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| Sunday, April 30, 2000, Chandigarh, India   |
Badal
promises Internet connectivity Josh
asks Bibi to quit High
taxes dissuade traders from mandis Mid-day
meal wheat eludes kids Minister
orders probe into equipment scam
Stop
quarrelling: Mehdi Hassan |
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| Khalra panel for ban on RSS
activities AMRITSAR, April 29 — The Khalra Mission Committee has urged the Punjab Governor to ban the activities of the RSS in Punjab to maintain communal harmony in the state. PGPC
okays kar seva proposal AIDS,
hepatitis ‘thrive due to ignorance’ Daleke
fears for life, writes to CJI Tributes
paid to Dr Thapar Komal
Anand visits Sanghol stupa site Minister’s
son not in list Holiday
sought on May Day
Gang
involved in selling girls busted Judge
to probe torture charge Another
SHO suspended Rs
2.70 cr fine for power theft
Training
for IAS exam interview
DoT
introduces new schemes Telecom
awards presented
|
Badal promises Internet
connectivity CHANDIGARH, April 29 — While unveiling the special package of incentives to promote information technology in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal today said that the state would make intensive use of this technology in agriculture, education and dairy farming. Assuring Internet connectivity in all cities and villages of the state, Mr Badal said that already process was on to develop the IT infrastructure. A statewide Area IT Netwrok (PUNWAN) by utilising fibre optics cables was being created through the Department of Telecom, Punjab State Electricity Board and Himachal Futuristic Company Limited. Announcing the setting up a Rs 200 million close-ended venture capital fund, which has been named as Punjab Infotech Venture Fund(PIVF), Mr Badal said that the fund was aimed at investing in companies in the IT sector within the state. The investment of the fund in companies would be routed through the equity and quasi equity instruments. The fund would be managed by the Punjab Venture Capital Limited, an asset management company promoted by the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation. Coming to unfolding of incentives, Mr Badal announced investment incentive (capital subsidy) at the rate of 30 per cent of the fixed capital investment to small scale industries, large and medium units up to Rs 50 lakh for information technology units set up in Mohali,which has been declared as IT city of the state. There would be investment incentive to the tune of 20 per cent of fixed capital investment to the small, medium, and large scale IT units, up to Rs 30 lakh, in “B” category areas defined under the Punjab Industrial Incentive code under the Industrial Policy of 1996. Exemption and deferment of sales tax (including Punjab sales Tax and Central Sales tax and Purchase Tax wherever applicable) for a period of 10 years. After expiry of 10 years sales tax would be charged at the rate of 2 per cent for hardware and 1 per cent for packaged software and 0 per cent for customised software for a period of next five years. All IT units located in the state would be granted exemption from payment of electricity duty for a period of five years from the date of release of electricity connection. All IT units located in the state would be eligible for the generating set subsidy. Those engaged in the development of IT in Gurmukhi script would get subsidy to the tune of 5 per cent of the total turnover, subject to the maximum of Rs 5 lakh per year, for a period of three years. Units engaged in the development of Human resource development would be eligible for special subsidy up to Rs 10 lakh per year for a period of five years. There will be subsidy for units going for expansion and also exemption from stamp duty and registration fee on property transaction in the designated IT parks. Such units will be exempted from the purview of the Factory Act, Employment Exchange (notification of vacancies) Act, Payment of Wages Act, Minimum Wages Act, Contract Labour (regulations and abolition) Act, Workman Compensation Act, the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act and the ESI. Mr Ramesh Inder Singh said that Mohali would be a hub of new IT ventures and have the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), a Government of India nodal agency for facilitating development of IT related field. Mohali also has connectivity through STPI and Puncom-VSNL Ku-Band earth stations.Already over 130 IT/software companies have registered themselves at the STPI. Mr Phiroz Vandrevala, Executive Vice President, Tata Consultancy Services,who delivered the keynote address at the function organised by the local CII headquarters, said that Punjab had all the potential to do wonders in the field of IT. This is the industry purely based on entrepreneurship, adventure and people who started at a very small level to become names world over within a very short period. Punjabis were known for their entrepreneurship, he added. Mr S.S. Brar, Managing
Director of the Punjab State Industries Development
Corporation said that the Punjab had introduced IT as
subject at school, college and engineering course level.
Training in computers was being provided in all
schools,colleges and engineering colleges. |
Josh asks Bibi to quit AMRITSAR, April 29 —The pro-Badal senior SGPC member, Mr Puran Singh Josh, has urged the SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, to quit her post. In a statement here yesterday, Mr Josh said Bibi Jagir Kaur should not remain on the post till she was cleared of the controversy arising out of the mysterious death of her teenaged daughter and her conflict with the former Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Puran Singh, who had excommunicated her from the Panth. Instead of seeking a pardon she had refused to appear before the Takht. This incident had not only lowered the prestige of Sikhs, but also hurt the feelings of the Sikhs. The mysterious death of
her daughter and the hurried manner in which the
cremation was done has aroused many suspicions. |
CM pre-judging issue: Ravi Inder JALANDHAR, April 29 (PTI) — Dissident Akali leader Ravi Inder Singh and two major Akali factions today took objection to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s reported statement that there was no need for a CBI probe into the death of the teenage daughter of SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, and said it amounted to pre-judging the issue even when the matter was before the court. “Badal’s statement is a clear disrespect to the court. He has no right to pre-judge an issue which is before the High Court,” Mr Ravi Inder and Presidents of the Akali Dal (Democratic) and Akali Dal (Panthic), said here today.Mr Ravi Inder said Mr Badal had reportedly said no mother could wish “doom” for her daughter, thus giving a clean chit to Bibi Jagir Kaur, whose daughter Harpreet Kaur died under mysterious circumstances on April 21. Mr Wadala said Mr Badal
should, in fact, have welcomed the demand for a CBI probe
as it would help clear doubts. |
Harpreet case: Sabha demands
probe CHANDIGARH, April 29 — The Punjab Janwadi Istri Sabha , affiliated with the All India Democratic Association (AIDWA) today sought the inquiry by a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana high court into the mystery surrounding the death of Ms Harpreet Kaur, a daughter of the SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur.The Sabha has rejected police inquiry ordered by the Punjab Chief Minister,Mr Parkash Singh Badal in this case. Ms Tara Sharma said that
as Mr Badal was in charge of Home Department, it was
suspected that the IG (crime) appointed by him may not be
able to do justice in this case.She said that a fact
finding commission set up by the Sabha had reached on the
conclusion that it was a double murder. |
High taxes dissuade traders
from mandis KHANNA, April 29 — In spite of the state government’s efforts to encourage private trading in the various mandis in the state under the open market scheme, the high rate of tax charged from private traders in the state has reduced this scheme to insignificance. During a visit to the largest grain market in Asia here today, TNS found that other than the local traders and flour mill owners, private traders and roller flour mill owners from outside the state, especially from Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Kerala, have failed to evince much interest in the scheme. It is learnt that because of the vast difference in the maximum sale price, fixed at Rs 580 per quintal, which is Rs 30 more than the last year, and the open market price at Rs 900 per quintal, the state government was expecting the private traders to enter the market in a big way. However, according to the figures available from the Food and Civil Supplies Department, of the 59 lakh tons of wheat procured so far, only four lakh tons have been bought by traders. In the Khanna grain market, of the 9,38,250 quintals of wheat procured so far, 7,58,150 quintals have been procured by government agencies and only 1,80,100 quintals by private traders. Commission agents in the Khanna grain market told TNS that the higher tax-structure in the state with 4 per cent sales tax, 4 per cent market fee, 1 per cent cess and 2.5 per cent commission of traders was mainly responsible for the private traders now looking at mandis in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, where the rates of taxes were much lower. Meanwhile, the arrival of wheat in the various mandis in the district is at full swing. According to the information available, so far 9,38,250 quintals of wheat have been procured here as compared to 9,09,720 quintals of wheat procured last year. It is learnt that on an average 25,000 to 35,000 quintals of wheat is arriving in the market here every year and the prevalent rate in the mandi is touching an astounding Rs 600 per quintal. The arrival of wheat in the mandis is presently at its peak and four government agencies, PUNSUP, the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, the FCI and the Punjab Agro Industries Corporation, are presently lifting stocks from the mandis. The state government, it is learnt, has already lifted its share of the wheat. According to sources, probably for the first time Markfed, another government agency, has already made its payments for stocks lifted till April 27. A team of FCI officials, led by its Deputy Director from Delhi, also visited the mandi here today to take stock of the lifting and the procurement process. Interestingly, both farmers and private traders are happy with the bumper wheat crop this year. The yield of the crop has been 25-26 quintals per acre — higher than ever before.This is, however, bad news for government agencies involved in lifting of stocks because of the storage problem. It is reliably learnt that around 50 lakh tons of wheat and 40 lakh tonnes of paddy are still lying in the various godowns in the state. Meanwhile, most of the harvesting during this season was done with the help of combines and threshers as only a small number of migrant labourers turned up in the state. “This also led to
an increase in rents for hiring of combines and as
compared to the rent charged at the rate of Rs 400 to Rs
450 per day last year. This time it was Rs 500 to Rs 700
per day,” lamented Gurcharan Singh, a farmer from
Kuli Khurd village, near Rara Sahib. |
Mid-day meal wheat eludes
kids PATIALA, April 29 — Getting rural children to primary schools in the villages might be the priority of the Central government which has started the mid-day meal scheme for the purpose, but the Punjab Government seems to think otherwise. This is apparent from the fact that children in some districts of the state are yet to get wheat under the scheme for the whole of last year. While children did not get wheat for the 10-month academic session last year, they are not being able to get wheat under the scheme in this academic session also. Primary school students are eligible to get 3 kilogram of wheat per month. In Patiala district, 1.14 lakh children had been covered under the scheme in the 1998-99 session. As much as 46,181 quintals of wheat has been distributed to children in the district since the start of the scheme in 1995. The scheme is executed by the District Education Officer (Primary) who gets the wheat lifted from FCI godowns after he is given sanction for the purpose by the ministry. After that, the wheat is transported to various Block Primary Officers for further distribution to all the primary schools. The Education Ministry is yet to give sanction to the DEOs to lift wheat from the FCI. As a result, the scheme has come to a standstill. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Gagandeep Singh said no funds for the scheme were at present in the account of the district. He said utilisation certificate to avail of the scheme had been sent to the government and he was hopeful of funds being sent for restarting the scheme soon. The DEO (Primary) is the pivotal officer for the implementation of the scheme. While there is no cash involved in getting the wheat from the FCI as it is a department-to-department transaction, the DEO has to collect the carriage charges to transport the wheat to various primary schools. The distribution is left to the schoolteachers. A survey of primary schools in the district reveals that students feel deprived of their wheat allocation even though they may use it for purposes other than those envisaged by the framers of the scheme. A student of Ramgarh said the wheat dole was a major attraction for him as he got sweets and other goodies in exchange for the wheat which he gave to the village shop keeper. Though many other students utilise their wheat allocation in a similar manner, the really down-trodden do take the wheat dole home to their parents. The villagers themselves feel the scheme does not serve its purpose well as it encompasses all children of primary schools, irrespective of their economic backgrounds. They feel it would be better if the children are served food in the school so that they could benefit from it . The teachers want to be disassociated from the scheme. They have to transport wheat to their schools at their own cost, besides distributing it to the students which effected teaching work. They said wheat distribution led to complaints every month and bickering with the village panchayat. Distribution of wheat was the responsibility of the Deputy Commissioner and not theirs, they claimed. The Patiala DEO (Primary) office has also officially requested the government to stop the Mid-day Meal Scheme, saying that it did not serve its full purpose in a state like Punjab where wheat was available more easily than elsewhere. It has been requested that the money be used for other activities like construction of school buildings as well as provision of teaching aids and sport facilities. The Additional Deputy
Commissioner, however, said no separate department could
be set up for distribution of the wheat. He said the
district administration had not requested for any
modification in the scheme as the spirit behind it was to
provide nutritional value to the children as well as give
an incentive to their parents to send them to school. |
Minister orders probe into
equipment scam HOSHIARPUR, April 29 — On the demand of the State Veterinary Officers’ Association Punjab, Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development, Punjab has ordered a probe into the unnecessary purchase of equipment worth several crores of rupees made by the Animal Husbandry Department in the past couple of years. Talking to media persons here yesterday he said that after going through a news item published in The Tribune on Friday he had telephonically deputed Joint Secretary of the department to investigate the aforesaid purchases immediately and submit his report to him so that culprits could be brought to the book. He, however, denied that any purchases were made during SAD-BJP regime. All purchases were made before 1997, he added. Replying to a question Dr Rattan Singh said there was shortage of 120 veterinary doctors in the state. Sixtynine doctors had been selected by the Public Service Commission. They would be appointed in May. Similarly 300 veterinary pharmacists were required for dispensaries in state. As may as 250 pharmacists had being recruited. Later Dr Rattan Singh inaugurated the carcass utilisation plant at Khiowal village and civil dispensary at Bhikhowal. Dr G.S. Chahal,
Director, Animal Husbandry Punjab, highlighted various
schemes of the department for the welfare of cattle/dairy
breeders. |
Stop quarrelling: Mehdi Hassan LUDHIANA, April 29 — Famous Pakistani ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassan says it is time India and Pakistan stopped quarrelling and came closer to bring about lasting peace in South Asia. “Both countries share a common history and heritage. Our language is similar, our dress is similar, our customs are similar. There are so many common bonds among people on both sides of the border”, he observed during the course of an interview with TNS here today. “I don’t see why they should not live together happily and peacefully. Fighting is not good. It has never solved any problem”. Accompanied by his son, Irfan, and a small group of musicians, Mehdi Hassan is currently on a month-long trip to India to spread the message of peace, music and melody. He gave his first performance at Lodhi Club here last night. Despite his advanced age and ill-health — he is almost paralysed below the waist due to a road accident — the ghazal maestro sang for nearly two hours at the club. Although Mehdi Hassan has been visiting India almost every year for the past so many years, this time his mission is different. “It is peace, friendship and brotherhood”, he said. Flanked by his long-time Indian friend, Dr Tarun Kumar, he said he wanted the bitterness and wild fluctuations in the relations between the two countries to end. “It is a love-hate relationship between the two countries,” he observed. “Sometimes, they love each other. On other occasions, they hate each other. But in a big family, so many quarrels take place. That does not mean the end of the world. There are fights even between a husband and a wife but they make up quickly...” He had a hearty laugh when asked to identify who was the husband and who was the wife between India and Pakistan. He disapproved of the talk of snapping the solitary train and bus link between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Kargil conflict. “It smacks of narrow-mindedness ....” He replied in the negative when asked if there had been restrictions on musical performances in Pakistan following takeover by the Army. He was happy to note
that despite the growth of pop music in recent years,
ghazals continued to be popular among music lovers in
both countries. “I have sown this seed,” said
Mehdi Hassan with a certain degree of pride. “And I
am happy to see that it continues to flourish. The
tradition set by him has been carried forward by Ghulam
Ali and Jagjit Singh. |
Khalra panel for ban on RSS
activities AMRITSAR, April 29 — The Khalra Mission Committee has urged the Punjab Governor to ban the activities of the RSS in Punjab to maintain communal harmony in the state. In a memorandum sent to the Punjab Governor yesterday the committee pointed out to the activities of the RSS in the guise of a Sikh body known as the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat and alleged that it was aimed at eliminating the separate Sikh identity. This body had made Punjab its target and was going to hold a conference at Chandigarh on Saturday which would be addressed by new RSS chief, Mr K. Sudarshan. “It is making false propaganda that the Sikh are part of the Hindus”, it alleged. The committee expressed concern nor the joint “Congress and BJP” conspiracy to make the Sikhs a minority community in Punjab by settling labourers from UP Bihar and other states in Punjab and giving them voting rights besides issuing them ration cards. The committee asked the Governor to check the migration of labourers from UP and Bihar and delete their names from voters’ list. Those who signed the
memorandum included chairman Surinder Singh Ghariala and
general secretary Balwinder Singh Chabhal. |
PGPC okays kar seva proposal CHANDIGARH, April 29 — The Pakistan Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PGPC) has approved the proposal for the kar seva of historic gurdwaras in Pakistan under the supervision of an Indian Sikh delegation. This was revealed here today by Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra General Secretary of the Sarab Hind Shiromani Akali Dal. Mr Chadumajra along with Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, President of the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee, and others had visited Pakistan for three days. He returned from Pakistan this morning. Mr Chandumajra told mediapersons that the delegation also met the country’s President and brought several matters regarding Sikh gurdwaras in that country in his notice. Delegations members told the President that Sikh Maryada was not being followed properly in the gurdwaras. Mr Chandumajra said a delegation led by Baba Harbans Singh would soon visit Pakistan to estimate the renovation task in gurdwaras there. Following this kar sevaks from India would visit Pakistan for renovation work. Mr Chandumajra said the
PGPC also agreed to set up a Guru Nanak Dev University at
Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev. The
India delegation urged the Pakistan body to change its
name as Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. |
AIDS, hepatitis ‘thrive
due to ignorance’ LUDHIANA, April 29 — Dreadful diseases like AIDS and hepatitis thrive owing to a lack of knowledge about their nature and mode of transmission whereas fever and diarrhoea abound among the poor and as such are preventable. Dr Subrat Panda, Professor of Pathology in AIIMS, New Delhi, and a luminary of international repute, stated this during his address while inaugurating the ninth conference of the Indian Association of Pathologists and Microbiologists in Christian Medical College and Hospital here. Dr Shiela Dass, Professor and Head of Pathology in the CMC and Dr Harjit Kaur Ghuman, an eminent microbiologist and Head of Microbiology in the CMC, arranged this conference to impart to the participants the latest trends and innovations to make treatment more effective and diagnosis-oriented. A large number of delegates from various parts of the country participated in the conference. Eminent doctors like Dr G. Satpathy, Dr Radhika and Dr Kusam Joshi, all from the PGI, Chandigarh, spoke on various aspects of infectious diseases, kidney lesions and nephropathology. Dr T.M. Jaison, the
acting Director of CMC, while welcoming the participants
said that correct diagnosis was crucial for treating a
patient and the role of pathologists was significant in
this area. Dr A.G. Thomas, Principal of the CMC,
discussed in detail the challenging task before
academicians to make patients more scientific in temper
for effective remedy against diseases in future. |
Daleke fears for life, writes
to CJI TARN TARAN, April 29 — Mr Dilbagh Singh Dalake, former Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha and senior Congress leader, in telegrams to the Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court, and higher police and civil authorities informed today that Gurbax Singh, Thakur Singh and other armed persons, who were gheraoing his farm house situated at his Daleka village harvested forcibly five acres of standing wheat crop last night, Mr Daleke in his telegrams said he had got stay orders in his favour by the court of Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate here. Mr Daleke said he had
informed the police but-they failed to prevent the armed
from harvesting the crop. The armed persons authorities
here persons are the parents of his daughter-in-law. Mr
Dalake expressed anxiety that his life was under threat. |
Tributes paid to Dr Thapar MOGA, April 29 — Tributes were paid to renowned freedom fighter, social reformer and former Health Minister of Punjab Dr Shyam Lal Thapar on his 25th death anniversary at a shradhanjali samaroh here today. Messages from Vice-President Krishan Kant and Congress President Sonia Gandhi were read out at the function. The shradhanjali samaroh was organised by the Dr Shyam Lal Thapar Yadgaar Memorial Committee and several Congress workers from various parts of Moga, Muktsar and Faridkot districts and senior Punjab Congress leaders participated. Mr Krishan Kant in his message described Dr Thapar as one of the highly respected nation builders, who played a great role during the freedom struggle. Dr Thapar was endowed with the spirit of service to the suffering humanity through his medical profession. As an ardent believer in the Gandhian ideology, he involved himself in the Bhoodan Movement of Sant Vinoba Bhave, added Mr Kant. Mrs Sonia Gandhi in her message described Dr Thapar as a valiant freedom fighter, a true Gandhian, a loyal and dedicated Congressman. Punjab Congress
Legislature Party leader Jagjit Singh Chaudhry, Mr
Gurcharan Singh Galib, MP, Mr Jagmohan Singh, former MLC
and Mr Maheshinder Singh Dhaliwal, president District
Congress Committee were among those who paid tributes to
Dr Thapar. |
Komal Anand visits Sanghol
stupa site CHANDIGARH, April 29 — Mrs Komal Anand, Director-General of Archaeological Survey of India, today suggested that further excavations should be undertaken to find out if there were more archaeological remains hidden underneath. Mrs Anand, who visited Punjab Archaeological Museum at the Sanghol Stupa site and Ropar Museum emphasised for the overall development of the site by creating green belts. She also suggested that a museum could be set up at the site itself by displaying the findings unearthed during earlier excavations. She also laid stress on taking up repairs to the exposed structure. “Museum is a
treasure of knowledge and enriches one about our great
culture heritage”, said Mrs Anand. |
Minister’s son not in list CHANDIGARH, April 29 — Apropos of the news item “Punjab Minister embarrasses govt” appearing in these columns on April 28. The Principal Secretary, Cultural Affairs and Museums, Mr G.S. Cheema, in a clarification has stated that the name of Mr Mohan Lal, son of the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Mr Swarna Ram, was not among the artistes shortlisted for a visit to the Silver Dollar City in the USA, as part of a Bhangra troupe, which was being led by the Minister. Meanwhile, the Punjab Saktrate Cultural Society (regd) General Secretary, Mr Kuldip Singh, has informed TNS that the society was not involved in any manner with the proposed Bhangra trip to the USA. The society has Ms Gurbinder Chahal, IAS, as its chief patron. Mr Kuldip Singh has
further clarified that neither the society nor any of its
members had approached the Minister or his p.a. for
inclusion of any names in the Bhangra troupe. |
Holiday sought on May Day LUDHIANA, April 29 — The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Punjab, has appealed to the Labour Minister, Dr Satyanarayan Jatiya, to declare a holiday on the eve of Labour Day on May 1 throughout the country under the Negotiable Instruments Act and Factories Act so that all government employees, public sector employees and factory workers could observe Labour Day. The INTUC also appealed
to the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, in
the regard. |
Gang involved in selling girls
busted GURDASPUR, April 29 — The police has busted an inter-state gang involved in abducting young girls from West Bengal with the promise of marrying them. The gang members after bringing the girls here abused them sexually till they were sold to people who were ready to marry them. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, in a press note issued here today said the members of the gang who had been identified as Rajan Singh, alias Rajinder Pal Singh, alias Dawinder Pal Singh, a resident of Model Town, Jalandhar, the kingpin of the gang, and Balwant Singh, alias Banti, a resident of Dehriwal Kiran under Batala police district had been arrested while their accomplice Ajaib Singh, a resident of Dhanna, also in Batala police district, was absconding. Mr Varinder Kumar said Rajan Singh by posing as a CRPF and an Army jawan lured the girls into marrying them, but later used to sell them through other members of the gang. Till the girls were sold, he used to sexually abuse them. The SSP said the gang members used to sell these girls, who were from West Bengal, for an amount varying from Rs, 10,000 to Rs 20,000. Sub-Inspector Gajinder Singh, the Station House Officer, raided a particular place on a tip-off and apprehended Rajan Singh with an abducted girl namely Sandhya Dass, a resident of Ashok Nagar, Calcutta. On their interrogation, the police came to know of the racket involved in selling of girls. Mr Varinder Kumar said the police found besides Sandhya other girls identified as Anita, Usha Gosal, Manju, Kalpana and Poonam, all from West Bengal. They were between 20 to 30 years of age. The police has arrested Jassa Singh and Kala, both residents of Batala police district, Balwant Singh, Joginder Singh and Karnail Singh, residents of Wazir Chack, Chawk Sikandar and Manoharpur, respectively, in the district. Rajan Singh, the kingpin of the gang, used to work as a tailor at Jalandhar and went to Calcutta eight years ago to earn his livelihood. A case under Sections 366, 368, 376 and 120B, IPC has been registered against the accused in Police City, Gurdaspur. Earlier also the police
busted two similar gangs from the Kahnuwan police station
area, but its kingpin Shafali who married in the Kahuwan
area also hailed from West Bengal has not been traced so
far. |
Judge to probe torture charge CHANDIGARH, April 29 — Directing the Ludhiana District and Sessions Judge to enquire into the allegations of torture in judicial custody levelled by a businessman, accused of his brother’s alleged murder, Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi of the Punjab and High Court has also asked the Judge to ‘‘take such steps as are required under the law’’ depending upon the result of the enquiry. Seeking directions to Ludhiana’s Senior Superintendent of Police and the state of Punjab against harassing and torturing him, petitioner Anil Jain had earlier stated that three false cases had been registered against him for grabbing his property. He had added that the police were also demanding money and threatening to eliminate his family. Giving details, Anil Jain had stated that he was initially booked in a house trespass and criminal intimidation case on the complaint of his sister-in-law (Bhabi) following his objections to her socialising with police officers and politicians soon after her husband’s death. The husband’s body, Jain had added, had earlier been found in a car near a railway crossing. Jain’s counsel had contended on the petitioner’s behalf that he was not produced before the magistrate in the trespass case even after the ‘‘mandatory period of 24 hours had expired’’. Subsequently, an application was moved by the CIA staff seeking police remand on the ground that the accused had furnished a disclosure statement regarding 200 grams of opium being kept in his room, counsel had claimed. The statement, she had added, was ‘‘procured’’ by beating the petitioner after illegally taking him to the CIA staff. The magistrate while declining the plea for police remand, had observed that as to what prompted the investigating agency to take the accused to the CIA staff would have to be explained by them before the appropriate forum, counsel had stated. The accused, counsel had
added, was later booked for his brother’s murder
‘‘on the very day the police came to know about
Jain’s release on interim bail’’. The
petitioner and his wife, she had added, were apprehending
that the police were ready to plant another false case
‘‘just to make him sit in the jail’’. |
Another SHO suspended FATEHGARH SAHIB, April 29— Mr Paramraj Singh Umranangal, SSP, yesterday suspended another SHO in the district. Earlier the Mandi Gobindgarh SHO was suspended for allegedly depriving a trader of Rs 2 lakh during a naka. According to information
available, the Sirhind SHO, Hakiat Singh, and Karamjit
Singh, a munshi, were allegedly involved in lifting wheat
forcibly from commission agents of Sirhind. |
Rs 2.70 cr fine for power
theft LUDHIANA, April 29 — The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has imposed a fine of Rs 2.70 crore on Ludhiana Steels, a private company located at Focal Point, which was allegedly caught stealing power yesterday. According to Mr A.S.
Randhawa, Chief Engineer, PSEB, Ludhiana, seals on the
electronic power meter had been tampered with to steal
power. The company has been given three days to deposit
the fine failing which its power supply will be
disconnected. |
Training for IAS exam interview PATIALA, April 29 — The IAS and Allied Services Training Centre, Punjabi University, Patiala, will hold mock interview on May 2 and 3 for those candidates who have qualified for interview to be conducted by the UPSC. Giving this information
here today, Dr G.S. Bajwa, Director of the centre, said
that last year seven trainees of the centre got selected.
Three out of them claimed 29th , 51st and 72nd positions
in the overall list. |
DoT introduces new schemes PATIALA, April 29 — With competition from private telecommunication agencies becoming stiffer, the Department of Telecom Services in the district today announced launching of two user-friendly schemes in order to maintain the department’s popularity among the consumers. The scheme titled Intelligent Network Services offers the facility of an ‘India Telephone Card’ and a ‘Free Phone Service’. A press note issued by the Telecom Department here today said ‘India Telephone Card’ service allowed a user to make a call from any destination through ‘intelligent network exchange’. The user was given a 10-digit code number. He would use the service by dialling VCC access code 160-233 followed by a 10-digit card number. After authentication by service control point (SCF), the user was allowed to dial any destination — local, national or international. The cards were available in three denominations of Rs 105, Rs 210 and Rs 525. No charges were levied on the telephone number from which the call has made. The press note said the advantage in this service was that the subscriber need not to be a telephone subscriber and need not carry cash for making calls. Therefore touring businessmen and students who did not have dedicated telephones stood to benefit. Initially the services were available in the urban estate, Baran. Sanaur, Devigarh and Balbera exchanges. The service was likely to be extended to other places like Nabha, Rajpura, Sirhind and Samana shortly. The second facility of a ‘free phone service’ allows a caller to access a phone subscriber who bears the cost of calls made by the telephone user. This service is provided through an access code 160033. The press note said a
telephone directory corrected up to December 31 had been
made available on CD Rom on payment of Rs 200 at CTO and
the local Customer Service Centre. It can be used on any
PC. The directory has also been placed on Internet
Website WWW.patialatelecom.com. |
Telecom awards presented PATIALA, April 29 — Mr Joga Singh and Mr Roshan of the Rajpura telecom wing and Ms Geeta Gupta of the Patiala wing were conferred the Sanchar Sarthi awards by Mr R.N. Sharma, General Manager, Punjab Telecom Circle, at a function in the Central State Library Hall here last evening. The awards are presented to the employees of the telecom district who have done meritorious work during a particular year in the field of their activity. The awards carry a certificate of merit, a citation and cash prize of Rs 5000/-, a department release said here today. A special award was also
given to Mr Harbhajan Singh, TTA of the Nabha telephone
exchange, for showing extraordinary presence of mind and
courage in controlling a fire and thus saving the
exchange equipment. |
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