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| Tuesday, July 4, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Dismiss Badal govt: JD (S) Akalis accused of discrimination Computer crime by ETO Five SDEs, two JEs suspended Inter-state flesh trade exposed
YC workers disrupt traffic
Babu Parmanand in Amritsar |
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Autonomy: Bitta threatens fast Master plan for Ghaggar Bhagwan Dass Arora’s death mourned Allotment of plots quashed Controversy precedes construction Garg’s assurance to traders Akali leaders back Sekhon’s stand
Raja Todar Mal Award
New light on narcotics seizure
‘Indian students more career
conscious’
Oil cos’ move irks dealers
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Dismiss Badal govt: JD (S) CHANDIGARH, July 3 — The Janata Dal (Secular), Punjab, today demanded the immediate dismissal of the Akali Dal-BJP coalition government in the state. A five-page memorandum that a delegation of the party submitted to the Governor accused the Akali Dal-BJP government of pursuing anti-people policies and shattering the confidence of the people. “Whatever promises the government had held out to the people before coming to power have not yet been fulfilled. In fact, all their policies and programmes are working in opposite directions and people are now realising their folly of having voted them to power,” said the memorandum. The memorandum said the law and order situation had worsened. Incidents of abduction of minor girls, their murder and rape, acts of robbery and looting and economic offences had increased manifold. During the past year alone 300 cases of rape had been reported. Prostitution was increasing and the guilty were enjoying the protection of political leaders. Corruption was rampant in almost all departments of the state, said the memorandum. It added that some bureaucrats were minting money by taking undue advantage of their positions. Transfer of government employees had become highly “profitable” as a lot of money changed hands. It alleged that Cabinet ministers were not lagging behind and so was the Chief Minister and certain members of his family. The Janata Dal (Secular) demanded a CBI probe into all cases of corruption so that the guilty were brought to book. The economy of the state was in bad shape. This was all attributed to mismanagement of the economy. The economic position of farmers was really deplorable. No wonder 400 farmers had committed “suicide” since they had failed to pay off their debts. The power tariff had been increased from 8 per cent to 17 per cent which was totally unjustified. Instead of reducing the staff, curtailing expenses and insisting on metered power supply, the PSEB, found it easy to generate additional revenue by increasing the power tariff. It demanded immediate rollback of the power hike. Those who submitted the
memorandum were led by Mr Harish Khanna, convener of the
Party, and consisted of Mr Balwant Singh Khera, Mr
Subhash Beri, Mr Jaswant Singh Birdi and Mr Jatinder
Sood. |
Akalis accused of discrimination FEROZEPORE, July 3 — Fissures within the Akali Dal-BJP combine came to the fore when BJP activists accused an Akali Dal minister and an MLA of meeting out stepmotherly treatment to them at a meeting held here yesterday. The meeting that was held to accord a civic reception to the Punjab BJP chief, Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, witnessed party activists accusing the Akali Dal leaders of discrimination. In no uncertain terms, the local party leaders charged the Akali Dal MLAs of Ferozepore cantonment and Guru Har Sahai Assembly segments of marginalising the BJP activists. They warned that in view of the coming Assembly elections, the BJP should ensure that the party’s credibility was not shadowed by the Akali Dal’s influence in these Assembly segments. Their resentment stems from the fact that the Akalis have an edge over them in these segments. While Ferozepore cantonment is represented by the Irrigation Minister, Mr Janmaja Singh Sekhon, Guru Sahai is represented by Mr Paramjit Singh. Resentful BJP leaders contended the administration officials did not accord them due respect in these areas although the party is sharing power with the Akali Dal in the Vidhan Sabha. They also charged the Akali Dal MLAs of not paying heed to their grievances. Prominent among those who were vocal on the matter was Ferozepore cantonment BJP leader Ashwini Dhingra. Without naming Mr Sekhon, he charged him of discrimination against the BJP workers in the cantonment. Pandemonium prevailed at Gopi Chand Dharamshala where the BJP activists had assembled to vent their anger against the treatment being meted out to them. Interestingly, Mr Rinwa could not help from narrating an instance, where an Akali Dal minister discriminated against a senior woman BJP leader. He, however, assured that coordination committees of the two parties shall be constituted in each district to ensure effective participation of the BJP workers in all political matters, even in the Assembly segments represented by the Akalis. Mr Rinwa tried to pacify
the agitated party leaders, saying that he would take up
their grievances with the Akali Dal president, Mr Parkash
Singh Badal. |
Computer crime by ETO BATHINDA, July 3 — A racket of sale tax evasion worth lakhs of rupees being allegedly run by the Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) manning the Information Collecting Centre (ICC) at Talwandi Sabo in this district has come to light. The Financial Commissioner (excise and taxation) Punjab, Mr Y.S. Ratra, has recommended the suspension of ETO, Mr Gurtej Singh Sidhu, and registration of criminal case against him and the traders who got computer entries manipulated. The case, is first of its kind in the state, came to light when Mr Sarbjit Singh, Additional Commissioner (Excise and Taxation) raided the ICC, Talwandi Sabo on the night of June 26 and found that computer entries had been manipulated by the ETO to facilitate the sales tax evasion by the traders. Mr Ratra, when contacted at Chandigarh, while confirming that suspension and registration of criminal case had been recommended against the ETO, Mr Gurtej Singh Sidhu, said that criminal cases would be registered against all those traders who were involved in this case. Official sources said that modus oprandi of Mr Sidhu was that he with the help of data entry operator had developed a software to break open the secret code of the computer to manipulate the entries. Mr Sidhu would manipulate one or two entries daily to facilitate the traders to evade tax. Sources added that the departmental officials were working out the total evasion. So far they had detected that about 50 entries had been manipulated. Sources said that Mr Sidhu, who had confessed his crime, had so far not handed over the computer floppy he had used to manipulate the entries. Mr Tikshan Sood, State Minister of Excise and Taxation, said that legal action would be taken against the ETO concerned. He added that further disciplinary action against the guilty officials might be taken. Mr Sidhu, who got promoted to Excise and Taxation officer from Inspector in the recent past, had been manning the Talwandi Sabo ICC for the past many months. He had started manipulating the entries about two months ago. Most of the traders to whom he had been extending the favour belonged to Mandi Gobind Garh. Official sources said that Mr Sidhu used to change the value of goods and registration certificate number of the dealers. Sources added that the
Sales Tax Department authorities dealing with the ICC
came to know about the manipulations when they found it
from the master computer that Mr Sidhu had developed a
different code other than secret code for each entry. Mr
Sidhu had allegedly been paying Rs 100 to data entry
operator per night. Most of the traders who had enjoyed
the ‘services’ of Mr Sidhu dealt in iron goods. |
Five SDEs, two JEs suspended SANGRUR, July 3 — The Punjab Government has ordered the suspension of five Sub-Divisional Engineers (SDEs) and two Junior Engineers (JEs) of the Punjab Public Health Department. According to the orders, the suspended SDEs are A.K. Aggarwal (Moga), Jatinder Singh (Nawanshahr), Parampal Singh and Pawan Kumar (Sangrur), and Jeet Singh, who is already under suspension since January 4, 2000. The suspended JEs are Harinder Kumar and Harshvardhan. The suspended engineers had either worked in the past with the Public Health Division, Sangrur, or were working in it before their suspension. It has been stated in the suspension orders that charge-sheets will be issued to the suspended engineers later, while during suspension their headquarters will be the Public Health Division, Patiala. Earlier, the Executive Engineer of the Public Health Division, Sangrur, Mr Rajinder Singh Khurmi, was placed under suspension in the last week of May. An official of the local
Public Health Division said here today, that the
suspended engineers were allegedly involved in a case of
drawing wages of 14 non-existent daily wage workers on
the muster roll of this division. |
Inter-state flesh trade exposed LUDHUANA, July 3 — The arrest of three young women who were forced into prostitution either by their families or poverty has exposed an inter-state flesh trade. The three women were arrested by a police party led by DSP Detective Satish Kumar Malhotra and CIA Inspector Maninder Bedi today during a raid in the Chander Lok Colony . It is learnt that two of the prostitutes were earlier part of a inter-state flesh trade based at Panchkula and had escaped from that brothel two months ago. These two, alongwith the third prostitute, were now running their own brothel in the Chander Lok Colony. It is learnt that the police had received information about this flesh trade. Investigations made by the police so far have revealed that the two prostitutes, one 23 years’ old and hailing from Daulatpur and the other 19 years’ old and hailing from Patiala, had been with the Panchkula based brothel till a few months ago and were serving clients in Chandigarh, Panchkula, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. The three women reportedly told the police during interrogation that the brothel in Panchkula was being run by a Madam, her brother and her lover. While all three owners of this brothel were themselves residing in a flat in Panchkula, the sex workers that they had employed were kept ‘in custody’ in a separate house in Pinjore. These prostitutes have reportedly also told the police that alongwith them, there were four other sex workers one each from Faridabad and Delhi and two from Shahabad. The two prostitutes also informed that the sex workers kept by the ‘Madam’ were generally in the age group of 17 to 23 and that after some of the old ones left, new ones were recruited and kept with the others. They have also alleged that other than the fact that they were getting food and clothing, the ‘Madam’ was not paying them anything. This in spite of the fact that they were making around Rs 5000 per customer when they were being taken to cities outside of Chandigarh and Panchkula and a couple of hundreds if they served customers in the two above mentioned cities. They have also alleged that the owners had also turned the house in Pinjore where they were staying as a watering hole for the customers. They allege that it was because of their maltreatment by the ‘Madam’ that they decided to flee. One of the women who hails from Daulatpur near Ludhiana says that she was the first to come out of the racket and when she told the other girl about her plan to part ways, she too pleaded to be taken along and the duo came to Ludhiana two months ago. Talking to TNS after their arrest, all three women had a hopeless tale of despair and exploitation to tell. One of them, a 19-year-old orphan hailing from Patiala, said that she had been sold off to the ‘Madam’ in Panchkula by her maternal grandmother and maternal uncle two years ago. Since then, she had been working there and later met the woman hailing from Daulatpur. The woman from Daulatpur said that after her husband had walked out on her a few months ago and left her neck-deep in debt, she had been forced into the flesh trade by a city-based couple residing in Kailash Nagar area. This couple had later sold her off to the Panchkula-based brothel. After these two women came back here, they hired another woman belonging to Amritsar and the three then started their own racket here. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Kuldeep Singh said, “We are now on the lookout for the Panchkula-based couple and will nab them soon.” All three women have
been booked by the police under the Prevention of Immoral
Trafficking Act. |
YC workers disrupt traffic JALANDHAR, July 3 — To protest against lathi charge on All-India Youth Congress workers and arrest of its national president, Mr Randip Singh Surjewala, by the Delhi Police on June 30, hundreds of Punjab Youth Congress workers disrupted traffic for two hours on the Jalandhar-Amritsar road at Lamba Pind Bypass here today. Addressing the Youth Congress workers Mr Davinder Singh Babbu, president of the Punjab Youth Congress said by resorting to lathi charge on peaceful youth Congress workers, who were protesting against activities of the Bajrang Dal and the RSS, the BJP-led government has made it clear that it was a puppet in the hands of the fundamental forces. He alleged that the Delhi Police had acted in an “undemocratic” style and implicated Mr Surjewala only to appease the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani. He threatened that the Punjab unit of the Youth Congress would resort to a “Rasta-Roko” at the block level if Mr Surjewala and 13 other Youth Congress leaders were not released by the Delhi Police immediately. Criticising the J & K Assembly for having passed the autonomy resolution, Mr Babbu said his organisation would oppose any such demand by any other State, including Punjab since it would result in weakening of the country. Earlier, the Youth
Congress workers also burnt an effigy of the Union Home
Minister, Mr L.K. Advani. |
Arrest of IYC chief condemned CHANDIGARH, July 3 — A former National Council Member of the All India Youth Congress, Mr Satvinder Singh Timmy, has strongly condemned the arrest of Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, IYC, present, and other activist of the Youth Congress, while they were peacefully protesting against the wrong policies of the Atal Behari Vajpayee Government. Mr Satvinder Timmy has
strongly condemned the planned attack on minorities,
specially Christians, all over the country. More peaceful
agitation and protests will be followed if Mr Randeep
Singh Surjewala and other are not released immediately
and unconditionally. |
Babu Parmanand in Amritsar AMRITSAR, July 3 — “As the Governor and in my personal capacity too, I will ensure my level best that people are provided adequate and up to the mark facilities in the field of education so that people in the remotest areas should benefit from this.” This resolve was expressed by the Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand who after assuming office today visited this historic city. The Governor was talking to mediapersons at the Golden Temple Information Office after paying obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum. Accompanied by his wife, Mrs Sudesh Kumari and other members of the family and the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinderjit Singh, the Governor paid obeisance at the Golden Temple and evinced keen interest in the glorious heritage of Sikh religion. The SGPC honoured him with a siropa and a model of Sri Darbar Sahib along with a religious set of books. Babu Parmanand visited the historic Jallianwala Bagh and placed floral wreaths at the “flame of liberty”. The Governor also
visited Durgiana Mandir to pay obeisance. |
Autonomy: Bitta threatens fast JALANDHAR July 3 — Mr Maninderjit Singh Bitta, has threatened to observe a fast unto death if the Centre gave its nod to the autonomy resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir assembly. Mr Bitta, also criticised the State Congress leadership for remaining a silent spectator to Ghallughara Day observed by the SGPC in memory of those killed during the 1984 Operation Bluestar. Mr Bitta, who was addressing a press conference here today, said the autonomy resolution and a similar demand by some other States should be taken as a warning signal or preface to the disintegration of the country, which his Anti-Terrorist Front would never allow to happen. He however did not specify any time frame for implementation of his proposed fast-unto-death programme. Criticising the Punjab unit of the Congress, Mr Bitta said while Ghallughara Day was observed by the SGPC and other Akali factions openly but none from among the Congress leadership dared to raise his voice against it. Mr Bitta alleged that
terrorism and crime had virtually engulfed the entire
country and situation was going from bad to worse
particularly in Bihar where killings of innocent people
have become order of the day. He alleged that criminals
were ruling the State and Mr Saiffudin, an MP, has
virtually become a terror for people of the State. He
said the only solution to deal with the current situation
in Bihar was imposition of President’s rule for at
least for five years. Mr Bitta announced that to protest
against recent killings, workers of his front would take
out a march through all affected villages of Bihar on
July 14. |
Master plan for Ghaggar SANGRUR, July 3 — The Punjab Government will prepare a master plan before the monsoon to tackle the problem of floods permanently in the state. This was stated by Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Irrigation Minister, Punjab, while touring the flood-prone points of the Ghaggar in the Khanauri areas in this district yesterday. Mr Gobind Singh Longowal, Minister of State for Irrigation, Punjab, and officers of the Drainage Department accompanied Mr Sekhon. Mr Sekhon said a meeting of senior officers of the Drainage and other departments concerned would be convened soon to chalk out a plan to deal with the floods. He also said effective steps had already been taken by the government to tackle the floods. The minister said with the preparation of the master plan, work on this project would begin as early as possible. Mr Sekhon also inspected the desilting work being done near the syphon at RD 460 of the Ghaggar near Khanauri. He also held a meeting with officers to discuss a permanent solution to a Ghaggar problem. On this occasion, Mr S.P. Single, Chief Engineer, Drainage, Punjab, told the minister that about 16,000 cusecs of water from Tangri and Markanda rivulets of Haryana and about 7,000 cusecs of water from Ropar areas accumulated in the Ghaggar which caused havoc in these areas during the rainy season. Mr G.K. Singh,
Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur, also held with
residents of the Ghaggar area and assured them that a
permanent solution with regard to floods would be thought
of soon. |
Bhagwan Dass Arora’s death
mourned CHANDIGARH, July 3— The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today expressed grief over the death of Mr Bhagwan Dass Arora, a legislator and former minister Describing the deceased as a dedicated social worker, the Chief Minister said Punjab had lost a friend of the common people in Mr Arora’s death. He conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to members of the bereaved family. Mr Jagjit Singh, leader
of the Opposition, Capt Amarinder Singh, President, PPCC,
and Mr Sant Ram Singla and Mrs Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha,
party vice-president and general secretary ,
respectively, also mourned the death of Mr Arora. |
Allotment of plots quashed CHANDIGARH, July 3 — Allowing a writ petition against the state of Punjab and 72 other respondents, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed the allotment of plots by the Amritsar Improvement Trust under the Jai Inder Singh Transport Nagar — Truck Stand scheme. Declaring the allotment “illegal”, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice M.S. Gill also directed the Trust to “hold fresh auction after giving proper notice to the applicants of its date, time and place”. The Bench also directed: “The exercise shall be undertaken by the concerned authorities within three months and the allotments be made to the successful applicants”. In their detailed order the Bench observed: “We hold that the allotment of plots made to the non-official respondents on the basis of the auction held on March 20, 1998, is contrary to the basic norms which should have been followed by the official respondents for fulfilling the requirement of the doctrine of equality and, therefore, the same is liable to be invalidated”. Terming the allotment as “farce”, the petitioners — Mr Vijay Kumar Gupta and four others-had earlier stated that “no intimation about the date, time and place of the auction was given to them”. The High Court, it may be recalled, had ordered an enquiry into the matter by Amritsar District and Sessions Judge. The Judge, in his report, had observed: “It is not fully established that any agenda of the joint meeting was prepared and notice of the joint meeting to be held on March 14, 1998, was given to all the members of the three associations”. The Judge had added that
the “proceedings of the meeting, as recorded in the
documents and produced by the respondents, are not
authentic and genuine”. |
Controversy precedes construction BATHINDA, July 3 — A controversy regarding the construction of Beopar Mandal Bhavan on a 500-square-yard plot of the Improvement Trust’s colony has created a controversy. The controversy started here yesterday after the Punjab Science and Technology Minister, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, laid the foundation stone of Beopar Mandal Bhawan on a plot which was first allotted to the Punjab Pardesh Beopar Mandal and then cancelled due to default in payment of half yearly instalments made by the office-bearers of the Punjab Pardesh Beopar Mandal, by the Improvement Trust authorities. Sources said the foundation stone, was laid yesterday, even though the plot of 500 square yards was resumed by the Improvement Trust authorities due to default in payment of five instalments by the Punjab Pardesh Beopar Mandal office-bearers. Mr Gora Lal, Executive Officer, Improvement Trust, in a letter to Mr Madan Lal Kapoor, President, Punjab Pardesh Beopar Mandal, has asked him that the plot allotted to this organisation had been resumed and if the organisation wanted to get it back, it should deposit the entire amount of the instalments with 18 per cent penal interest and 20 per cent penalty to the improvement Trust within three months. Sources added that Mr Garg had been kept in dark about the status of plot. The plot was allotted to the Punjab Pardesh Beopar Mandal on the recommendation of the Punjab Government. Sources said that Improvement Trust officials had forbidden the Punjab Pardesh Beopar Mandal officials from carrying out any construction till they clear up their financial liabilities. The plot was resumed on June 19,2000 on the order of chairman, Improvement Trust, Mr Jaspal Singh. Mr Madan Lal Kapoor, President, Punjab Pardesh Beopar Mandal, when contacted, said the Improvement Trust authorities had given the organisation three months to clear its financial liabilities. Meanwhile, Mr Kewal Krishan Aggarwal, General Secretary, DCC, in a press note issued here, has alleged that the Punjab Science and Technology Minister, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg was trying to divide the traders of the State by announcing only octroi posts of Bathinda town would not be handed over to the contractors. This announcement was made by the minister at yesterday’s function, he added. Mr Aggarwal further
alleged that the Punjab Government had backtracked on its
promise of abolition of octroi posts made on the eve of
last general Assembly elections. He added that the
SAD-BJP combine Government was anti-traders. |
Garg’s assurance to traders BATHINDA, July 3 — Mr Charanji Lal Garg, Science and Technology Minister, Punjab, said here yesterday that he represented the traders’ class and was ready to to protect their interests. Mr Garg was speaking at function organised in connection with the brick laying ceremony of Beopar Mandal Bhavan here yesterday. Addressing the gathering he said that electricity would be supplied through hot-line shortly. He said octroi collection would not be given on “takha”. The “chungi” system was under the control of the district councils, he added. Mr Garg agreed to give Rs 50,000 for the construction of the bhavan from his consolidated fund. Mr Madan Lal Kapoor,
President, PPBM, said his main aim was to wipe out the
“chungi” system from Punjab. He said the
traders were ready to pay the taxes. He urged that the
Punjab Government should fulfil the promises made before
the elections. Akali leaders back Sekhon’s stand FATEHGARH SAHIB, July 3 — Akali leaders of the district at a meeting here yesterday appreciated the stand of Mr Janmeja Sekhon, Minister for Irrigation, on controlling corruption. Addressing a press conference, Mr Didar Singh Bhatti and Mr Rajesh Paul Singh Lalli, senior Akali leaders, demanded the suspension of Mr Bikramjit Singh Principal Secretary, Irrigation, for screening corrupt and tainted officials of the department, who had amassed crores of rupees by taking commissions. They said Mr Bikramjit
Singh was already involved in an irrigation scam and
facing a CBI inquiry into another corruption charges. His
name has been put on web site by the CBI, they added.
They said Mr Sekhon had a clean political record and when
he took the initiative to stop the menace of commission.
These leaders said Mr Bikramjit Singh had already damaged
the reputation of the government and he should resign on
his own. |
|
Beopar Mandal decries power tariff
hike AMRITSAR, July 3 —
Mr Amrit Lal Jain, president Punjab Pradesh Beopar
Mandal, said the Punjab Government had ignored the
“hue and cry” of traders, industrialists and
common man and put an additional burden on them by
increasing electricity rates of 9 per cent. Now the
Chairman of the PSEB, Mr H.S. Sohal, admitted that free
electricity given to the agriculture sector was to the
extent of Rs 735 crore. But in fact this figure was more
than Rs 1,000 crore. He alleged that the Punjab which was
facing a financial crisis was losing its revenue to keep
its rural vote bank intact at the cost of urban citizens. |
Johar’s poser to Punjab BJP PHILLAUR, July 3 — The Punjab BJP should clarify its stand on various issues, including power tariff hike, octroi and its privatisation, Sales Tax policy and free power to farmers. This was stated by former Punjab Assembly Speaker Harnam Dass Johar while talking to mediapersons here yesterday. Mr Johar asked the BJP either to take a stand on these issues or abandon the NDA alliance. He criticised the
BJP-led Union Government for its wrong stand regarding
the Autonomy Bill passed by the J&K Government. Work on voters’ I-cards begins CHANDIGARH, July 3 — Pursuant to the directions of the Election Commissioner of India, the Punjab Government today started the work of preparing photo identity cards in the state. A press note issued by the Chief Electoral Officer said this work had been taken up as a drive. A voter who does not have a photo identity card would not be allowed to exercise his franchise. The press note cautioned that this was the last time for voters to get their photo identity cards prepared.
|
AITUC rejects wage hike PATIALA, July 3 — The Punjab State Committee of the All-India Trade Union Congress, (AITUC), has rejected the decision of the Punjab Government for increasing the maximum wages of unskilled industrial workers by a Rs 156 per month after 5 years. The Committee’s
President, Mr Nirmal Singh Dhaliwal, and the General
Secretary, Mr Bant Singh Brar, termed the raise a cruel
joke on the industrial workers. The leaders called upon
the workers to launch a protest against the decision of
the Government. They threatened to launch a united
movement of all trade unions for their demand of minimum
wages at the level of Rs 3500 per month. Sadbhavna rally on July 15 BATHINDA, July 3 — The local Human Muslim Welfare Society, has decided to support the Insaaf International, a human rights organisation, which is going to organise a “sadbhavna march” and a rally on July 15. In a joint press note
issued here yesterday activists of the society, the Garib
Nawaj Club and the Young Blood Club said the members of
these organisations would take part in the rally. |
Raja Todar Mal Award CHANDIGARH, July 3— Capt Karnail Singh, who has been declared as a best Tehsildar Trainee, has been given the Raja Todar Mal Award by the directorate of Land Records, Punjab. The Punjab Government
introduced this award this year. The accompanying
citation says that the award has been given for his
excellent personal attributes and conduct. |
New light on narcotics seizure FEROZEPORE, July 3 — Narcotics worth Rs 60 crore seized by the Kapurthala police recently were routed via Palla Megha village near the Indo-Pakistan border in the district. Highly placed sources in the Police Department revealed that a riverine gap in an otherwise fenced border near the village was likely to have been used by the smugglers, who were arrested in Kapurthala on June 17. The Palla Megha village that is near the old Mohamdiwala border post is one of the several villages on the police watchlist which have earned notoriety on account of former smugglers residing there for years. The nearest gap in the border is caused by the Sutlej and the possibility of the narcotics having been smuggled from it is not being ruled out. As of now the Ferozepore police is contemplating on bringing the accused smuggler Gurlal Singh from Kapurthala on production warrant to establish facts. Although Gurlal is learnt to have named Pall Megha village as the route in interrogation, the Ferozepore police wants to take him to the village to verify the facts. While Kapurthala SSP
Iqbal Singh confirmed that the name of Palla Megha
village figured during the interrogation of the accused,
he did not elaborate citing security reasons. The issue
is likely to give rise to a row between the Punjab Police
and the BSF, as the latter has ruled out the possibility
of Palla Megha village route having been used by Gurlal.
As any intrusion from the riverine gap reflects on the
security arrangements of the BSF, the organisation is not
accepting the police version. Pleading anonymity, BSF
officials said all riverine gaps, including the one close
to Palla Megha were plugged and there was no question of
any intrusion taking place. They feel that Gurlal in all
probability has used the porous stretch of international
border in Jammu and Kashmir as route to smuggle the
narcotics. “He is apparently trying to mislead the
police by concealing the actual route of smuggling,”
a BSF official tried to reason. The BSF also claims to
have information that Gurlal is familiar with Sambha
stretch of the international border in Jammu and
misleading the police by concealing the actual route. |
‘Indian students more career
conscious’ PATIALA, July 3 — The Dean of Wisconsin University, USA, Mr Joel Rodney, while interacting with the parents of 25 students who would attend the university on scholarship next year, gave detailed information on the project for imparting instruction in communication skills, here today. Residing at Punjab Public School, Nabha, at present, Mr Rodney said owing to an excellent performance by students who had visited the university earlier, it had been decided to extend the programme to cover a larger number of students. He spoke at length on life on the campus and urged the students to return to their country after completing their studies. Later, he answered numerous queries by students and parents. Earlier, the Headmaster, Mr MS Bedi, introduced the visiting Dean and gave a brief account of the work done by the visitors, Dr Charles and Ms Nancy Norris. He also highlighted the contribution of Mr Darshan Singh Dhaliwal and his brother, Mr Surjit Singh Dhaliwal, who had initiated the scholarship scheme. He emphasised that the parents should not press for relaxation of terms and conditions for admission in the university, but prepare their wards to meet the challenge. Speaking to mediapersons
after the interaction, Mr Rodney said that Indian
students were more career conscious and fared better than
their American counterparts in academics. He added that
during an informal chat session with some of the
students, he discovered that the students were prepared
to face the challenges of going to a new country on
scholarship. |
Publication of exam results stayed CHANDIGARH, July 3 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the publication of the final result for admission to the elementary teachers training course. The directions were issued by Mr Justice N.K. Sodhi and Mr Justice R.C. Kathuria on an application stating that the result published on June 29 was not in accordance with the assurance given by the Punjab Additional Advocate-General in the Court. The applicants had
stated that candidates with higher marks belonging to the
reserved category were not declared successful whereas
the general category candidates, who were less
meritorious, were shown successful. |
B.Com (III) results out today PATIALA, July 3 —
The results of the B.Com (part III) examination conducted
by Punjabi University will be declared tomorrow.This was
stated in a press release issued by the university here
today. |
Oil cos’ move irks dealers MOGA, July 3 — The reported move of the oil companies to acquire fuel stations on lease has irked the petroleum dealers who are now knocking at the door of the Ministry of Petroleum. Resentful dealers in the region fear that the companies by acquiring petrol stations will reduce them to the level of managers. They allege that three leading oil companies — the Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum — are forcing the dealers to sign a lease agreement for 15 to 25 years so that the fuel stations at all prime locations come directly under their control. The move, according to the dealers, is aimed at preventing the dealers from changing their agencies in favour of private oil companies, which have entered the market. Seeking immediate intervention of the ministry, the Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association has charged the company officials with resorting to arm-twisting methods. The district general secretary of the association, Mr Gurmeet Singh Khokhar, has specifically charged an Indian Oil Corporation sales officer, Mr Atul Gupta, of coercion. In a signed statement, he alleged that Mr Gupta wanted him either to sign a lease agreement or store lubricants beyond the recommended capacity. However, Mr Gupta denied the charge saying that the company had only given an option to those dealers who were not able to provide adequate facilities to the customers on account of financial compulsions. The lease agreement is one way to ensure better service to the customers. By acquiring the fuel stations on lease the companies on their own provide additional services, such as drinking water and air. Denying that this was
being done to prevent private oil companies from taking
over the fuel stations, he said, “These are all
speculations. We are not facing any immediate challenge
from the private sector. Even if such a situation
emerges, we shall appoint new dealers.” He made it
clear that only the willing dealers were being asked to
sign a lease agreement. |
 |
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