 |
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| Thursday, March 30, 2000, Chandigarh, India   |
MLAs
fail to raise Akal Takht issue, walk out Jathedar’s
sack condemned Gallantry
awardees to get more Liquor
vends of Patiala auctioned in loss Exam
boycott threat by teachers |
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Sangh
Parivar ‘woos’ Sikhs Cong
suspends councillor A
clarification
Shagun
scheme to continue PSEB
policing scheme fails to take off SHSAD’s
appeal to all parties Theatre
Day celebrated
About
suicide, flesh trade & forced marriage 9
gang members arrested Granthi
held on rape charge Man
hacks wife to death Impersonation
case: 1 more held Murder
case: CM’s intervention sought 2
cheats arrested Two
arrested in murder case Narcotics
burnt Three
hurt in road mishap
Teachers
go on leave
Munjal
lecture
|
MLAs fail to raise Akal Takht
issue, walk out CHANDIGARH, March 29 — Opposition members, except those belonging to the BSP and the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), walked out from the Punjab Vidhan Sabha as they were not allowed to raise the issue pertaining to Akal Takht, its Jathedar and other related developments during zero hour today. Mr Avtar Singh (Congress) tried his best to raise the issue. he was joined by Mr Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, Mr Hardev Arshi and Mr Baldev Singh Khaiala from the treasury benches. They urged the Speaker for a discussion on the issue. Mr Avtar Singh Brar and Mr Khaiala remained on their feet for several minutes and continued to speak. However, the Speaker expunged the observations made by them saying that it was a very sensitive matter. Mr Brar had supported the stand taken by the Jathedar of Akal Takht on the calendar issue. Agreeing with the points raised by Mr Avtar Singh, Mr Hardev Arshi (CPI) also argued in favour of discussing the issue. His plea was also turned down. Immediately after this MLAs belonging to the Congress and CPI walked out from the House. They raised slogans against the Akali Government and in support of the Hindu-Sikh unity. As Capt Kanwaljit Singh spoke against the walkout Mr Ravi Inder Singh, objected by saying that when the Opposition MLAs had not been allowed to discuss the issue, how could Capt Kanwaljit Singh be allowed to do so. The Speaker immediately made it clear that he had not allowed given any such permission to Capt Kanwaljit Singh. However, in a very clever way, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal succeeded to raise the Nanakshahi calendar issue. He asked the government to clarify: which calendar was being followed by it for declaring holidays on gurpurbs? He said that in the past three months the Government had declared two holidays for each for two gurpurbs. He asked: what would be its stand regarding coming six gurpurbs in coming months. However, the government did not reply to the question in the House. Speaking to media persons in the press room of Vidhan Sabha, Mr Badal said that the issue of holidays would be resolved soon. Mr Shangara Ram Sahungara said hundreds of employees had become jobless due to the closure of a public sector unit at Naya Nangal. The Government should give assurance that they would be adjusted at other places. Mr Ajit Inder Singh Mofar raised the issue of biting of a number of persons in Baho-Jatri village near Mansa by rabid dogs. He said that no treatment had been made available to affected persons. Chowdhary Jagjit Singh (Congress) raised the issue of the Ludhiana cycle industry and urged for tax relief to it. Earlier, during question hour, Chief Minister made it clear that there was no proposal to sell the land owned by Punjab Agriculture University near Ludhiana and elsewhere. He said this in response to a question asked by Mr Rakesh Pande and a supplementary by Mr Avtar Singh Brar (both Congress). Replying to another question raised by Mr Rakesh Pandey and Mr Dhanwat Singh and a supplementary by Mr Hardev Arshi, the Finance Minister told the House that the anomalies removal committee’s report and was being examined. Mr Arshi asked the Finance Minister to spell out the time frame implementing the recommendations of the committee. Capt Kanwaljit Singh said that the Government was yet to take the final view of the report. Various MLAs, including Mr Jagtar Singh Rajla, Mr Makhan Singh, tried to pin down the Panchayati Raj Minister on the issue of suspension of two panches of Mauli Baidwan village in Kharar tehsil. The minister assured the members that process to take action against the panches concerned had been put into motion. Regarding the money earmarked for dharamshalas for Dalits, the Government had been directed to give reply tomorrow as it was unable to satisfy members concerned on this issue today. Mr Inderjit Singh Zira
raised a question about the scandal of Rs 45 lakh in the
purchase of paper for publishing text books. Mr Tota
Singh, Minister for School Education, said that proper
procedure had been followed and the paper had been
procured at the lowest rate. |
Jathedar’s sack condemned AMRITSAR, March 29 — Describing the unceremonious removal of Giani Puran Singh, jathedar Akal Takht as a most unfortunate incident the leadership of Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) today appealed to pro-Badal SGPC members to join them for maintaining the Sikh traditions. Both the factions appreciated the stand of Mr Balbir Singh Punnu, Mr Kewal Singh Badal, Mr Hardalbir Singh Shah and Mr Bhagwant Singh — senior vice-president, vice-president, general-secretary and executive member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee respectively for “boycotting” the meeting presided over by Bibi Jagir Kaur. They said that apart from Bibi Jagir Kaur the entire SGPC executive had accepted the ‘hukmnama’ issued by Giani Puran Singh from Guna (Madhya Pradesh) and had performed ‘tankhah’ (punishment for religious misconduct). They condemned those members who had participated in the meeting presided over by Bibi Jagir Kaur yesterday. Those who addressed the joint press conference included Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur and Mr Jasbir Singh Ghuman, vice-president and general secretary of Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal and general secretary respectively, Mr Onkar Singh Sharifpura, district (Urban), Mr J.S. Manjpur, Mr Gurbax Singh Purain — and Mr Jagdhir Singh Katron — all SGPC executive members. Dubbing Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister and SAD president as the ‘main culprit’ in the on going panthic crisis, they said if he failed to take any action against Bibi Jagir Kaur for violating the decision of the political affairs committee (PAC) he would stand exposed. The PAC of the SAD had unanimously accepted the hukmnama issued by Giani Puran Singh and had directed Bibi Jagir Kaur to appear before Akal Takht which she defied. SHSAD and SAD (Amritsar) leaders said that it was a matter of concern that due to the ‘wrong decisions’ of Mr Badal, two jathedars of Akal Takht were unceremoniously removed, three Sikh high priests were excommunicated and even the SGPC chief excommunicated in the tercentenary year of the birth of the Khalsa Panth. Despite this Mr Badal described the tercentenary celebrations as his ‘biggest achievement’. They asked Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, who was installed as Acting Jathedar, Akal Takht to ‘beware’ of the designs of the ruling SAD and SGPC saying he would be treated as a ‘rubber stamp’. They said if Giani Vedanti opposed any decision of the SGPC he too would meet the fate of Bhai Ranjit Singh and Giani Puran Singh. They said though the
SHSAD still considers Bhai Ranjit Singh the ‘real
jathedar’ of Akal Takht the removal of Giani Puran
Singh, who was a nominee of Mr Badal, was highly
condemnable. They alleged that Mr Badal had personally
telephoned each executive member of the SGPC for removing
Giani Puran Singh. “Mr Badal is playing a dangerous
game”, they cautioned. |
Dal Khalsa for resolving
impasse AMRITSAR, March 29 — The Dal Khalsa held Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal responsible for yesterday’s developments at the Akal Takht and “degrading the sovereign status” of the seat. The Dal Khalsa which held a political conference here today appealed to Sikh leaders to resolve the on-going crisis. The speakers included the Damdami Taksal spokesman Bhai Mohkam Singh, the organisations vice-president, Mr Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib, general-secretary Akali Dal, Amritsar, Prof Jagmohan Singh and Dal Khalsa spokesman Kanwar Pal Singh. The speakers expressed anxiety at the reported circulation of ‘sacrilegious’ RSS literature in Punjab. The conference called
upon the SGPC to issue a directive to Sikhs to boycott
such literature and to set up a censorship board to
monitor print, audio and video religious material
published worldwide on Sikh religion and Sikh history.
The conference said that the RSS and its affiliate, the
Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, in the name of promoting of the
Sikh faith, were denigrating Sikh religion and culture. |
SGPC budget session likely to
be stormy AMRITSAR, March 29 — The annual Budget session of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee scheduled for tomorrow is likely to be a stormy one. The task force of the SGPC will be deployed around Teja Singh Samundary hall the venue of the meeting, in strength to meet any eventuality. SGPC members belonging to Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal and SAD (Amritsar) have indicated that they will protest against various items in the budget. Mr Harbans Singh Manjpur, Mr Gurbax Singh Purain and Mr Jagdhir Singh Katron all executive members of SHSAD and SAD (Amritsar), who had boycotted the executive committee meeting yesterday, indicated that they would raise a question about Bibi Jagir Kaur presiding over yesterday’s meeting even though she had been “excommunicated” from the Sikh panth. Both the rival factions have sufficient numbers in the SGPC to stir up a storm in the session. SGPC members of rival SAD factions may also question the unceremonious removal of Giani Puran Singh as Jathedar. Its not clear if those
office-bearers of the SGPC who had “boycotted”
the executive meeting yesterday will attend the Budget
session. They boycotted yesterday session on the pretext
that Bibi Jagir Kaur was presiding over it. |
Gallantry awardees to get more CHANDIGARH, March 28 — Following its decision to accord freedom fighter status to gallantry awardees in the state, the Punjab Government has released an amount of Rs 20 lakh for paying additional allowance to eligible recipients. The Director, Sainik Welfare, Punjab, Brig K.S. Kahlon (Retd), said that the State Government had started paying the additional allowance as sanctioned from this month. As per the government’s notification, all recipients of Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra or their dependents in case of posthumous award, will be eligible for a uniform allowance of Rs 1,500 per month in addition to other allowances already applicable to them. The allowance will be applicable from October 1, 1999. There are about 300 gallantry awardees in the state who would be benefited by this allowance. The State Government is already paying an annuity of Rs 350, Rs 275 and Rs 200 per month to recipients of Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra, respectively. The Punjab Government had decided to award freedom fighter status to gallantry awardees in the state during the Rajya Sainik Board meeting some time back. The meeting, chaired by the then Governor, Lt Gen B.K.N. Chibber (retd) and attended among others by the Chief Minister, had approved “to extend all benefits being granted to freedom fighters by the State Government to gallantry awardees as well”. Gallantry award winners as well as several associations ex-servicemen had been demanding for a long time that they be given freedom fighter status in recognition of the sacrifices made by them. Following the decision, gallantry awardees are entitled to additional financial benefits, reservations for their descendants in education, employment and allocation of plots as well as some other privileges in the same manner as are being enjoyed by freedom fighters. Freedom fighters in Punjab are presently drawing a monthly pension of Rs 1,500 from the State Government, besides reservation for children are grandchildern in jobs and allotment of residential plots. Other benefits include a marriage grant of Rs 10,000, free bus travel and their funeral being attended by the local Deputy Commissioner. As per available
information, there are about 6,875 freedom fighters in
Punjab and the State Government is spending about Rs 1.5
crore per month on their allowances. |
Liquor vends of Patiala
auctioned in loss PATIALA, March 29 — In a reversal of trends, liquor vends in the Patiala city circle that registered the highest profit of Rs 9 crore last year fell down to a loss of Rs 3.33 crore to the Excise and Taxation Department in the ‘deferred’ auction of liquor vends of the state held here yesterday late night. Apart from the city liquor vends, auction of many circles in other districts was also completed. The auction was postponed earlier because of the failure of negotiations with the liquor contractors and the monopoly of the syndicate. The auction was originally scheduled for 10 am yesterday but due to lengthy negotiations with the contractors and the department’s efforts to break the syndicate, it started late in the evening. An official release of the department revealed that apart from Patiala circle, few circles of Amritsar and Nawanshahr district also returned a loss of revenue. The contractors of Patiala circle said they were hesitant in bidding for the vends this time as last year the persons who owned the vends suffered a loss in crores. They said the government’s policy to reduce the security price brought small contractors on the fore who were reluctant in making high bids, causing loss to the Excise Department. Mr I.S. Chahal, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, here, however, termed it a victory of the department notwithstanding the loss. He said they were already expecting a loss in Patiala circle as last year the auction had shown an abnormal increase. Mr Chahal said the delay in auction was partly because so many vends of the state were scheduled for auction. He said the department efforts to break the syndicate also contributed in the delay but brought dividends as the syndicate was grounded and the vends of the Patiala circle had gone to six new contractors. Ropar district also went
up by Rs 7 crore this time. Gurdaspur showed a profit of
Rs 2.72 crore, while Sangrur had a marginal increase of
Rs 18 lakh. |
Exam boycott threat by
teachers CHANDIGARH, March 29 — Staff of the Non-Government Colleges Managements Federation in Punjab have threatened to boycott duties during the forthcoming annual examination in case the government did not accede to their demands. The federation however gave an extension of a couple of days to the government( till March 31) for announcing a convincing ground action, failing which an agitation would be launched. No formal plan of agitation has been announced. A delegation also met the Education Minister in the evening. It was expected that the teacher’s number at the rally might dwindle following a statement of the Finance Minister yesterday that over Rs 52 crores would be released. However, teachers turnout was sizeable. Buses from all over Punjab brought the protesters to the rally venue. Teachers travelled over 300 kilometres in certain cases. The rally was staged under the chairmanship of Mr Ishwar Singh Doraha.The main speakers included Principal Ashwani Kumar Sharma, Dr V.K. Tewari, Mr R.P. Sharma and Mr Kuldip Singh. Mr P.S. Sangha, principal of the local SGGS College, said that immediate threat of boycotting annual examination had been postponed for a few days. The speakers condemned the Punjab Government for not releasing 95 per cent grant to colleges. It was announced in the state Vidhan Sabha yesterday that over Rs 52 crore would be released shortly. Teachers, however, said that they would like to see the actual orders. Even this grant will leave a gap of over Rs 21 crore for the private colleges for the current session. The released amount also included certain share for the universities. The charter of demands
also included release of HRA and medical allowance to the
non-teaching staff; withdrawal of cut in grants; and
complete implementation of the UGC notification. |
Sangh Parivar ‘woos’
Sikhs FEROZEPORE, March 29 — To make its presence felt in rural Punjab, the Sangh Parivar has stepped up its drive to bring a large number of Sikhs into its fold. At a closed-door meeting of the local Sangh leaders held here last evening, participants resolved to mobilise maximum number of “keshdharis” from villages to attend an RSS-sponsored convention dedicated to the Khalsa tercentenary festivities to be held in Kishanpura on April 2. The meeting was also attended by the state unit Organising Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Mr Kamlesh Singh. Each participant was asked to bring satisfactory number of “keshdharis” from his native area to make the convention a success. Senior Sangh leaders admitted that more than the holding of a successful function, the RSS aimed to rope in “keshdharis” to extend its support base in rural Punjab. The Sangh was trying to trace the roots of Hindu-Sikh ties from history. Besides, songs dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh were being chanted by RSS activists to get support from Sikhs, they said. “For us, Khalsa is not a separate institution, but an armed and “keshdhari” wing of the Hindu mainstream”, a senior BJP leader of the area explained. “Such a drive is paying political dividends too”, another senior BJP leader said, adding that “the number of ‘keshdhari’ participants in the BJP meetings has multiplied”. They, however, disagreed
with the suggestion that the holding of the Khalsa
tercentenary festivities amounted to the appeasement of
the Sikhs. “Sikhs are very much a part of the Hindu
fold, there is no question of appeasement”, they
said. |
Cong suspends councillor BATHINDA, March 29 — Mr Kewal Krishan Aggarwal, General Secretary, DCC, yesterday that the Municipal Councillor, Mr Sewak Ram Bhola, had been suspended from the party for his anti-party activities. In a press note issued
here, he said the decision was taken at a district
committee meeting held under the presidentship of Mr
Bhagat Singh Dhaliwal. He said a show cause notice had
also been issued to Mr Bhola and if Mr Bhola did not
reply to notice within 15 days, he would be expelled from
the party for six years. |
A clarification BATHINDA: Mr Chiranji
Lal Garg, state Cabinet Minister is a Shiromani Akali Dal
MLA and not of the BJP as was wrongly published in a news
item carried in this paper under the title of “MC
poll creates fissures in BJP”. A split has occurred
in the SAD-BJP alliance in Bathinda district with the
local BJP units decision to boycott Mr Garg and not in
the BJP as implied by the story. |
Shagun scheme to continue CHANDIGARH, March 29 — The Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, while replying to issues raised by Opposition members pertaining to Budget proposals made it clear in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha that the shagun scheme would continue. There was no proposal to drop this scheme, he added. He announced that Dalit families having income up to Rs 20,000 per year would be eligible for benefits under this scheme. Earlier limit was Rs 16,000. Referring to opposition leaders, especially Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Chowdhary Jagjit Singh, the Finance Minister said the budget had not been criticised in a constructive manner. Coming to credit-deposit ratio, Capt Kanwaljit Singh said all commercial banks had been told that the state government money would be kept only in those banks which would enhance investment in Punjab. A committee had been constituted in this connection which would meet soon to review the performance of the banks in this connection. Refuting the observations regarding old age pension, the Finance Minister said that the government had already released Rs 170 crore against the target of Rs 143.45 crore during current year under this scheme. Contradicting the Congress view regarding inflation, he said that it had been brought down to 2.9 per cent while during the Congress government it was above 13 per cent. Having a dig on Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Capt Kanwaljit Singh said Mrs Bhattal had misled the House by presenting wrong facts. Within the past three years, the SAD BJP Government had levied taxes to the tune of Rs 326 crore while previous Congress government during its five year rule had imposed taxes worth Rs 468 crore. He said that the Rs 5400 crore figure put up by Mrs Bhattal regarding the levying of taxes was incorrect. He said that the government had come out with some innovative schemes like voluntary retirement scheme, expenditure commission to cut down non-Plan expenditure. Already economy measures pertaining to use of official vehicles, telephone bills and expenditure on petrol and diesel had been taken. During the Congress government’s last phase in Punjab in 1996-97, the deficit was Rs 1359.86 crore and several measures had been taken to bring it down, he added. Earlier taking part in the Budget debate, Mr Ajit Inder Singh Mofar said that there was nothing in the Budget worth appreciating. The government had failed to link the price of farm produce with price index. He said that the Ranjit Sagar Dam’s life would not be more than five years. Saying that the government had increased several charges, Mr Mofar said that while Treasury benches were smiling, people in the state were weeping. Mr Makhan Singh
appreciated the Budget, Mr Shangara Ram Sahungara
criticised it. Mr Sukhwinder Aulakh said Budget was a
novel in several ways and Mr Romesh Dogra said that it
had nothing worth hailing. |
PSEB policing scheme fails to
take off PATIALA, March 29 — The much vaunted Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) scheme to check power theft by establishing police stations of its own has yet to be cleared by the State Government. The PSEB had decided to establish five police stations at the zonal level at Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Bathinda and Mandi Gobindgarh after Mr G.S. Sohal took over as its Chairman in mid-January. The stations were to be under the control of an additional director general of police. The PSEB chairman had said that the police stations would be manned by police personnel already employed in its vigilance cell. He had said that in this way there would not be any additional burden on the Board by way of establishment of the stations. He had also disclosed that the stations would only entertain cases relating to theft of electricity and the pilferage of Board material. The scheme ran into rough weather soon after it was publicised . Sources disclosed that it did not find favour at a high-level presentation presided over by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. When the PSEB chairman was contacted some time back on the status of the police station scheme , he said the implementation of the scheme had been postponed temporarily till April. He said the Board was presently concentrating on its revenue collection programme. As regards any proposals for the increase in domestic tariff, Mr Sohal said the Board had presented its case to the Government. He, however, said no definite tariff structure had been put up before the government and it was up to the Government to take a final decision on it. Punjab Finance Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh , who was also present at the meeting where the issues were discussed, said it was a limited presentation. No specific proposals had been brought before the government . When asked about the PSEB police stations proposal, he said law and order was a subject which came under the Police Department only. He said the proposal if it was to be implemented required approval at the highest level. He, however, went on to add that even the Board had not considered the proposal seriously. Capt Kanwaljit said
there was no specific proposal from the PSEB to increase
domestic tariff . He said the Board itself was discussing
some power hike. He said he had directed the PSEB that it
must first undertake some exercise to cut its overheads
so in order to justify any new initiative for consumers.
He said the financial position of the Board needed to be
strengthened for which he had asked the Board to work out
specific proposals. He also called for fixing
accountability for power losses. |
SHSAD’s appeal to all
parties CHANDIGARH, March 29 — The Sarab Hind Shiromani Akali Dal has appealed to all parties to support the bandh call given by it on March 31 to protest against the killing of 35 Sikhs in Chatti Singhpora village in the Kashmir valley. Mr Prem Singh
Chandumajra, General Secretary of the party, said that
essential services like hospitals and medicine shops etc
had been exempted from the bandh. He said that as bhog of
the slain Sikhs would be held on March 31 in Chatti
Singhpora village, people at their respective places
should also hold religious gatherings to pay tributes to
departed souls. |
Theatre Day celebrated PATIALA, March 29 — Mr Pran Sabharwal, noted theatre personality, stressed the need for better coordination among the government authorities, state sangeet natak akademies and theatre groups for better results. Mr Sabharwal was leading a panel discussion, organised and broadcast by the Patiala station of All India to mark World Theatre Day celebrations last evening. He said there were many
central government schemes for subsidy and matching
grants for strengthening regional theatre movement, which
could be availed of by theatre groups. Grants of lakhs of
rupees allocation for inter-state cultural exchange
programme under a scheme of the Sangeet Natak Akademi,
Delhi, lapsed every year due to lack of coordination, he
disclosed. |
About suicide, flesh trade &
forced marriage CHANDIGARH, March 29 — Three incidents — suicide by Navdeep Kaur; forcing Rasmeen (name changed) into prostitution and forced marriage of a minor Ginder Kaur after taking money from the boy’s family have rocked Moga city. These incidents were mentioned in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha by Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal today. The affected parents and persons have urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to order a CBI inquiry into these incidents. Navdeep’s mother Mrs Charanjit Kaur and Rasmeen today told TNS in a lobby of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha that only CBI inquiry could uncover the flesh trade activity in Moga. They alleged that big political guns, police officials, and civil servants and other influential persons were involved in this trade. Mrs Charanjit Kaur said that though her daughter had committed suicide in April last year but she had come to know the truth now. In fact, she said that circumstances were created by a woman in Moga city for her (Navdeep) to commit the suicide. She said that Rasmeen had told her that at the instance of a woman, who plays a pivotal role in running the flesh trade, Navdeep was insulted and humiliated by persons with whom the family was running a land dispute in the city. Mrs Charanjit Kaur said that the woman running the trade had a support of some politicians and certain police officials and because of this reason no action had been taken against her though several complaints supported by affidavits by her victims had been submitted to the police. Mrs Charanjit Kaur and Ms Rasmeen said that innocent girls from rural areas and Moga city were trapped by the woman and pushed into the trade. Ginder Kaur said that she was married to a boy by charging Rs 10,000 from his family. She was not allowed to go to her in-laws. The woman got her arrested and she remained in the police station for two days, Ginder Kaur alleged. Mr Tarsem Jodhan, a
former MLA, said that the Punjab Government should direct
the police authorities at Moga to register the case and
start inquiry immediately by arresting all those involved
in the flesh trade and other anti-social activities. He
said that until direction was given by the Chief
Minister, the police would not move against those
involved in the trade as they were very influential
persons having patronage of some powerful politicians. |
9 gang members arrested PHAGWARA, March 29 — The district police yesterday arrested nine members of a gang, who had committed robberies in five houses on March 6, murdered Parvinder Sharma, an NRI, and injured 10 residents in the macabre incident. A .12-bore pistol, two cartridges, two “kamanidar” knives, one dagger, iron rods, handpump handles and 61 “tolas” of gold were recovered from them, who were apprehended by the police in two different groups from two places in the city. Six robbers were nabbed from the railway station when they were waiting for a train for going to Maur village in Ambala district. Three members of the gang were arrested when they were planning some robbery on the Hoshiarpur road on March 24, the police authorities said. Mr Iqbal Singh, SSP, Kapurthala, said the gang, operating in the garb of beggars and small houseshold goods sellers, used to select their targets after a proper reccee of the area. He added that hailed from Uttar Pradesh, and presently were settled at Maur village near Ambala. The nine accused have been identified as Joginder, Faizal, Sukhnia, Kashi Ram, Dass, Nem Pal, Jaifer, and Kamla, and Balalo, wife of Joginder, all residents of Maur village. They confessed to committing a series of dacoities at Dashmesh Nagar, Green Park and Chakk Haqim localities on March 6 and stabbing to death Parvinder Sharma as he had resisted their attack at his in-laws’ house in one of the three localities. The modus operandi of the gang, normally living in the slums on the city outskirts was that they used to mark the houses for the robberies during the day time while selling small household articles or by roaming in the guise of beggars and would attack them during the night. Mr Iqbal Singh said they
used to transport their booty to their village in Haryana
by concealing it in rice bags. |
Granthi held on rape charge LUDHIANA, March 29 — The Jagraon police has arrested a granthi of Gurusar Gurudwara in Gujjarwal village on “charge of rape and registered a case under Sections 376, 506, 34 of the IPC. According to an FIR registered at Dehlon, police station, the father of the girl Upinder Singh, a sewadar in the gurudwara, had alleged that the granthi, Ashok Singh raped his 12-year-old daughter twice-on March 10 and on March 12, while he was away to attend a marriage ceremony in Bihar. The complainant stated that when he returned form Bihar, his daughter told him about the incident on March 18. He alleged that he went and pleaded for justice with the village elders but to no avail Mr Jaskaran Singh, SSP,
Jagraon, said the complainant came to the police
yesterday, a case was registered and the accused
arrested. |
Man hacks wife to death NANGAL, March 29 — In a barbaric incident, Somnath, a resident of Daroli village, near Nangal yesterday hacked his wife to death. The mutilated boy of Kanta Devi, with hands and neck chopped off, was recovered by the police late in the evening. The police reached the spot on the complaint of Tara Chand, the brother of the deceased, who had accidentally gone to her sister’s village. According to the statement given by Tara Chand, when he reached his sister’s place yesterday, Somnath was killing his wife with an axe. When Tara Chand tried to intervene, Somnath threatened him with dire consequences and absconded. Kanta Devi died on the spot. The police seized the blood-stained axe from the spot. According to sources,
Kanta Devi and Somnath had strained relations. |
Impersonation case: 1 more held LUDHIANA, March 29 — The police today arrested Bhupinder Singh of Kidwai Nagar in the Sukhbir Badal impersonation case. Bhupinder Singh, alias Bittu, along with Rajeev Maini of Delhi had deceived several industrial houses in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and New Delhi by impersonating either the former Union Minister of State for Industry, Mr Sukhbir Badal or BJP legislator, Mr Satpal Gosain, and asking them to make payments. While Rajeev Maini was
arrested from New Delhi on March 27, Bhupinder Singh was
arrested today. |
Murder case: CM’s
intervention sought AMRITSAR, March 29 — Mr Satya Pal Dang, veteran CPI leader, in a letter to Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab, has drawn his attention to a case of Palka Mahajan who was allegedly murdered by her-in-laws and a story was subsequently fabricated by them to cover the crime. Mr Dang says the
accused, who are attached with some leaders of the ruling
party, are trying to hush up the case. |
2 cheats arrested JALANDHAR, March 29 — Two cheats, who were deceiving people of different cities on the pretext that they were labourers and wanted to sell necklaces of gold beads found during digging of earth landed in soup when they tried this trick at a local Nussi Colony resident. The cheats, identified as Badal and Bhima, of Ekta Nagar in Rama Mandi, approached Moti Ram of the colony in the guise of labourers and offered to sell a necklace of “gold” beads, found by them during digging of earth at “one third” price of Rs 40,000 and stated that they did not want to sell it in the market. As a sample, they handed over two beads, which were found to be of pure gold by Moti Ram, who paid Rs 20,000 as the first instalment. Later, when the latter approached a goldsmith with the necklace, he was shocked to learn that only two beads of the necklace were of pure gold. The cheats later on were arrested and fake necklaces weighing about 2 kg were seized from them. Six beads of pure gold were also seized from them. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP,
said the accused had been using the same trick for long
and had duped innocent persons of Ropar, Ludhiana and
Ambala districts. |
Two arrested in murder case BATHINDA, March 29 — The district police has arrested two persons accused in a blind murder case after it got clues from the registration numbers of two trucks written on a piece of paper found from the pocket of the deceased. Gurmukh Singh, alias Ghukha, of Rampura town and Chand Singh were arrested yesterday in the murder case of Sital Singh, which was committed on February 25. At first the police party took it as a blind murder case when the boring injuries was found at a deserted place near the thermal plant here on February 25. The dog squad and fingerprint experts also failed to find any clues at that time. However, the piece of paper found in the pocket of deceased showed that the trucks were registered at Sriganganagar, Rajasthan. The police came to know that one of the trucks was plying in Rampura region and questioned Bharpur Singh, owner of the truck. They came to know that the deceased belonged to Rajasthan. Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, district police chief, said the investigation team started inquiring from the people at the Rampura truck union by showing them the photograph of deceased. Some persons identified the deceased as Sital Singh but could not tell his address. He added that then the police came to know from a person that Sital Singh was brought to the union’s office by Sham Singh, a drives, whose wife used to sell parsad in front of the Mansa Devi temple near Chandigarh. But the wife of Sham Singh could not be traced. However, the police traced the wife of Sham Singh and he told that the deceased belonged to Todagiansinghwala village of Alwar district, Rajasthan. The kin of the deceased told the investigation team that nine months ago Sital Singh had a quarrel with Gurmukh Singh and in the quarrel the latter got injured. They suspected Gurmukh Singh to be the murderer. Gurmukh Singh had been in jail in connection with some motor accident case earlier also. Gurmukh Singh was
arrested along with his accomplice Chand Singh. During
the interrogation both confessed to the crime. |
Narcotics burnt AMRITSAR, March 29 — The Customs yesterday burnt narcotics worth over Rs 110 crore in the international market. The Commissioner of
Customs, Mr D.S. Sra, supervised the burning operation
which included 107.850 kg heroin, 4.95 charas and 8.86 kg
opium. Mr Sra said the narcotics were seized during the
year from the Indo-Pakistan border. |
Three hurt in road mishap PATIALA, March 29 — Three persons were injured in an accident here this morning when a Maruti car hit a scooter and a cycle coming from the opposite direction near the Aviation Club on the Patiala -Sangrur highway. A case has been registered against Teja Singh, who was driving car No. PB-59-2590 involved in the accident. Lakhwinder Singh and Sukhdev Singh, who were travelling on the scooter, and Mr Jagjit Singh who was on the cycle, were badly injured in the accident The police said the
driver ran away after the accident and was yet to be
arrested. |
Teachers go on leave PATIALA, March 29 — Teachers of Punjabi University, Patiala, went on a mass casual leave yesterday on a call given by PUTA. PUTA executive at an
emergent meeting held on March 24 took this decision on
the direction of the AIFUTA to lodge its protest against
the non-payment of arrears due to the teachers on account
of revision of pay scales with effect from 1.1.96. |
Munjal lecture LUDHIANA, March 29 — Success is a matter of laws not luck and it has to be achieved through honesty, knowledge, skills, commitment and a willingness to succeed. This was stated by Mr Shiv Khera, a management guru, while delivering the keynote address on “Winners don’t do different things, they do things differently,” at the Dayanand Munjal lecture series organised by the United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association here today. He said a person needed
to make a lot of efforts to move in the right direction.
“A single person can bring about a change and pave
the way for others to follow,” he said. |
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