera village, the Congress workers attacked the bus on the Kandhawala road during the day of polling. Three SAD workers were admitted to the Civil Hospital, all of them belonged to Zira subdivision of the Ferozepore Lok Sabha constituency.

Congress leaders, however, alleged that the SAD had brought outsiders for rigging.

Police parties last night conducted raids to arrest Congress candidate’s brother Satpal Josan, Vijay Nagpal (former vice-president of the municipal council), Subhashvij (general secretary, Punjab Pradesh Youth Congress), Yudisthar Gakhar (district president, anti corruption board), Tirlokchand (former municipal councillor), Mahender Kumar (sarpanch), Tilakraj Sachdeva and others.

Condemning the police action, Mr Hansraj Josan, Congress candidate and PPCC organising secretary, said his leading supporters had been booked from different parts of the district. He had lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against certain police officers but none of them were transferred before the polling day.

A case had been registered against a block Congress president Prithviraj Doomra and three others for damaging a car owned by the president of the municipal council, Jalalabad.

It had been alleged that no case was registered against SAD and BJP workers who attacked Mr Doomra and other workers as they had resisted bogus polling. Mr Doomra said her husband had been missing for the past three days.

Two senior workers who had been admitted at the local hospital have demanded that SAD-BJP candidate Zora Singh Mann and his supporters be booked for resorting to unprovoked firing, booth capturing and intimidating voters.

High Court

DGP summoned in custodial case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 8 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Director-General of Punjab Police to be present in court tomorrow in connection with a writ petition field by Mohammed Shamshid alleging that his younger brother, Anish Ahmed, had been picked up from their house at Manimajra.

Mr Justice T H B Chalapathi, who handed down this order, also directed the Registry of the High Court to communicate this order along with a copy of the petition to the Director-General of Police today itself by a special messenger.

The petitioner stated that aggrieved by the High Court order dated September 6 ordering an inquiry against Inspector Basakha Singh and DSP Gulshinder Singh, some police officials came to his house in a jeep bearing a Patiala registration number to pick him up "to teach him a lesson" for approaching the High Court and getting an inquiry ordered against them.

In his earlier petition Mohammad Shamshid had stated that he was picked up by the Patiala police. He was kept in illegal custody. They demanded a sum of Rs 1.30 lakh to release him.

He further stated that he was released on the condition that he would pay Rs 1 lakh to the police by March 23.

He had also alleged that the petitioner and some other persons who had come to the CIA staff to get him released were made to sign blank papers.

Mr Justice Chalapathi had yesterday directed the Punjab DGP to "take such action as was required under the law within three months."

Bail to PSIEC chief declined

The High Court today declined to grant bail to Ranjit Talwandi, Chairman of the Punjab State Industrial and Export Corporation, Kulwant Singh and Gurmit Singh, who had been convicted in a murder case by the Additional Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Mr Justice J.L. Gupta and Mr Justice V.M. Jain, who handed down this order, ruled: "After hearing counsel for the parties, we are satisfied that no case for the grant of bail has been made out at this stage."

The Judge added: "Keeping in view that the appeals are pending, we are not inclined to give detailed reasons lest the interest of either side should be adversely affected."

"We do not think that any ground for grant of bail to the appellants has been made out at this stage," the Judge observed.
As for the counsel's request for an early hearing of the appeals, the Judges observed: "The request is very fair. However, as at present, appeals of 1995 are being heard. Therefore, we do not consider it appropriate to direct that the appeals be listed immediately so as to allow the appellants to jump the queue. Nevertheless, we direct that the hearing of these appeals be expedited, if possible. These should be listed for hearing within one year."

According to the prosecution, one Chamkaur Singh had died of bullet injuries in a brawl at Ludhiana. Accused Jit Singh, alias, Pummy, had snatched a rifle from a gunman and fired shots after Ranjit Singh had exhorted him "to kill as many as persons as he wanted."

Travel agents dupe workers: probe ordered
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Sept 8 — On the basis of a request made by the Indian Embassy in Bahrain, the Punjab Government has reportedly ordered a probe into the alleged over-charging by some travel agents from some workers belonging to Amritsar and Gurdaspur in the name of securing good jobs for them in Bahrain.

The demi-official letter, written by Mr Jagdish Parshad, Second Secretary, Indian Embassy, Bahrain, to the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi has urged to "kindly investigate the matter and inform this mission accordingly". The Indian Embassy in Bahrain has also given complete addresses of the nine workers belonging to Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Sangrur, who were allegedly duped by Bachan Singh.

The copy of the Indian Embassy’s letter addressed to the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Labour and Chief Secretary, Punjab, was released to the press by veteran CPI leader Satya Pal Dang. Mr Dang alleged that some "VVIPS of Amritsar" were protecting the alleged culprits.

Mr Dang alleged that the modus operandi of the travel agent, who had migrated to Behrain about 20 years ago, involved lurging innocent unemployed youths through his wife and a son living in Amritsar. He further alleged that the wife and son of the travel agent might leave the country if immediate action was not initiated. Mr Dang said the passports of all nine workers were with the travel agent in Behrain and urged the state government to ensure that the workers got justice at the earliest.

Scribe’s FIR not registered
Tribune News Service

FARIDKOT, Sept 8 — Naresh Shegal, a reporter from Kotkapura, who was reportedly manhandled, along with Ajay Verma, a photographer of Desh Sewak, by Mr Sukhbir Badal and his gunmen near a polling booth on September 5, is running from pillar to post to get an FIR registered against the attackers but without any success.

In an application to the SSP, and the Station House Officer, he alleged that he was beaten up by Mr Sukhbir Badal and his gunmen and his camera taken away by them.

He said senior police officers who were present there did not come to his rescue and remained mute spectators. He said when he asked a senior police officer to take action against the culprits, he refused to do so.

After the incident, he was rushed to the Civil Hospital where his medico-legal report was prepared and handed over to the police station concerned for necessary action.

He said he had to leave the hospital as he apprehended danger to his life because SAD workers were seen roaming in the area.

He pointed out that a few months ago, he was attacked by SAD leaders and the District Magistrate had ordered the police authorities to provide him with security guards but nothing had happened in this regard.

Mr A.S. Rai, SSP, when contacted, said he had received the copy of complaint of Shegal today and the FIR would be registered in this regard on Friday.

War hero's memorial neglected
Tribune News Service
From Varinder Walia

AMRITSAR: Amritsar has the distinction of being the home of the first martyr who laid down his life while recapturing 13620 Hill (known as "Crooked Finger" in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir in 1965.

Now after 34 years, the Army officer was remembered. Crooked Finger overlooks the Kargil area including its airfield.

In May 1965 Major Baljit Singh Randhawa, Mahavir Chakra, was serving with 4 Rajput at Kargil. "On May 17, 1965, at 2 a.m., the enemy attacked using heavy mortars and heavy machine guns. He advanced along with his troops and captured the important hill without caring for his safety. When he was destroying small-arms positions and bunkers, the enemy again started advancing and he was seriously injured by enemy fire. Despite being wounded, he did not lose heart and motivated his men to advance. During this war, he became a martyr and in history of the Indian forces he set an example of self-sacrifice and unparalleled bravery".

Thus reads a citation about the first martyr of Kargil on a marble stone memorial put up by the late Inder Singh Bal, former Deputy Collector, (Irrigation), who headed the Rani ka Bagh (Amritsar) Welfare Society. However, the recent conflict in Kargil, is being exploited by various parties to take political mileage out of it. No proper memorial has been raised in the memory of the first martyr of Kargil so far. Heaps of garbage could be seen around the small marble stone on which the citation of this brave soldier has been engraved. Advertisers have also been pasting leafiest on this memorial. The memorial has been defaced by politicians as well.

The first martyr of the recent Kargil conflict, Lt Saurabh Kalia, who was tortured to death by his Pakistani captors, also belonged to Amritsar. Incidentally, no political party or the district administration has bothered to raise any memorial to Lt Kalia so far.

However, members of the recently floated Rashtriya Raksha Dal (RRD) have made attempts to preserve the memory of Major Randhawa. Col J.S. Bal (retd), a college mate of Major Randhawa who was with him, in Dras-Kargil, took the initiative to remember this first martyr of Kargil. He took civilians and ex-servicemen along and paid homage to this great martyr.

Col J.S. Mand, president of the All-India Ex-servicemen's League, Punjab and Chandigarh, Lt Col A.S. Dhillon, President (Urban), and Commandant (retd) Kundhan Dhillon, president (Rural) All-India Ex-servicemen's League, and many prominent citizens of Amritsar also participated in the function. They got the area cleaned. However, Colonel Bal alleged that the people had again started throwing garbage near the memorial.

Colonel Bal, said the RRD would endeavour to mobilise the families of Kargil martyrs so that a suitable memorial is raised in the memory of the Kargil martyrs. He said it was a matter of pride that Amritsar and Tarn Taran sent the maximum number of soldiers who had laid down their lives for the sake of motherland in Kargil-Dras. Instead of taking political mileage, the leaders of various parties should work for the rehabilitation of the martyrs' families.

Pharmacy college reaffiliated
From Our Correspondent

NANGAL, Sept 8 — The All-India Council of Technical Education (AITEC), has restored its affiliation to the Shivalik College of Pharmacy. Earlier, the AITEC had delisted the college on the plea that the college didn't have its own building.

The Principal of the college, Mr Rai, said the accreditation was restored on August 5 but the letter was received by the college after the last date for admissions had passed. He was, however, hopeful that the college would be able to admit students in the second round of admissions.

The college has been in controversy since the take over of Shivalik College by the Punjab Government in July, 1996. The Shivalik College and the pharmacy college shared the same building since their establishment in 1983.

The municipal council had given a written undertaking to the Punjab Government that it would undertake construction of a separate building for the pharmacy college. Since then about 8 acres have been marked for the purpose and about Rs 2 lakh spent on the preparation of the plan of the college. However, the building is yet to come up.

The President of the council, when contacted, said the council was not in favour of constructing a building for the college as it would cost about Rs 2 crore and the council didn't have that much fund.

Commandos for Bihar
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Sept 8 — Inspector-General of Police K.L. Likhi today flagged off a special train taking two commando police battalions to Bihar to assist in the smooth conduct of parliamentary elections there.

Mr Likhi, who was accompanied by Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr Brijinder Kumar, gave a warm send-off to the force consisting of 1100 personnel, including 26 officers.

Talking to newsmen, Mr Likhi said the force was being led by first commando Commandant Resham Singh and third commando Commandant A.K. Mittal. Another force consisting of three companies would go to West Bengal to assist in the poll process on September 23. Commandos were being sent on special demand to Naxalite-infested areas.

Musical nite on Sept 11
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Sept 8 — The Madan Mohan Yadgar Sabha will hold its fifth annual musical nite on September 11 at the Lion Bhavan, Lajpat Nagar.

According to Mr S.S. Ajimal, the main object of the function is to keep the Indian melody alive in an era of western pop music.

Amateur artistes in the age group of 5 to 70 years will perform.

The entry to the programme will be free of cost.

Case of "panja" fixation
From Our Correspondent

PHAGWARA, Sept 8 — It was a case of "panja" fixation. An old woman of nearby Jagjitpur village was repeatedly tutored by a Congress activist to stamp on the "panja" symbol on the day of polling on Sunday.

The old woman cast her vote. On return, the activist wanted to know whether she had put a stamp on "panja". Much to his annoyance and the amusement of his opponents, the woman showed her own palm with the sign of the stamp. She had stamped her own hand instead of the one printed on the ballot papers, an eyewitness said here last evening.

Youth Akali Dal office-bearers
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Sept 8 — The following appointments were made in the All India Youth Akali Dal yesterday. Mr Sukhpreet Singh Puni, General Secretary, Mr Dishadeep Singh Varas, Vice President (Amritsar Urban), Mr Mandip Singh Bedi, Press Secretary and Mr Surinder Singh, Administration Secretary. The new members of the working committee are: Mr Rajwinder Singh Gill, Mr Sarbjit Singh Dhillon, Mr Gurjit Singh and Mr Devinder Singh. Mr Raj Sharma has been appointed the President of Ward Number 19, while Mr Kirandeep Singh, has been made the president of the youth body of ward number 17.