 |
|
| Monday, July 17, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
BJP to strengthen base
in Punjab SHSAD
to confront CM on
autonomy Coming to
terms with life without kids Police
victim seeks justice Move to
overhaul vigilance wing |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
324
jaundice cases reported in Jaitu Akali
leader shielding SHO?
KMC, PHRC
to move Takht against CM
Unwanted
'temple' on govt land No paddy
for defaulting millers Suspension
of SHO sought Awareness
camps organised Buy your
phone, then pay govt Kar
seva of Pak shrines: CM to meet PM
Museums
in honour of martyrs 4 die in
anti-tank mine blast Maruti
monsoon festival
Man
dies in police custody 4
arrested in murder case One more
held for Cong worker’s death Postal
staff beat up youth Newly
wed commits suicide
Kanu
Priya top in humanities Counselling
put off Education
college to be set up in Bathinda 
|
|
BJP
to strengthen base in Punjab DHANAULA (Sangrur) July 16 — The Punjab unit of the BJP decided at a meeting of its state executive committee here today to launch a "pind gaurav" (village as pride) campaign for a year from July 2000 to July 2001 to strengthen its mass base in the rural areas in the state. Addressing a press conference after the meeting of Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, the state BJP chief, said presently the BJP was considered a party of urban people and to change this image the party had now earmarked one whole year to hold all its state-level functions and meetings in the villages in order to have close contact with the rural people and to disseminate the philosophy of the BJP among the villagers. Besides, Mr Rinwa, the Punjab Local Bodies Minister, Mr Balram Ji Dass Tandon, and the Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, were also present at the press conference. The executive committee also decided to celebrate "vijay utsav" on July 26 in all Assembly constituencies in the state to mark the country’s victory in the Kargil conflict. Torch light processions will be taken out and families of the Kargil martyrs will be honoured at special functions on that day. Mr Rinwa also said the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had agreed to constitute district-level coordination committees comprising SAD and BJP workers in all districts and the same would be formed soon. He said the BJP would send the name of its members in a couple of days for the purpose. On the issue of free power and water to the farmers, Mr Rinwa said the BJP had conveyed its views to Mr Badal and it was now up to Mr Badal to decide in this regard. Regarding the Anandpur Sahib Resolution, Mr Rinwa said he had not read this resolution so far. He said all clauses of the resolution would be studied and in case it was found that any of its clauses had similarity with the J and K autonomy resolution then it would be opposed strongly. Otherwise the BJP was also in favour of strong states to have a strong Centre, he said. The state BJP executive committee also adopted some resolutions at the meeting, which was attended by six Punjab BJP ministers — Mr Balram Ji Dass Tandon, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Master Mohan Lal, Mr Baldev Raj Chawla, Mr Swarna Ram and Mr Tikshan Sood, members of 51-member state executive committee, district presidents and general secretaries, besides special invitees. Mr Narinder Modi, national general secretary of the BJP and in-charge of Punjab BJP affairs, attended the meeting as an observer. Mr Madan Mohan Mittal said the executive committee had adopted a resolution condemning those who were trying to defame the Union Government by labelling anti-Christian. It demanded a public apology from such persons and parties. He also held the ISI responsible for creating a rift between the Hindus and the Christians by "engineering" attacks on the Christians. In another resolution, the Punjab BJP
thanked the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, for introducing
"Jan Shree Insurance" scheme for those living below poverty
line and expressed its gratitude towards the Prime Minister for
attending developmental projects worth thousands of crore rupees to
Punjab. The BJP also demanded more compensation for the farmers of
border areas whose cultivable land was beyond the barbed wire near the
Indo-Pak border in the Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepore districts. |
|
SHSAD
to confront CM on
autonomy AMRITSAR, July 16 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) decision to rake up the autonomy issue in the forthcoming session of the Punjab Assembly may cause embarrassment to the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and its alliance partner, the BJP. The crucial meeting that took place between Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president, SHSAD, and Mr Harminder Singh Gill, president, All India Sikh Students Federation, with Mr Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister, Jammu and Kashmir, may have a far-reaching impact on the issue of autonomy. If the SHSAD MLAs table the resolution in the forthcoming session of the Punjab Assembly, it would be extremely difficult for Mr Badal and his faction to oppose it as the SAD was one of the first regional parties to raise the issue at the national level. The Anandpur Sahib resolution, passed in 1973 had advocated more autonomy for States. After a two-day tour
of Jammu and Kashmir and a meeting with Mr Farooq Abdullah, Mr
Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Mr Harminder Singh Gill, claimed that they
had got a ‘good’ response on this vital subject. They drew
parallels between the autonomy resolution passed by the J and K
Assembly and the Anandpur Sahib resolution. A press note issued by Mr
Gill said Mr Farooq and Mr Tohra had decided to launch a joint
struggle at the national level on the autonomy issue. Mr Gill said it
was a matter of concern that instead of supporting the autonomy
resolution passed by the J and K Assembly, the SAD had taken an
opposite stand due to its alliance with the BJP. |
|
PPCC
decries demand for autonomy LUDHIANA, July 16 — Mr Nahar Singh Gill, general secretary, and Mrs Berjinder Kaur, organising secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, have condemned the demand for state autonomy made by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. They said this demand amounted to giving a fresh call to terrorism and separatism. In a joint statement issued here yesterday, they warned that the District Congress Committee (Urban) will protest against the ‘misgovernance’ of the Punjab Government if the electricity and water supply was not regularised. The two leaders alleged that the law and order situation in Punjab was getting worse day by day and the Akali-BJP combine was a mute spectator to it. The price rise is badly affecting the people of the state and due to rise in the power tariff industry was fighting a losing battle for its survival. The crime graph is sharply climbing and jungle law was prevailing everywhere. Mr Gill and Mrs Kaur claimed that the
people had rejected the Akali-BJP combine in the recently held Nagar
Panchayat elections and have shown full faith in the Congress Party
under the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh, President, PPCC. They
also demanded the resignation of the Badal Government. |
|
Coming
to terms with life without kids JALANDHAR, July 16 — His small world had shattered and dreams crumbled down the day his two small school going kids were brutally done to death by none other than two of his neighbours. But the loss has failed to smother his zeal for life and faith in God. Drawing strength from this Kamal Kishore, a dry-cleaning shop owner, is picking up the threads of normal life again after the devastating tragedy. He is back to his work — ironing and dry-cleaning clothes — just a month after the tragedy struck their home. Kamal Kishore and Bimla, the couple residing in the local Dhobi Mohalla, had no inkling of what the fate had in store for them as they led a happy life with their two children. It was a rude shock for them as when on the morning of June 9, the mutilated bodies of their six-year-old son, Abhishek, and nine-year-old daughter, Henna, were found stuffed in a jute bag, lying in an abandoned house in a locality in the backyard of the TV Transmission Tower on Nakodar Road. The kids were allegedly abducted and later killed by two of their neighbours, who had planned the crime to take a hefty amount from the family in ransom against the release of the children. The incident shattered the couple as they lost both kids and were rendered childless overnight. The shock virtually benumbed Bimla, who failed to come to terms with the tragedy and even refused to believe for days together that fate had snatched her "treasure" from her forever. She is yet to come out of the trauma, whereas, Kamal Kishore has apparently compromised accepted the tragedy. For him, the day starts at six in the morning now. After making tea for his ailing wife and having his bath, he opens his shop at 7.30 a.m. As usual he performs his "pooja" and chants some "mantras" before taking up his iron. The day is over at seven in the evening. "I am back to work as the
feeling of loneliness created by the absence of children had become
unbearable. And I could not see a distraught Bimla sobbing and talking
about children all the time. Moreover, one has to work make both ends
meet," said Kamal Kishore while talking to TNS. He said while he
had been making efforts to overcome the grief, memories of children
still haunted Bimla, who had failed to return to her normal life so
far. "Some times she keeps mum and at others she breaks into
tears just like a child, especially when she looks at the photographs
of both the children. So I have to spend some time with her to console
her," said a visibly calm and composed Kamal. He said he would
ensure that the killers, who had ruined his family, were hanged to
death by the court of law. |
|
Police
victim seeks justice AMRITSAR, July 16 — In an attempt to secure justice, Mr Buta Singh, an Amritdhari Sikh, who was forced to drink urine in a Batala police station held a press conference here today with the help of the Sarb Hind Akali Dal. Mrs Kashmir Kaur, wife of Mr Buta Singh, and Munshi Baljit Singh, an eyewitnesses to the event, said on the night of April 29 her husband and her son, Mr Balbir Singh, were tortured mercilessly by ASI Lakhbir Singh of Wadala Granthia chowki in Batala. The badly beaten up Buta Singh and his son were forced to drink the urine of sarpanch Sulakhan Singh given to them in a glass by the ASI. Mr Buta Singh said his other son, Mr Lal Singh, was a friend of the sarpanch. A few years back the sarpanch’s mother was murdered and Lal Singh was named as a suspect in the case. The family was trying to secure the release of Lal Singh . This was not viewed kindly by the sarpanch who conspired with the ASI to take the duo to task. The father and son were beaten up by the ASI and told to halt all efforts to secure the release of Lal Singh. Munshi Baljit Singh (police personnel of the chowki), a Radhasoami and a witness to the event, said he was deeply hurt at the plight of the victims and decided to become an approver in the case. As a result, he had lost his job. He said he had tried to intervene but in vain. When Buta Singh was released from custody after three days, he met senior police officers and apprised them of the incident. Munshi Baljit Singh became an approver in the case. He was threatened by the ASI who said he would implicate him in a case. After 10 days of the incident, the
munshi claimed he was suspended on a fabricated case. Later, the
police raided his house and forced his father to sign on some
documents. |
|
Move
to overhaul vigilance wing FEROZEPORE, July 16 — After having pushed out Bikramjit Singh, IAS, from the Irrigation Department, the Cabinet Minister, Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, is now contemplating an overhaul of the departmental vigilance wing to dig out irregularities committed during the tenure of the controversial officer. Disclosing this to media persons, here this morning, the minister said it was to tighten the noose around the corrupt officials, who had been functioning fearlessly until now. It was aimed at digging out grave irregularities committed at the behest of the ousted Irrigation Secretary, Mr Bikramjit Singh, who has now been given the charge of Home Affairs. To begin with, the vigilance check of each of the project taken up by the Irrigation Department would be made mandatory. During Mr Bikramjit Singh’s tenure most works were executed without necessary clearance from the vigilance wing, which was virtually his captive, the minister charged. Asked, if Mr Bikramjit Singh, who was transferred on his insistence, has gained for being appointed as the Home Secretary, the minister remarked that the new posting was sensitive one and considering its hold on the police and the Vigilance Bureau. He would not wish to comment on it. Only 5 per cent works used to be
examined earlier, he said. The estimates of the departmental work once
calculated would not be revised to favour corrupt contractors. To
ensure transparency in flood protection works, the Deputy
Commissioners and SDMs would be made accountable. Currently the
indicated major reshuffling of the staff was on cards as branches and
districts considered "gold mines" by corrupt officials were
over staffed. Reiterating his commitment to weed out corruption he
said any one found guilty of committing irregularities would not be
spared. |
|
324
jaundice cases reported in Jaitu JAITU (Faridkot), July 16 — Hundreds of residents of this town have become bed-ridden after being affected by jaundice and gastroenteritis. Official sources said from June 1 to July 16, about 324 cases of jaundice had been reported here. These had been brought under control. The residents, however, alleged that the number of such cases was much more. A few months ago, gastroenteritis affected hundreds of people in Kotkapura. The mixing of sewers with underground water pipes has become a common occurrence and people are being forced to drink contaminated water. This problem could not be solved by the authorities even though crores of rupees had been spent on the sewerage and water supply facilities. After the death of about 10 persons in Katkapura, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, placed a number of Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board officials under suspension. Jaundice broke out in this town about eight weeks ago. Before the authorities concerned swung into action, a number of residents were affected by it. Mr A Venu Parsad, Deputy Commissioner, said instructions had been issued to the Executive Officer (Municipal Council) to supply bacteria-free water by the super chlorination of drinking water. The DHO and the Civil Surgeon had also been directed to supply medicines and chlorine tablets to the public. Apart from it, four medical teams had been deputed to the affected areas. A special jaundice ward had been set up at the civil hospital here. He pointed out that out of the 45
samples of water taken for examination, reports of 15 were found
unsatisfactory. |
|
Akali
leader shielding SHO? FEROZEPORE, July 16 — The police has yet to nail the SHO of the city police station, Mr Amritpal Singh, in whose presence a Congress activist, Kapil Saluja, was stabbed to death on the night of July 11. While the deceased was allegedly done to death by Rajesh Mehta, brother of BJP leader Ashwini Mehta, in the presence of the SHO within the police station premises, the police is shying from initiating disciplinary action against him. Sources in the police department feel that Mr Amritpal Singh, who should have been placed under suspension for grave negligence, had merely been shifted under pressure from the higher authorities. Given Mr Amritpal’s association with top police officers, the sources discounted the possibility of any stern action being taken against him. It is learnt that Mr Amritpal Singh is related to a Zira-based Akali leader, besides district police chief Gurcharan Singh Pherurai, who appreciated the former for chasing away the assailants by firing two rounds in the air and ruled out any further action. Denying the charge that Mr Amritpal was being protected under pressure, he commented "Professional obligations are not guided by relationships". However, a section in the police department feels that the assailants were allowed inside the police station though they were carrying sharp-edged weapons this itself showed negligence by the SHO. The Congress and relatives of the deceased are annoyed with the police for "shielding" the SHO who has now been replaced by Mr J.S. Bawa. Interestingly, the new SHO is reportedly related to one of the accused in the murder. The investigating officer, DSP Rachpal Singh, said that the law would take its own course and the new SHO would not play a "partisan" role. The Congress has also demanded the arrest of SHO Amritpal Singh. Kapil Saluja was summoned to the police station on a complaint by Ashwini Mehta, who allegedly stabbed the deceased in the chest. While Ashwini and his friend Satpal Bajaj caught hold of Kapil, Rajesh assaulted him with a dagger. Sources said the three assailants were accompanied by at least 12 armed supporters, who escaped after manhandling the cops. While Rajesh has surrendered before
the police, his brother Ashwini and Satpal Bajaj are at large.
Although Congress leaders allege they are in the "safe
custody" of Lok Sabha member. Zora Singh Mann, the latter denies
it. Speculation is rife that the remaining accused are at a Chandigarh
hospital. |
KMC,
PHRC to move Takht against CM AMRITSAR, July 16 — Pressure is mounting on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to clarify his position regarding his alleged role prior to Operation Bluestar. Mr Satnam Singh Amisha, spokesman of the Khalsa Mission Commission, and Mr Kirpal Singh Randhawa, deputy chairman of the Punjab Human Rights Commission, today announced that their organisations would meet Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti tomorrow to request him to summon Mr Badal for an explanation on the issue. A deputation led by Justice Ajit Singh Bains of the PHRC and Mr Surinder Singh Ghariala of the KMC would meet the Jathedar tomorrow and urge him to summon Mr Badal to explain his role in the "conspiracy" that led to the Army action. The KMC has, meanwhile, announced that one lakh copies of the "letter" by Sant Longowal will be distributed on August 20 among members of the Sikh sangat on the occasion of the death anniversary of the sant. Mr Randhawa warned if Mr Badal continued to hold the office of chief ministership despite this, the PHRC and the KMC would distribute copies of the letter at political rallies. They appealed to all Sikh
organisations to come together and force the Chief Minister to give an
explanation on the matter. |
Unwanted
'temple' on govt land PATIALA, July 16 — A small piece of government land on the outskirts of Baradari Gardens opposite Lehal Colony has become a bone of contention between persons who want to expand a ''Shiv Mandir'' established in one room there and nearby residents who do not want this land to be encroached upon. The land, near Old Baghi Khana on the Rajbaha road, is occupied by a retired Class IV government employee who has built a two-room set on it. The "temple" has been established in one of the rooms. In June 1999 also, there was a controversy surrounding the land when the occupant had started the construction of the "temple" at the site. The Municipal Corporation had then intervened and demolished the structure. The person has again begun some building activity which has raised the ire of residents. The occupant said three idols found at the site had been in the room for long and further construction was needed to give a desired shape to the "Shiv Mandir". The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, said a temple had indeed been established in a small room at the site. He said earlier also, the administration had restrained the occupant from carrying out any construction activity in the area. Mr Bir said persons wanting the establishment of a Shiv Mandir at the site had met the Chief Minister also. He said the district administration had decided to let them cover only the space where the idols had been installed. He said only one room would be allowed to be developed. He said he had asked the Subdivisional Magistrate to ensure that these instructions were carried out properly and the police kept a watch on the site. However, members of the Charan Bagh Welfare Society do not want that construction should be allowed at the site. They said it would only give the occupant an official sanction for further construction. The President of the society, Mr Avtar Singh Brar, said a two-room house built illegally for residential purposes by a Class IV employee could not be called a temple. He said the users of the rooms even had a lavatory at the back of the structure which was being constructed. He said the area was not fit for housing a temple as well. Mr Brar alleged that the construction at the site was a blatant attempt to encroach upon valuable government land. He said if the government allowed the construction to take place, a precedent would be set, following which, other such structures could also mushroom on government property. The other nearby residents said traffic was increasing on the Rajbaha road and in future, it might be necessary to establish a roundabout near the temple site. They said any illegal structure near the road would cause a hindrance to traffic. The residents also said the district
administration should not have allowed the construction of a permanent
structure in even the one-room space. They said once a regular temple
was established at the site, it would be difficult to deny it more
space after devotees started visiting it. |
|
No
paddy for defaulting millers MANSA, July 16 — The Punjab Government will shortly take a decision on not giving paddy to those rice millers next season who have defaulted in the delivery of rice this year. The government has already decided to take action against officials found involved in facilitating the defaulters in the delivery of rice to the state agencies. Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, who was here today to preside over a meeting of rice mill owners, talking to TNS said a formal decision on debarring the rice mills from taking paddy for custom milling next season would be taken in a day or two. He pointed out that the Punjab government would not spare any miller who had defaulted in the delivery of rice. Appropriate action would be taken against them. He said if the defaulting millers wanted to save themselves from government action, they would have to deliver the rice to the state agencies or deposit the amount equivalent to the value of the total quantity of rice. Mr Mittal said the exact quantity of the ‘missing paddy’ was being worked out by physical verification of the stock of each rice mill. The exercise would go on up to July 31. The officers found negligent or involved in the case would also be held responsible. He said the government had been trying to evolve a system with the introduction of which the defaulting millers could be banned from running their mills in the next season. The minister said the Union Government had allowed all state agencies to dispose paddy, falling in the common variety (IR-108) lying unmilled after June 30, in the open market. Tenders would be floated for disposing off this particular variety of paddy. In some pockets of Punjab, the millers had agreed to buy this variety of paddy at the cost incurred by the state agencies. He said about one lakh mt of the common variety paddy was lying unmilled in Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Jalandhar districts. The Union Government would not give any subsidy on this variety of paddy to the state agencies which would dispose of their respective stocks in the manner they deemed fit. Mr Mittal said the Punjab Government
had decided to charge the millers for gunny bags at a levy rate
instead of the custom rate. This decision was provisional. The final
rate of gunny bags would be as per the instructions of the Union
Government. |
|
Suspension
of SHO sought AMRITSAR, July 16 — A day-long dharna led by ruling party MLA Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, was held in front of Islamabad police station here today. A number of leaders belonging to various political and social organisations, especially women, sat on a dharna. The protesters were demanding the suspension of Station House Officer for allegedly implicating a citizen at the behest of a former Municipal Councillor. Ms Chawla announced that if their demands were not met the protesters would launch an indefinite hunger fast tomorrow. Ms Chawla alleged that a relative of
a landlord had been implicated in a false case as the former
councillor had failed to take possession of a house due to timely
intervention of the Chief Minister. |
|
Awareness
camps organised CHANDIGARH, July 16 — The Umeed Khanna Foundation, which is doing pioneering work in providing free medical aid to the underprivileged, especially in the rural areas, organised women awareness camps in five villages — Jodhpur, Chananwal, Cheema, Manal and Mangewal — of Barnala tehsil in Sangrur district. More than 3,000 persons, including more than 1,000 women, attended the camps. Mr Arvind Khanna, chairman of the foundation, said educating and empowering women the country would not control the increasing population but also develop in a big way. The camps, which were organised with the support of the Punjab Social Welfare Advisory Board, were attended by among others, panches, sarpanches, principals, teachers, anganwadi workers and members of various youth clubs. Women were made aware of the importance of education the status of women and their legal rights and various health aspects. At the camps a free medical check-up
was also undertaken. More than 700 persons were examined and given
medicines free of cost. |
|
Snapping
a link with the past JALALABAD: When the Government decided to pull down Kothi Nawab here and build an administrative complex in its place, the old-timers had their eyes moist. To them, the building is a link with the past and to demolish it means snapping this link with history. The sprawling complex built on eight acres of land was once the residence of Nawab Iftikhar Husain of Mamdot. The Nawab who became active in politics as an important leader of the Punjab Muslim League, never returned to his estate after Partition, and the Government set up a senior secondary school for girls in a part of the complex which was then known as the "European Guest House". In fact the town of Jalalabad is a gift of the Nawab, who named it after his father, Jalaluddin. He built the town in blocks of equal size with streets and roads all crossing at right angles. The whole town stands as a memorial to the vision of the Nawab. Mr Daulat Ram Goyal, a veteran of pre-partition days, feels that the building should be preserved. "Its condition is not so bad that it cannot be maintained," he protests. No doubt, this building has received a raw deal from successive governments. It was transferred to the Education Department which ran a Junior Basic Training school in it. A primary school is still functioning in it. But the Education Department of Punjab had neither the will nor the resources to maintain this huge building. Many buildings of similar vintage are still in use at other places, and are being taken good care of. While the demolition hurts the old-timers, the younger generation seems indifferent to its fate. Mr Prem Kumar Valecha, president of the Municipal Council, feels that the building in its present state is an obsolete structure and constructing a mini-secretariat in its place will be a great convenience to the people since it will bring all government offices under one roof. All formalities for the construction
of the mini-secretariat have been completed. The land has been
transferred to the Revenue Department and if all goes well, the Chief
Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, will lay the foundation stone of the
project on July 15. |
|
Museums
in honour of martyrs JALANDHAR, July 16 — The Punjab Government has decided to set up museums at all district headquarters in the state in the memory of those killed during the Kargil operation. This was stated by the Punjab Sainik Welfare and Jail Minister, Mr Ajit Singh Kohar, while paying tributes to jawan Sukhwinder Singh at Umar Bille Village, near Nakodar, yesterday. Sukhwinder Singh had lost his life while fighting militants in the Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Kohar said the museums would inspire the youth to apprise them about the life of the martyrs. Mr Harminder Singh, SDM, Nakodar,
said there would be no delay on the part of the administration to
extend facilities to the families of martyrs. |
|
4
die in anti-tank mine blast BATHINDA, July 16 — An anti-tank mine blast at the local military station claimed four lives this morning. Army sources said the blast took place at the ammunition depot (AD) here when the unserviceable ammunition was being loaded on a vehicle. This was the fourth mine blast at the local military station in the past one year. In earlier three blasts five Army personnel, including a Major, were killed. Official sources said the killed included one junior commissioned officer (JCO), one driver and two civilian labourers. The blast took place around 10.15 a.m. An Army spokesman said the blast took place when the unserviceable ammunition was being destroyed. A senior Army official said a high-level probe had been ordered into the accident. The accident site has been sealed, he added. The post-mortem of the bodies was conducted at the local military hospital. A court of inquiry has also been instituted into the accident. A police team, including the DSP
(City), Mr Kaka Singh, and SHO, police station (Cantonment) were at
the spot when the last reports came in. |
|
Buy
your phone, then pay govt LAMBI (Muktsar), July 16 — Activists of Telephone Subscribers Sangharsh Committee, Lambi alleged that they were being overcharged by the telephone authorities and demanded a high-level probe into the issue. In a representation submitted to the Union Minister of Communication Mr Ram Vilas Paswan and other telecom authorities, the activists alleged that first local officials asked them to install their own telephone sets but later billed them for the instruments. The amount to be paid for the instruments is clearly mentioned in their phone bills while phones supplied to the department for consumers are being sold in the open market by officials. They also pointed out that the monthly rent levied on them was Rs 120 instead of Rs 75 and only 150 calls were allowed free instead of 250 despite the fact that the local exchange fell in the rural category. Apart from this the rate per call was being charged at 80 paise instead of 60 paise. They alleged that STD subscribers were not being given details of calls made by them along with their bills and their STD facility was being misused by the officials. Mr M.S. Sandhu, Divisional Telecom Engineer (DTE), when contacted, admitted that telephone sets might have sold by officials in the open market and added that he was conducting a probe into the allegation. He blamed the TRA branch, Ferozepore for erroneously billing subscribers who had bought their own instrument a second time but said no subscriber had met him in this regard. He said the STD facility subscribers could not be misused as all of them had a dynamic STD lock facility. He said only those
villages were considered rural areas for working out the rate of
telephone call whose population was less than 500. |
|
Kar
seva of Pak shrines: CM to meet PM BATHINDA, July 16 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, today said he would discuss with Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister, the issue of undertaking kar seva of historical gurdwaras in Pakistan. Mr Badal at a function in Bajak village said he would urge Mr Vajpayee to take up issue with the Pakistan Government so that the condition of the gurdwaras there could be improved. Talking to mediapersons, the Chief Minister said the SGPC was the elected body of the Sikh community and it had the right to look after all gurdwaras. He announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh for a school building in the village and said the problems of the village would be solved immediately. GARHSHANKAR: The Chief Minister who visited Mahilpur village on Sunday said that work on the Rs 50 lakh football academy there would be started soon. He announced repair work on 15 link roads in the Mahilpur constituency plus new roads. He also announced the upgradation of the local hospital. Buy your phone, then
pay govt |
|
Maruti
monsoon festival PATIALA, July 16 — Maruti Udyog Limited and Hira Automobiles Limited opened their four-day Maruti monsoon festival at the showroom of Hira Automobiles here today. The festival is being organised to mark the monsoon season and it brings a host of gifts and freebies for the customers who intend to purchase a Maruti during the mela. Citibank has offered
special schemes with gift hampers for the customers getting finance
during July. The children corner at the venue is a nice place for
entertainment of kids and every visitor has a chance to win attractive
gifts. Nearly 350 customers visited the venue today. |
Man
dies in police custody TARN TARAN, July 16 — Budh Singh (35), a resident of Dargapur village near Naushehra Pannuan, who was in police custody in Naushehra Pannuan in a case registered under Section 379 of the IPC died in police custody last night. A case under Section 304 of the IPC has been registered against ASI Jatinderjit Singh, in charge of the police post and Head Constable Pooran Singh today in Sarhali Police Station. According to the information received Budh Singh and two others were booked in a theft case and the stolen articles were also recovered by the police. The three suspects were kept in the lock up of the police post last night where Budh Singh was found dead in the morning. Sources at police station Sarhali, confirmed the custodial death. However, no one was available for comments at the local SSP’s office. The body was brought to the local
civil hospital for post-mortem where Mr Gurmej Singh, Naib Tehsildar,
recorded statements of the eye-witnesses. No sign of torture was
however, visible on the body of the deceased. |
|
4 arrested in murder case BATALA, July 16 (PTI) — The police claims to have arrested four of the 10 accused who had allegedly killed Bawa Singh and injured his son Sukhwinder Singh when they hit their scooter with a four-wheeler to prevent them from appearing in a hearing in a case at the SDM court a few days ago. The SSP, Mr Sukhdev Singh Brar, said today that the police had arrested Joginder Singh, Gulzar Singh, Jaswant Singh and Satnam Singh while their six accomplices — Ranjit Singh, alias Rana, Sarwan Singh, Inder Singh, Ajaib Singh, Heera Singh and Bakhtawar Singh — were missing. Mr Brar said there had been a dispute
between Bawa Singh and Ranjit Singh over a water channel and the
police had deposited their weapons as a preventive measure to avoid
any untoward incident but Ranjit Singh and his men allegedly hit the
scooter on which Bawa Singh and his son were going near Kandila
village on the Batala-Sri Hargobindpur road two days ago. |
|
One more held for Cong worker’s death FEROZEPORE, July 16 (PTI) — The Punjab police arrested one person in connection with the murder of Congress activist Kapil Saluja in a police station in the presence of the station in-charge last week. Talking to PTI here today, Deputy Superintendent of Police (City), Mr Rachpal Singh, who is handling the case, identified the arrested person as Suresh Kumar Tuli. Tuli is an alleged associate of the three prime accused — Rajesh Mehta, Ashwani Mehta (of the BJP) and Satpal Bajaj who stabbed Kapil Saluja to death in police station on the night of July 11. Rachpal Singh added that police raiding parties had been sent to find seven other associates of Rajesh Mehta. He denied knowledge of rumours that
Ashwani Mehta and Satpal Bajaj had been admitted to the PGI on medical
grounds. |
|
Postal
staff beat up youth FATEHGARH SAHIB, July 16 — Resentment prevails among the residents of Sirhind against the alleged beating of Pardeep Kumar by the Sirhind Post Office staff. Residents held a meeting at Sirhind today. Pardeep Kumar had gone to the post office to get some documents registered. The dealing clerk told him that the stamps pasted on the envelope were not adequate, Pardeep Kumar reportedly started abusing the clerk. This led to his being beaten up by the post office staff. According to Mr Ajay Paul Singh, SHO,
Sirhind, a case has been registered against Pardeep Kumar on the
complaint of the post office staff under Sections 353, 186, IPC,
today. |
|
Newly
wed commits suicide PHILLAUR, July 16 — A newly married woman, Kulwinder Kaur (19), committed suicide by setting herself on fire at Jandiala village last evening. Her father, Gian Chand of Paurwa village has alleged foul play in the death of her daughter. According to him Kulwinder’s in-laws were demanding Rs 10,000 as dowry, which he could not afford due to his poor financial position. Kulwinder was at her in-laws house when she sprinkled kerosene and set herself on fire. The police has registered a case
against Buta Ram, the husband, Karnail Ram, father-in-law and Kailasho,
mother-in-law of the deceased. |
Kanu
Priya top in humanities SAS NAGAR, July 16 — The much-delayed results of the humanities and vocational streams of the senior secondary school examination of the Punjab School Education Board were declared here today. Barring the first three positions, the board authorities could not provide the merit list as had been made available in the case of the science and commerce stream results declared in June last. The topper in the humanities stream, Kanu Priya of GCAM College, Abohar (Ferozepore), who secured 405 marks out of a total of 450, has been placed ninth in the joint merit list of the science, commerce and humanities streams. The positions of the second and third candidates of the humanities group, Sonia Sharma (404 marks) and Gagandeep (402) — both of Sanmati Vimal Jain Senior Secondary Public School, Jagraon (Ludhiana) — in the joint merit list were not declared by the authorities. The Controller of Examinations, Ms HK Brar, said a total of 1,19,874 regular and 75,427 private candidates appeared in the humanities group. In the case of regular candidates, the award sheets of 1,19,444 candidates had been received and of these 61,593 candidates passed the examination. In the case of private candidates, 59,650 candidates had passed and 13,327 were placed in the compartment category. She said there were cases of late results (RL) in each district, but did not specify the number. She said there were at least 50 per cent RL cases in Moga due to the unavailability of award sheets. The average pass percentage in the humanities and vocational groups was 51.56 and 22.17, respectively. The pass percentage in the examinations held last year was 54.21. Of the total of 1,81,731 candidates who appeared in the General English subject only 87,951 passed, bringing the pass percentage to 48.40. The lowest pass percentage of 29.28 was in the case of computer applications. The Controller said at least 570 candidates opted for an additional subject and 1,880 candidates sat in the examination to improve their marks. Interestingly, only one candidate appeared in the French paper. In the vocational stream at least 7,474 candidates appeared. Replying to a query, she said the results had been delayed due to a number of reasons. She said the detailed marks certificates (DMCs) of the regular candidates would be despatched to the institutions concerned within seven days. The DMCs of the private candidate were being despatched by post. The result gazette would be available
at the district textbook depots by tomorrow afternoon. |
|
Counselling
put off AMRITSAR, July 16 — The postponement of sports category counselling for B Tech programmes for sportspersons at eleventh hour has raised many eyebrows. The candidates, including national players who reached Guru Nanak Dev University here on July 7, were surprised to known that the counselling had been postponed indefinitely. The sportspersons alleged that the counselling was postponed to accommodate wards of some "VIPs". When contacted Dr R.S. Bawa, Registrar, and Mr B.R. Batra Coordinator of CET-based admissions, claimed that the counselling had to be postponed as representations by the candidates to include ‘C’ and ‘D’ categories. However, the varsity authorities have failed to announce a fresh date for the counselling even after nine days of the postponement. On the other hand, the Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, has fixed July 20 as the date of counselling. The national level sportspersons who want to get admission in Guru Nanak Dev University allege that the varsity authorities have been deliberately delaying the counselling so that they could "accommodate" the wards of "VIPs". In case the national players get
admission in Punjab Technical University and deposit the fees it would
enable the candidates of other categories to get admission in Guru
Nanak Dev University. |
|
Education
college to be set up in Bathinda BATHINDA, July16 — Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala, said the university had acquired land in Bathinda to establish a College of Education and the government had also given the no objection certificate (NoC) for the college. Mr Ahluwalia who was here last evening as the chief guest of the annual award function organised by the Bathinda Management Association (BMA) said Bathinda Municipal Council had given land for the construction of college building and the foundation stone of the college would be laid in the first week of August. He added that the government had given a sum of Rs 25 lakh for the construction of the college building. Mr Ahluwalia said a full-fledged university would be established at Talwandi Sabo where latest disciplines like information technology, business management, religion studies would be taught. He added the Punjabi University Gurukanshi Regional Centre would be shifted to the new college. He added that the non-resident Indians (NRIs) had also been asked to contribute for the noble cause. Mr Ahluwalia said the issue of the review Constitution would be discussed among the intellectuals of different universities at a two-day seminar to be organised in Punjabi University on July 20-21 and the report of the seminar would be given to the government. When asked whether the university would start Oriental Training (OT) course and Bachelor of Arts (BA) after doing Giani course, he said a committee had been set up and a decision would be taken after the committee submits its report within 15 days. While speaking on the theme of "Managing Educational System in the New Millennium", Mr Ahluwalia said Information Technology had improved the standard of living but not the quality of life. Mr Ahluwalia said inter-disciplinary
approach should be adopted at the university level where students
could develop their personality and could learn about other
disciplines. He said the teacher should visit different industries to
understand the problems being faced by professionals so that the
students could be made to understand these things and positive results
could be achieved. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
