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| Tuesday, June 27, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Jagmeet Brar ready for contest Disputed bundh threatens villages Result out, questions remain Patiala police registering migrant labour ‘Money lures them to ISI’
The politics of no-trust moves
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Media has lost mission:
Rajat Sharma 49 cases of record tampering in NFL Improvement trust told to pay compensation Marauders target Punjabis in Udham Singh Nagar Urban estate for Malout
HC order to DC on unauthorised constructions Drug
De-addiction Day observed
Smuggling of drugs on
rise in Bathinda
16 students await result
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Jagmeet Brar ready for contest PATIALA, June 26 — Senior Congress leader and MP Jagmeet Brar said today he would not shy away from contesting for the post of President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee if the high command approved of his candidature. Talking to mediapersons here after attending a function held in memory of former Congress leader Rajesh Pilot by former Chairman of the Improvement Trust Nirmal Singh Bhattian, the Congress MP said he had met senior party leaders in Delhi recently and he had been assured that the elections would be held in a completely impartial manner. Mr Brar said he was not sure as to who would be the PPCC chief after the election. He said he himself would contest only after getting a nod from the party high command. In an indirect attack on the PPCC
President, Capt Amarinder Singh, he said need of the hour was to strengthen the Congress and not to fight the Akali Dal. He said any Congress President would have to forget his ego and listen to workers. He said he had contested three elections in the past 15 years and the party workers were with him. In an apparent snipe at the PPCC chief he said there were some people who had remained out of the party for 14 years and had taken various benefits and added that he wondered “how such people would watch the interests of the workers.” Mr Brar said there seemed to be a possibility of mid-term elections in Punjab. He said there were chances that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would try the same tactics as resorted to by Mr Om Prakash Chautala to wrest power in the State. He said the Punjab Government had failed miserably in getting the loan outstanding against it waived off by the Centre. At present a sum of Rs 14, 700 crore was still outstanding against the state government. Earlier Mr Brar paid tributes to the deceased Congress leader Rajesh Pilot. He said the country had lost a fearless leader with his death. Akali Dal (Amritsar) President Gurcharan Singh Tohra former MPs Prem Singh Chandumajra and Sant Ram Singla also spoke on the occasion. Tributes were also paid on the occasion on behalf of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. |
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Disputed bundh threatens villages KHANAURI (Patiala), June 26 — A disputed bundh built at Hotipur village, near here, by villagers of Sangrur district has put the Bhakra main line (BML) canal in danger and forced the Patiala district administration to prepare a contingency plan to evacuate villagers residing nearby in case water heads up at RD 460 where the Ghaggar passes through a syphon beneath the BML. Though the bundh at Hotipur has been in place for some years and a stalemate continues between the Patiala and Sangrur district administrations over its status, the situation has now been aggravated further with the bundh height being further increased recently by the villagers. The bundh, which is situated in the Moonak subdivision of Sangrur, ensures that water spilling over from the Ghaggar at a bend in the river cannot flow across to the nearby “Batisdara” drain. The Batisdara is a natural drainway of the Ghaggar which bypasses Khanauri to join the Ghaggar later on. As the excess water cannot be regulated through the Batisdara due to the bundh which comes in the way water heads up at RD 460 here. As the syphons at RD 460 are only able to cater to 15,000 cusecs of water, the nearby villages are covered with a sheet of water nearly every year as much as 1 lakh cusecs of water accumulates at RD 460 during the monsoon season. A visit to the disputed bundh site revealed that strong stone pitching had been done along the bend in the Ghaggar adjacent to the bundh. Villagers of Patiala district, specially those of Guru Nanakpura, Tejpur, Kangthala, Matauli and Chhicherwali said even a slight reduction in the bundh height would save their villages from being flooded as excess water could then be regulated through the Batisdara. But apparently no headway is being made in resolving the crisis with the Sangrur administration sticking to the view that any reduction in height of the disputed bundh would adversely affect 26 villages in the district. A meeting was held among senior officers of both districts a fortnight back but the issue could not be solved. A high-level team consisting of the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) and the Principal Secretary, Irrigation, which toured the flood-prone areas last year had assured that the issue would be resolved through dialogue but nothing came out of it . Patiala Additional Deputy Commissioner R.S. Randhawa said at present the height of the bundh was nearly the same as that of the BML at 761 feet (above sea level). He said the bundh had not been properly designed or compacted and any breach would spell catastrophe for the people of the area. He said the bundh gave a false sense of security. He said the administration had prepared a contingency plan whereby the villagers near RD 460 would be evacuated immediately in case of an emergency. The Sangrur authorities said the bundh had been built by the villagers on their own land. They said the bundh did not obstruct the flow of water. A senior official said the choice was among 26 villages of Sangrur and five villages of Patiala which would be seriously affected if it was levelled. As the stalemate continues the people living in the villages near RD 460 wait for the annual flooding. Amarjit Singh of Kangthala said most of the villagers settled in the area had migrated from Pakistan after the Partition hoping for peace and prosperity. “We have been hoping to get rid of the curse of flooding but our hopes continue to be belied”, he added. |
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Result out, questions remain CHANDIGARH, June 26 — The result of the Punjab Medical Entrance Test (PMET) was declared on Sunday . But slashing of reservation quota in respect of certain categories has created confusion and resentment. The notification for PMET - 2000 substituted the clause "children / grand children of political sufferers" mentioned in last year's prospectus with the following: "wards of political sufferers / freedom fighters". This means only sons and daughters of political sufferers and freedom fighters are eligible. On this particular issue , the Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU ) , Amritsar, Registrar, Dr R.S. Bawa, ( who was coordinator for the PMET ) wrote to the Secretary, Medical Education and Research, seeking a clarification since some freedom fighters had drawn his attention to this. No official reply has been sent to the university though the result has been declared. The GNDU had conducted the examination on behalf of the State Government and the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences for admission to M.B.B.S, B.D.S, B.A.M.S. (Ayurvedacharaya) courses. A comparative study of the PMET-1999 and PMET-2000 prospectus shows a marked change in policy in respect of reservations. Dr Bawa told TNS from Amritsar that the entrance examination was conducted by the university strictly in accordance with the notification which was like a " Bible". The result in respect of reservation categories was declared as per the reservation "claim" of a candidate. The documents in support of the given reservation category claim of each candidate will be verified only at the time of interview, he added. It is seen from the two prospectus that quota for sportspersons has been reduced from 2 to 1 per cent, border and backward areas from 2 to 1 per cent each and for political sufferers / freedom fighters from 2 to 1 per cent. Even the quota for November -1984 riots-affected displaced persons, children of Army deserters killed etc has been cut to 1 per cent from the earlier 2 per cent last year. The reservation quota has also been scaled down to 1 per cent from 2 per cent for children,widows of defence personnel killed or disabled to the extent of 50 per cent or more in action and wards of gallantry award winners and children of serving defence personnel / ex-servicemen. There is overall 5 per cent slashing of quota for various categories. This means that about 17 MBBS seats have been withdrawn from the
reserved categories. Interestingly, a new addition was made in the category of political sufferers / freedom fighters to include Dharamyudh Morcha, Punjabi Suba and Emergency detainees for a certain period. Practically there is reservation for the "wards" ( who are in their mid-life ) of freedom
fighters, but their grandchildren have been debarred. The cutting down of reservation quota for the defence personnel has intrigued many, as Punjab was on the forefront to honour, help and rehabilitate the Kargil martyrs. On the other hand the inclusion of participants of Dharmyudh Morcha and Punjabi Suba agitation has created heart-burning in the BJP circles and other political parties which consider this as yet another populist measure of the Shiromani Akali Dal. There are nearly 1,100 seats in MBBS, BDS and BAMS courses for which 8,200 students had appeared in the PMET conducted by GND
University in 31 centres spread across 11 cities in the State. |
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Patiala police registering migrant labour PATIALA,
June 26 — The local police is undertaking a major exercise to register all migrant labour in the district in an effort to curb crime as a survey has indicated that this category is responsible for a majority of criminal acts. The registration of the migratory labour is being done in all chowkis and police stations with people being encouraged to register all labour working under them. The police is recording names and taking group photographs and keeping serialwise record of all migrant labour. Police sources said in case of factories and shops, the employers were being told to send the pay of their employees to their kith and kin through money orders so that the address given by the employee could be verified. Sources said this was being done as it had been revealed that migratory labour working in brick-kilns and other vocations sometimes resorted to crime before going back to their homes in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They said these crimes became very hard to solve as the criminals travelled to their homes in other states immediately after such acts. The steps are being taken along with a
"Night Domination" operation started by the police following some daring armed robberies this month. This had led to panic among the people of the city as armed robberies by the Pardhi caste robbers of Madhya Pradesh popularly known as Kale kachhewale had spread terror in the region last year. There was a daring robbery in April-end when two persons were injured at Samana. Following this last month one labourer was killed while trying to raise an alarm when robbers tried to rob a house at Lachkani village near here. In another daring robbery in a house at Sanaur, eight persons were injured. In yet another robbery at Ganaur village, near here, robbers decamped with jewellery worth nearly Rs one lakh . The robberies had created a fear psychosis in the city with residents starting to give duty by turns at night to ensure thieves did not strike in their locality. The fear was heightened as none of the robbery cases have been solved till now. Mr Amarjit Singh of Dashmesh Nagar said the residents had started a thikri pehra themselves keeping in view the earlier experience of armed attacks by tribals in the city despite the Night Domination operation which was already on in the city. Steps being taken by the police, include registering all hawkers in various localities. They said resident associations had been told to give cards to hawkers who came in their locality regularly and ensure that stray hawkers did not do business in the locality. The police has also got into action to stop robberies during the vacations when people are going out of station. It has advised people not to lock their front gates from outside saying it is an invitation to robbery. The resident associations have also been advised to tell house owners to stop newspaper circulation during their stay out of station as accumulated newspapers in front of a house were a dead giveaway that the house owners were out of station. Though the city police has claimed that there had been no incidence of crime following the measures taken by it, residents feel more needs to be done. Mr Ranjit Singh of Rattan Nagar said vigilant committees could be formed with the help of the administration in major localities which could work in close cooperation with the police. He said ex-servicemen could also be recruited by the vigilant committees and made an integral part of security arrangements in various localities.
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‘Money lures them to ISI’ JALANDHAR June 26—Lack of job avenues, economic chaos and religious considerations are driving the youth of J&k to take up freely available arms and to fall into the hands of Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI. This was stated by Mr Gautam Kaul, the Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Force (ITBP), at a press conference here today. Mr Kaul also observed that an end to the decade-long militancy in the valley was not likely in near future due to a number of factors. Mr Kaul said as there were no jobs available for youths in the valley militancy had become a sources of income and employment for them. Though on surface it is the “jehad” factor but actually it is poverty due to which even parents allow their sons to join the militant organisations, as these offer handsome remuneration “Anyone can join them and what they pay in return is enough to lure anyone. At the first stage of joining they pay an amount of Rs 5000 per month to a recruit and Rs 10,000 to his parents. A sum of Rs 1 lakh is paid when a recruit crosses the LoC for receiving training in handling of arms. Similarly, an amount of Rs 2 lakh is paid to parents if their son is killed by Indian security forces,” said Mr Kaul. The ITBP DG said another factor which was fuelling militancy was free the availability of sophisticated arms and ammunition in Peshawar and Afghanistan, where these had been dumped in huge quantities. The situation is such that lakhs of AK 47s are in circulation in Afghanistan from where these flow into north west part of Pakistan and there weapons are available there like candies. You can buy an AK 47 for just $ 92, said Mr Kaul, who has been associated with a number of counter insurgency operations in the country even before taking over as chief of ITBP in 1998. Mr Kaul, however, said that Kashmir problem would not be should in near future and “It is going to be a costly affair, but the positive aspect for us is that we have a big population which can come forward to volunteer to give fight to the enemy. Another problem for us is that it is not a war and we have to act taking all aspects including decency into account,” said Mr Kaul, and added the morale of security forces was very high. He, however, admitted that the security forces were facing a shortage of manpower at officer level as youth, particularly technocrats preferred to go in for private sector. Mr Kaul said at present there was no problem with China and India and China were opening up for discussions on the issue of Mac Mohan line, which had been a bone of contention between the two countries. “Both countries have reached a point where it was decided to exchange maps of border areas falling in Garhwal and Himachal Pradesh on this side of the border so that possibility of demarcation of border could be explored. Similarly border trade is being encouraged in an effort to bring as closer as possible,” said Mr Kaul, who said regular flag meetings were being held between both the countries. |
The politics of no-trust moves NAWANSHAHR, June 26 — The intricacies of municipal committee-level politics coupled with the clash of egos of Mr Satnam Kainth, president, BSM and Mr Mohan Lal, SAD, MLA, from Banga, following notices served by the municipal councillors of Nawanshahr and Banga Municipal Councils regarding bringing no-confidence motions against Mr Chamkaur Singh Kauri and Mr Balbir, BJP and BSM leaders and presidents of the Nawanshahr and Banga councils respectively, have not only caused strains in the SAD-BJP-BSM alliance but have also put the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, in an awkward position. The Congress had worked out a ‘gameplan’ to oust Mr Chamkaur Singh Kauri by alluring two SAD councillors allegedly at the behest of a senior SAD leader and they served a notice to call a meeting to move a no-confidence motion against Mr Kauri. Similarly, a notice was served to call a special meeting to move a no-confidence motion against Mr Balbir, BSM leader and president of the Municipal Council, Banga, allegedly at the behest of SAD MLA, Mohan Lal and BJP councillors. Annoyed Mr Kainth, directed his close aide Mr Kamal, a Nawanshahr councillor, to announce his support to the anti-Kauri group. Mr Kamal, at a press meeting here yesterday announced his support to the anti-Kauri group and said he would vote in favour of the no-confidence move as the BJP had been supporting the no-confidence motion against Mr Balbir. He also indicated that the BSM would also help dissident councillors bring no-confidence motions against presidents of the Rahon and Garhshankar Municipal Councils. He held SAD-BJP leaders responsible for the present crisis. The move is being viewed as a ‘pressure tactics’ of Mr Kainth. While the meeting for the no confidence motion at Nawanshahr has been convened on July 5, the meeting at Banga has been convened on July 3, a move to link the fate of Mr Kauri with the fate of his party leader Mr Balbir. While Congress leaders Mr Sita Ram, a former president, Municipal Council, Nawanshahr and Dr Puri, a municipal councillor and Mr Lalit Mohan Pathak, a Youth Congress leader are trying to ‘unite’ the group of 11 councillors at least up to July 5, the councillors are divided over the issue of presidentship after the removal of Mr Kauri. Mr Kauri, when contacted said a number of councillors had assured him support. He had met the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and the Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, to apprise them of the situation. Mr Badal has reportedly deputed Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg (both Cabinet Ministers) and Mr Kirpal Singh Badunger, SAD general secretary, who are expected to reach Nawanshahr to resolve the crisis.  |
Media has lost mission: Rajat
Sharma AMRITSAR, June 26 — Noted TV anchor of “Janta Ki Adalat” fame Rajat Sharma opined that the media had become a big commercial business and the missionary zeal in its approach had completely vanished. Rajat Sharma expressed his views at an interaction with leading intellectuals, doctors and industrialists here yesterday organised by the Rotary Club. He said the missionary approach of the newspapers in the pre-independence era had produced many stalwarts. But now proprietors were becoming editors and chief executive officers as a result the real journalism was overtaken by business interest. Sensationalism had eclipsed the real human stories, he added. Rajat Sharma decried the attempts by journalists to highlight political stories and personalities to curry favour from the powers that be and some of the journalists had also managed to get top political posts like membership to the Rajya Sabha. To a question posed by Mr Sat Pal Dang that the advertisements had ovetaken most of the space whereby killing the news, especially the human and social stories, he said there must be some mechanism to make balance between the advertising and news contents. Although the Supreme Court had suggested some kind of balance but the newspapers had given number of considerations and bent up raising more revenue at the cost of news. The newspapers must ensure the credibility as people could judge good, bad and subjective reporting. The media would continue to be the torch bearer of the democracy and would be respected for its objectivity, he added. In the same breath, he also asked the people to elect the people of integrity. Mr Hardev Singh Mattewal, Advocate General, Punjab, who acted as a judge during this interaction endorsed the views of Rajat Sharma and said only the men of integrity at high places could deliver the goods. Mr Mattewal said although our democracy had very strong roots backed by one of the best Constitutions in the world but the implementation is not up to the mark for which the common man continues to suffer. Mr Mattewal said in some cases, the Executive and Legislatures had failed to perform their duties and in such a situation the judiciary should step in to play a more proactive role to defend the fundamental rights of the people. This was for the first time that the city has hosted such a meet in which all sections of the society came forward to ask burning questions to the two luminaries of the media and judiciary. The panelists included Dr Daljit Singh, Registrar of Guru Nanak Dev university, Dr R.S. Bawa, Dr Santokh Singh, Mr Ravinder Chadha, Mrs Bimla Bhatia, Joint Commissioner (Income Tax) Parneet Sachdeva, Principal Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women Nanak Singh, and Mr Sudarshan Kapur. The President of the Rotary Club, Civil Lines, Mr Gurjeet Shekhon and Secretary, Dr Indu R Singh, coordinated the two-hour
session. |
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49 cases of record tampering in NFL ROPAR, June 26 — The Personnel Department of National Fertilisers Ltd (NFL) Naya Nangal, after an inquiry, has detected that 49 service records have been tempered with by certain employees in the local unit here. Sources said six cases had been put up before the General Manager, NFL, Naya Nangal for immediate action. A few of the employees against whom action had been recommended had allegedly served for more than four years beyond the retirement age. After an anonymous complaint in February, the Executive Director Personnel and Administration, ordered an inquiry into the matter. The service records of all 2500 employees were scrutinised and 49 cases of temperings with these records were detected. The sources said as per the rules the employees found guilty of temperings with the records should have been relieved from duty as per the original entries in their service records. The local authorities need no approval of the higher authorities to take action against them. However Personnel Department had to do a volte-face in the case of the Principal of the local school run by the NFL, who was retired by the local authorities on similar grounds, a few months ago. The Principal was later reinstated on the orders of the higher authority, after a vigilance inquiry found that action against the Principal was unjustified. The department was put up the cases before the higher authorities, for suitable action. The sources expressed the apprehension that the cases might be hushed up due to the involvement of some top officials in the scandal. The General Manager, NFL, Naya Nangal, was however not available for comments. |
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Improvement trust told to pay compensation PHAGWARA, June 26 — The full Bench of District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Kapurthala, has directed the Improvement
Trust, Phagwara, to pay Rs 10,000 compensation to Mrs Surjit Kaur and Mr Tarlochan Singh of Professor Colony, Banga Road, Phagwara, for causing them mental tension and harassment due to deficiency in service. Going a step further, the court in its June 11 decision directed the respondents to pay to the complainants an interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum on the deposit of sale price with effect from November 1, 1991 till the delivery of the possession of the plot No. 222, said Mr Surinder Mittal, a member of the court and author of the judgement here today. The court further ordered the payment of Rs 1,000 as cost of the complaint to the complainants. The court quashed the whopping penalty of Rs 1,56,076 levied by respondents for non-construction on the plot. Besides this waive in favour of the allottees, the court ordered the trust to handover the possession of the plot allotted on June 3, 1980 in the development scheme No. 3 along with required documents to the complainants, said Mr Mittal. The court also ordered the trust to provide
infrastructure facilities and other civic services to the complainants on the site required to be provided under the scheme within three months from receipt of copy of the order. However, the court turned down complainants’ prayer for compensation of Rs 2 lakh saying it was much on the higher side. It also rejected pleas of complainants for 24 per cent interest on the deposit of sale price and Rs 5,000 as cost of complaint. The court also rejected various pleas of the respondents against the complainants and for defending trust action. The complainants had deposited the entire cost of the plot up to February 6, 1981 but were not given possession of the plot. They took the case to consumer court on December 23, 1999 and subsequently won it with various
reliefs. |
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Marauders target Punjabis in Udham Singh Nagar JALANDHAR, June 26 — Are Punjabis in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh being targeted by a group of marauders? Yes, if the brutal murder of Harbans Singh of Kharmasi village near Kashipur yesterday is any indication. Harbans Singh has become the third Punjabi farmer who has become a target of a group of marauders during the past three months. The 10-12 member strong group, it is learnt, selects isolated farms, mostly belonging to affluent Punjabis, in the district and attack inhabitants with iron rods, creating a sense of fear among Punjabis living there, according to information available. Baba Bhagat Singh Bilga, chairman of the local Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall Committee and a close relative of the deceased, said the attackers who struck his farm late last night were armed. Harbans Singh’s son was seriously injured in the attack and has been admitted to a hospital in Moradabad. He said in all three incidents nothing was found missing from the houses of victims, showing that the motive of the attacks were an effort by some forces to scare away Punjabis from Udham Singh Nagar, which is slated to be a part of the proposed Uttranchal state. In a telegram to the Union Home Minister, Baba Bilga urged him to take action against those responsible for the attacks. |
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Urban estate for Malout CHANDIGARH , June 26 — The Punjab Urban Planning and Development Agency (PUDA) proposes to set up an urban estate, spread over 68 acres at Malout. The scheme will include the provision of “choose your neighbourhood”. This is stated in a press release issued by the PUDA today following a review meeting the Minister Mrs Upinderji Kaur held at Malout on Saturday. Besides others the Chief Minister’s wife , Mrs Surinder Kaur Badal, was also at the meeting to apprise the minister of the demands, aspirations and difficulties of the people of Malout, an Assembly constituency close to her heart. Of 252-odd plots in the urban estate as many as 90 have been offered to the public at a one-time concessional price of Rs 1,200 per square yard. A draw in this connection would be held at Malout on July 5. The meeting also reviewed the progress of the Malout Institute of Management and Information Technology whose poor construction made news in the recent past. The Rs 8.49-crore project is mired in controversies. The press release says that the minister has directed that structural design of the institute be sent to Central Building and Research Institute, Rorkee, to seek suggestions. Despite this the PUDA is hopeful to complete the building by October. It is also taking up construction of houses for the faculty at an additional cost of Rs 2.38 crore. Likewise the Malout will also have the first ever community recreation centre spread over 10.23 acres. It will cost Rs 4.66 crore. Its completion is scheduled for November next. |
Soldier
cremated with honours FEROZEPORE, June 26 — The body of a soldier, Sukhpal
Singh, was cremated today with full honours at his native village,
Sodhiwala, in Zira subdivision of the district. Those who attended the
cremation ceremony included the Deputy Commissioner, the Zira SDM and
the Deputy Director (Sainik Welfare). According to official sources, Sukhpal Singh had died fighting enemies in Jammu and Kashmir. His body was brought to his native village yesterday. He was unmarried. The
person concerned at the Sainik Welfare office here said that the
casualty report of the martyr had yet to be received. Only the report
could reveal more details about the casualty, he added. |
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156 patients
examined RAJPURA, June 26 — A free medical camp was held by the Rotary Club here yesterday. Besides, Dr Ravinder Singh, Principal, Medical College, Patiala, and Dr S.K. Goyal, SMO, Rajpura, a team of 14 doctors examined 156 patients. During the camp 11 ECGs, 29 blood sugar tests were conducted. The club adopted a four-year-old girl for treatment. The president of the club, Rotarian Sarabjeet Singh Walia, was present in the camp. |
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Training camp GURDASPUR, June 26 — A six week pre-recruitment training camp will start here for the dependent children of ex-servicemen in the age group of 16 to 21 years. The aspirants seeking admission in this course with qualification certificates should report to the office of the Deputy Director Sainik Welfare, here by 9 a.m. on June 29, 2000. Medical examination of the persons cleared for admission in the recruitment camp will be held on June 30. The camp will be held free of charge. |
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Dry-cleaners
hold meeting PATIALA, June 26 — The difficulties being faced by dry-cleaners of the region were brought to light at an executive body meeting of the Punjab Dry-Cleaners Association held here today. Special significance was laid on the increasing rates of electricity and the steep hike in petroleum products. The meeting was presided over by Mr
S.S. Ahluwalia, president of the association, and was organised by the Patiala branch of the association. |
HC order to DC on unauthorised constructions CHANDIGARH, June 26— Directing the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner to ensure that the construction of “unauthorised buildings within 1000 yards of the Ammunition depot’s parapet at Baddowal village”, is stopped the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked him to submit the compliance report on July 6 by appearing “in person”. Pronouncing the order on an application of the Union of India’s standing counsel, Mr Justice V.K. Bali also directed the DC to “examine the complaints already lodged before him” and “immediately survey the area”. In his application, the Union of India’s counsel had earlier stated that although adequate safety measures had been taken to guard against any mishap, “yet because of large number of constructions a catastrophe could not be ruled out”. The country, counsel had added, “can not allow another incident like Bharatpur tragedy to occur”. Claiming the violations to be on “civil land”, counsel had also stated that the “District Administration, being the custodian of the land, was to check the violations and take action against the violators but nothing was being done”. The Army, he had further stated, had been lodging the first information reports with the “civil police”. A letter, he had stated, had even been addressed to the Administration. The counsel had added that the Local Administration “had become totally remiss in carrying out its duties” on account of certain writ petitions filed before the Court, including one by the Ludhiana Citizens Council, along with the Municipal Corporation’s Mayor and a local Member of Parliament. The High Court, it may be recalled, after perusing the status report submitted earlier by the DC, had adjourned the case to August 19. The Court had observed: “From the reply and annexures attached thereto we find that a clarification is required as to whether the civil authorities or the Army Authorities should carry out the demolition, as ordered by the Collector under the Works of the Defence Act, 1903. Adjourned to August 19”. Notice issued in police harassment case On a petition alleging Police harassment, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice to the Punjab Advocate General for July 4. Pronouncing the orders on Ludhiana resident Surinder Kumar Jain’s petition seeking a week’s notice if a first information report was registered against him, Mr Justice Nirmal Singh observed: “Counsel for the petitioner states that the police is calling him for questioning even though no case has been registered and his business is suffering”. Mr Justice Nirmal Singh also observed: “Counsel further submits that the petitioner has appeared before the police on June 2, 5, 8, 14 and 21 but no questioning was undertaken and the petitioner was made to stand in the police station for two to three hours. Notice to the Punjab Advocate General”. Claiming to have been summoned to appear before the Economic Offences Wing even though no case was registered against him, the petitioner had earlier stated that a false complaint was made to the police by acquaintance Mohinder Jain “to avoid the payment of debt”. Seeking directions to Ludhiana Senior Superintendent of Police and the Economic Offences Wing In charge against harassing him, the petitioner had added that every other day he was being harassed and humiliated after being called by the police”. Giving the background, counsel for the petitioner had stated that Mohinder Jain had borrowed money from him and relatives after suffering loss in business. He had added that the petitioner had asked for the return of loan after Mohinder Jain sold some property. |
Drug
De-addiction Day observed BATHINDA, June 26 — Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner, was the chief guest at a function organised by Drug De-addiction Hospital of the Red Cross in connection with the Drug De-addiction Day. In a press note issued here today Mr Jaspal Singh said the social organisation could play a significant role in keeping young persons away from the menace of drug addiction. He further said village sarpanches and other social workers should come forward to eliminate drug addiction from the society. He said the drug de-addiction centre was providing all facilities to those who wanted to come out of the mire of addiction and added that every month about 50 persons were being admitted and treated at the centre. Dr Mehboob Singh Saran, project director of the centre, said common people could play very important role in motivating youths to get rid of drugs. Mr Ajaib Singh Bhati, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Dharam Singh, Project Officer, and Mr Ajmer Singh Mann, secretary, Red Cross, were also present on the occasion. GURDASPUR: The local drug de-addiction centre and the Nasha Virodhi Manch jointly held a function here today to mark the international drug de-addiction day. Speaking on the occasion Dr J.P. Jalota, project director drug de-addiction hospital here, said cases of drug addiction were increasing alarmingly. He exhorted social organisations to come forward and join hands with government machinery to tackle the menace of drug addiction. Dr Jalota said over 3,000 drug addicts had been treated at the local drug de-addiction centre. KAPURTHALA: A seminar was organised today at the local sadar police station jointly by the district police and the Narcotics Control Board in connection with the celebrations of international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. Mr Raghbir Singh, Transport Minister, Mr Iqbal Singh SSP, Prof Lakhbir Singh and Mr Rakesh Goyal, zonal director of the Narcotics Control Board, addressed the seminar. |
Smuggling of drugs on
rise in Bathinda BATHINDA, June 26 — Even as the district police has been making relentless efforts to check the flow of drugs in the area, the smuggling of drugs and other narcotics has been on the rise. The situation has become so alarming that every 36 hours, a case of smuggling of drugs and narcotics is being registered in the district. The police had registered 114 cases relating to the smuggling of drugs till June 20 and arrested about 133 persons. Official sources said what was more alarming was the fact that even women had also taken to smuggling of opium and poppy husk. Three women had been arrested in this regard. Three women had also been arrested in connection with the illicit distillation of liquor. Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, said the police had seized more than 17 kg of opium, 4173.8 kg of poppy husk, 57 litres of intoxicants, 211 injections and more that 2000 tablets and capsules. Sources said close proximity of Bathinda district with Rajasthan and Haryana states had made it a thriving market for the smugglers and peddlers based in other states. The police has launched a “drug-free Bathinda in 2000 AD campaign. Under this campaign de-addiction camps are being held in the district with the help of NGOs and social workers. The sources said only 95 cases related to smuggling of drugs and narcotics were registered by the district police in 1998, 87 cases were registered in 1999. However, in the first six months of this year, the number of cases registered against the smugglers were more than 110. Dr Jain said a truck, four jeeps, three cars, five scooters and two bicycles used for carrying drugs had been impounded. |
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Home Guard caught
blackmailing PHAGWARA, June 26 — The Phagwara police has booked a Home Guard jawan Tehal Singh for blackmailing an unmarried couple. Two constables Parshotam Lal and Lakhwinder Lakho had already been sent to the police lines, Kapurthala, in this case, sources said today. The trio forced the couple to pose for photographs in objectionable postures. They later demanded Rs 10,000 for returning the negatives. The incident took place around 10 days back after the couple was coming out of a restaurant. While the blackmailers took Rs 1,500 on the spot, the couple promised to pay remaining Rs 8,500 later. The local DSP, Mr Satinder Singh, was, however, informed about these blackmailing cops. He then ordered a trap to be laid where the two cops were caught red-handed while the third accomplice was nabbed later. |
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Woman falls prey to dowry greed MALERKOTLA, June 26 — Meenu, a school lecturer, was allegedly killed by her in-laws yesterday. According to information Meenu was married to Dinesh Kumar Singla, a resident of Barnala in 1997. Meenu’s father Mr Bachan Lal, in a complaint to the Barnala police said his daughter was killed by her in-laws, who constantly harassed her, for bringing inadequate dowry. The police has registered a case. |
16 students await result NAWANSHAHR: The result of 16 plus two (Commerce) students of the local Doaba Arya Senior Secondary School has been cancelled, as per June 15 gazette notification of the Punjab School Education Board. Earlier the board had withheld their roll numbers as the school did not have the requisite affiliation to run the commerce classes. Later, the Board issued them provisional roll numbers after each student paid a fine of Rs 2000. The Principal, Mr Hans Raj sharma, had submitted a written undertaking to the Board on March 17 to remit the fine by March 27. But, the principal did not remit the fine in spite of reminders sent by the Board. Before the declaration of the result the Board had sent a letter intimating the school that the result had been withheld. Mr Hans Raj Sharma said he had applied for the affiliation for starting the commerce group in May, 1997. The Board in April 1998 rejected the application by raising certain objections. After removing the objections he again applied for the affiliation in July 1998. As per the advice of a senior Board official he admitted students in the commerce group and appointed qualified teachers and set up a library. The registration fee, continuation fee and examination fee of the students were sent to the Board, which was accepted and registration cards were issued to the students. In December 1999, an inspection team from the Board visited the school. The response of the team was positive. The school had no doubt about the affiliation. But just a few days before the annual examination, the Board intimated the school that the roll numbers of the school had been withheld for want of affiliation. Ignoring principal`s pleas the Board issued provisional roll numbers just one day before the examination and that too on the condition of remitting a fine of Rs 2000 per student. The school had not remitted the fine as Mr Sharma and members of the managing committee had been trying to get it waived , he said adding that they had sent representations to the Education Minister and Board authorities in this regard. |
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GND
University results AMRITSAR, June 26 — The results of LLB (FIYC) second semester,
MSc applied physics part-II and MA (psychology) part-II examinations conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University in April this year have been declared today, according to a statement of the university here. |
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