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| Thursday, September 7, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
150 hurt as cops, protesters clash Punjab ‘alert to WTO challenges’ Punjab’s executive plane to fly soon BSF steps up mobility
along zero line 5 more involved in aiding ultras, says SSP |
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Bhattal denies factionalism
Rally by striking telecom
staff Monument for
BSF martyrs
Ayurveda doctors
to get better deal PUDA orders inquiry into illegal
digging Auction of octroi
post postponed
CBI explains stand on
preliminary probe Three held
for triple murder Man’s fatal ‘fall’ leads to bandh Human Rights activist
arrested
College file lost in MC office
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150 hurt as cops, protesters clash CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — History repeated itself in less than 24 hours with police and two groups of protesters clashing at the Matka Chowk here today, leaving over 60 persons, including 15 cops, injured. Unconfirmed reports put the toll at 150. The peaceful rallies by the Punjab Lok Sangharsh Committee demanding procurement of paddy by the government within the next nine days, besides by the Dodhi Union of Punjab and Chandigarh, took an ugly turn as the police resorted to tear-gas shelling and lathi charge following stone pelting by the protesters. The police initially targeted water cannons on the protesters. The demonstrators became more violent as the police started chasing the mob. The protesters scattered in all directions and at the same time kept hurling stones at the police. The police chased the protesters till the Sector 17 traffic lights. The police entered the Sector 16 Rose Garden to push out the agitators. The protesters alleged that the commandos of the Punjab police were violent. The police also ran after the protesters in the Sector 16 market. As the situation worsened a riot control vehicle fixed with tear-gas gun was called in near the lights. The Dodhi Union was protesting against the Dairy Development Board Bill. ‘‘The government had earlier issued an ordinance regarding it and today they are going to introduce the Bill in the Assembly and we are protesting against its introduction’’, said Mr Malkeet Singh, the convener of the union. He threatened that the union will hold a demonstration at Sunam (Punjab) on September 23. Earlier, hundreds of protesters of the Lok Sangharsh Committee, Punjab held a rally near the Chowk. While action was happening on the Rose Garden side of the road, thousands of protesters of the Punjab Mulazam Sangharsh Committee and the Coordination Committee of the Para Medical and Health Employees, Punjab, were sitting on the other side. Mr Ranbir Dhillon, Convener, Mulazam Sangharsh Committee, alleged their 15 members were injured in the violence. He said: ‘‘Three of our members namely V.P Bhatia, Avtar Kaur and Jagtar Singh were hit by tear-gas shells and are serious’’. Earlier in the day, thousands of Class III employees under the banner of the committee, from all districts of Punjab and Chandigarh held a protest rally in Sector 17, near Bridge market. They condemned the recommendations of the Pay Anomaly Committee. ‘‘The recommendations are not acceptable to us and we demand its immediate withdrawal’’, said Mr V. P Bhatia, of the Drivers and Technical
Employees Union. |
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Punjab ‘alert to WTO challenges’ CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — The Punjab Chief Minister and the Leader of the House in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, said today that his government was fully alert to meet the challenges posed by the implementation of the World Trade Organisation regime on the agricultural front. Speaking on a motion about the "day-to-day deteriorating economic situation on the agricultural front in the state” moved by Mr Hardev Arshi (CPI) in the Vidhan Sabha, Mr Badal said that the state government had taken steps to promote dairy farming, horticulture, floriculture, vegetables and bee-keeping as options to the traditional cropping pattern. For upgrading post-harvest technology, an agreement had been signed with certain foreign universities. The state government had pressed the Union Government to impose anti-dumping duties on wheat and milk products to protect the interests of farmers. The state government had also approached the Prime Minister and the Union Food Minister to resolve the paddy procurement issue. Earlier, he listed steps taken by his government in the past three years to improve the lot of the farmers. He said the Congress governments in the past 40 years or so allocated very meagre funds to the agricultural sector under the Five Year Plans. By putting its signature on the WTO agreement, Mr Badal said the previous Congress government headed by Mr P.V. Narasimha Rao signed the death warrant of the farming community and small-scale industrial unit owners. Both the farming sector and industry would collapse because of the WTO agreement, he added. Mr Badal blamed the Congress for all that went wrong on any front, including the agricultural, industrial and political fronts, in the state in the past 40 years. He said his government gave free power worth Rs 1150 crore in the past three years. Waterlogging was removed from the cotton belt, an insurance scheme had been introduced in the case of those holding accounts in cooperative banks and a proposal had been prepared to increase the water carriage capacity of the Upper Bari Doab Canal catering to the needs of Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts. About Rs 180 crore would be spent on this project, he added. Before starting his speech, Mr Badal had a brief argument with Mr Ravi Inder Singh. Countering Mr Ravi Inder Singh’s comments in the House, Mr Badal said that he had emerged from the Akali party’s struggle of 40 years to be the Chief Minister of the state thrice, but Mr Ravi Inder Singh did not take part in any such struggle as he was busy with his industry in Tatanagar. Mr Ravi Inder Singh had commented that he did not want to speak on the motion as he had doubts about the competence of the Chief Minister to handle an important issue relating to an agrarian crisis. Earlier, initiating the discussion on the motion, Mr Arshi said that the farming community was under debt totalling Rs 5,700 crore. There was stagnation in crop yields and the cost of inputs for various crops had gone up manifold. Giving instances, he said that in 1974 the expenditure on all sorts of inputs was Rs 425 per acre in the case of the wheat crop while in 1998-99 it had touched Rs 4,485. And in the case of paddy the cost of inputs had gone up to Rs 2,674 in 1996-97 from Rs 341 per acre in 1974. He said the Punjab Government should put pressure on the Union Government to freeze the prices of all agricultural inputs. All farmers’ loans totalling Rs 5,700 crore should be waived and the interest rate on farm loans should be reduced to 4 per cent. Chowdhary Jagjit Singh, Leader of the Opposition, supported Mr Arshi’s demand pertaining to the waiving of the loans of farmers. He said that during the SAD-BJP rule the prices of diesel,
fertilizers and other agricultural inputs had gone up. The government had given with one hand but taken back with the other through the raising of tariffs and other charges indirectly. Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal said Mr Badal should convene a meeting of the Chief Ministers of the predominantly agricultural states to create a lobby to protect the interests of the farming community. Without creating a lobby, the Union Government could not be pressurised to protect the interests of farmers. He said foodgrains should be bought throughout the year at the announced MSP for that particular year. Mr Manpreet Badal sought the diversification of the state’s economy. He said that with the increase in population, land holdings had shrunk. He emphasised the need for improving the quality of Punjab’s wheat and rice. Mr Makhan Singh, Mr Sukhwinder Singh Aulakh, Mr Satpal Saini and Mr Baldev Singh Khaiala were among the speakers. |
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Punjab’s executive plane to fly soon CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — The Punjab Government may soon get its King Air executive aircraft airborne again as a new chief pilot is expected to join the state Civil Aviation Department shortly. The aircraft has been lying grounded for a long time in the absence of an adequately qualified captain (pilot). One of the major hurdles in appointing a regular chief pilot has been the salary and perks as the rules do not permit the department to pay the wages any commercial pilot with adequate experience would draw elsewhere, both in the public and private sectors. The Punjab Government has now succeeded in persuading Capt Anjeet Singh, at present employed by the Uttar Pradesh Civil Aviation Department, to join the state Civil Aviation Department as chief pilot. Though a settlement has been reached on his wages, a final decision on certain perks remains to be taken. “It is just a formality,” a spokesman for the department said maintaining that Capt Anjeet Singh was expected to take up his new assignment very soon. The first task for the new chief pilot would be to get the “airworthiness certificate” for the plane. It would have to be test-flown and for that a certified pilot has to be in command. In the absence of a qualified pilot, the aircraft could not be test-flown, thus denying it the “airworthiness certificate”. To meet the requirements of VIPs, the state has been using a helicopter taken on lease from Pawan Hans. To use this aircraft, the government pays Rs 18.5 lakh per month as lease charges besides Rs 35,000 per hour flown. Roughly, the state has been paying Rs 4 crore a year for using the helicopter. Though the government wanted to purchase its own helicopter, which would cost anything between Rs 18 crore and Rs 20 crore, there has been some change in thinking on the subject now. An alternative has been suggested to procure a not too old second-hand aircraft for the state Civil Aviation Authority, which has been lying defunct ever since its creation some years ago. Sources point out that instead of buying one helicopter, the state could procure with the same amount of money at least three or four not too old second-hand, fixed-wing aircraft which could be commercially used besides being made available for VIP movement as and when required. Such an approach, the sources said, would make the Civil Aviation Authority not only active and functional but also profitable. At present, the Pawan Hans helicopter is also under-utilised. After paying a hefty amount as monthly retainer, the average flying time of the machine has been around two hours a day, which is much below international
norms. The rate for flying time is also being revised to Rs 40,000 an hour. The average capacity of this helicopter is eight to 10 hours of actual flying every day. |
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BSF steps up mobility
along zero line MAMDOT (Ferozepore), Sept 6 — In view of the increasing ISI threat from Pakistan, the Border Security Force (BSF) has stepped up mobility along the zero line in this part of the frontier state. The apprehensions of the BSF stem from at least two Pakistan sponsored intrusion and smuggling attempts in Gurdaspur and Khemkaran areas in the recent months. Although both the attempts were foiled by the forces, yet the BSF is not willing to take chances in manning this part of the border stretch. Besides, the reported manning of the border by the Pakistani army regulars on the other side along with the Sutlej Rangers is likely to pose some threat. As the ISI is actively engaged in narco-terrorism, possibilities are that the Pakistani army regulars, who are manning their side of the border in the garb of Sutlej Rangers, may provide cover to the smugglers. The ISI can always try to push drugs if not militants through the fencing. The stationing of the Army regulars by Pakistan is understandably an internal administrative arrangement to ensure effective hold of the military rulers on its paramilitary forces. The BSF, therefore, does not read much into this. However, considering the hold of the ISI on the Pakistani establishment an adverse possibility cannot be ruled out. Despite adequate fencing of the border, the riverine gaps caused by the Sutlej river in this sector pose a major challenge to the BSF, forcing its soldiers to intensify boat patrolling in the area. While the authorities are not willing to disclose the exact number of such gaps, citing security reasons, the BSF officers claim these have been effectively plugged to prevent intrusions. The BSF does not discount the possibility of smuggling through the fenced border stretch either. The seasoned smugglers, who are also referred to as “saap” (snakes) in common parlance, are trained enough to push the goods from below the live cobra wires installed in the fencing. One such “snake”, Gurlal Singh, who was arrested by the Kapurthala police had recently demonstrated how he had managed to bring narcotics from below the cobra wire near the Mohamdiwala area during investigation. Likewise, three persons were recently arrested in Khemkaran while trying to exchange narcotics from above the fencing. This has prompted the BSF guards to intensify monitoring of the fenced area too. A visit to several posts revealed the BSF guards are frequently clearing the grass from below the fencing. Besides, the Pakistani rangers have built some new defences near the riverine gap here, suggesting their
desperation. However, the BSF tried to play it down, saying these were not new defences and the Pakistani army had only improved them now. |
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5
more involved in aiding ultras, says SSP ROPAR, Sept 6 — Five more officials of Burail Jail besides the recently, arrested warden of the jail, Om Vir Singh, were also allegedly involved in helping Punjab terrorists lodged in the jail in maintaining contacts with their supporters outside, said the SSP, Mr G.P.S. Bhullar at a press conference held here today. He said while one of them, security guard Paramjit, who used to allow Om Vir Singh to carry the objectionable material, had been arrested, the others would be arrested soon. Explaining the modus operandi of Om Vir Singh who was arrested red-handed while trying to fax the message of terrorist, Balwant Singh, lodged in the jail to the UK, the SSP said the terrorists used to send him to their contact person with particular code words. As per the police investigation a few days before the arrest of Om Vir Singh the terrorist Balwant Singh had asked him to contact a person near Amb Sahib gurdwara in Mohali. He was told he should introduce himself as Dinesh Singh to the person who would be wearing a shirt with ‘Raj’ printed on it in Hindi. When Om Vir Singh went there an unidentified person was already waiting there handed him a mobile phone and a charger. He with the help of security guard Paramjit carried the phone in the jail complex and handed it over to the terrorist. Om Vir Singh later collected Rs 50,000 as reward for this from the same person. The SSP also said a joint operation had been launched alongwith the Chandigarh police and the Burail Jail officials to nab the other persons involved in this nexus. The police is also suspecting the involvement of some hawala agents who were allegedly supplying money from supporters of the terrorists in the foreign countries to their contacts here. The SSP expressed hope a police crackdown on this nexus very soon. |
Bhattal denies factionalism JALANDHAR, Sept 6 — Choosing to play safe after having emerged “stronger” with the Congress high command allotting the party ticket to “her nominee” and late Bhagwan Dass Arora’s wife Parmeshwari Devi, the former Punjab Chief Minister, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, has categorically said Mrs Arora was the party’s “common” candidate and denied there was any factionalism in the party. Soon after the Congress high command announced Mrs Parmeshwari Devi as its candidate for the Sunam byelection, she was projected as a Bhattal nominee and the allotment of the ticket to her was projected as the personal victory of Mrs Bhattal over the Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh, who had reportedly “tried” his best to get the party ticket for one of his “favourites” — Mr Sanmukh Singh Mokha. Capt Amarinder Singh, had, however, denied having pushed the name of Mr Mokha as the party candidate and said he had never met Mr Mokha as has been reported in a section of the media. Talking to TNS over phone, Mrs Bhattal said there was no groupism in the party. She added the allotment of the party ticket to Mrs Arora was a right step taken by the high command. “It will boost the morale of dedicated congressmen. Moreover, she is the widow of a leader who left no stone unturned for the party,” she said. Asked whether Mrs Parmeshwari Devi was her nominee and whether the allotment of the ticket to her and the recent reinstatement of one of her loyalists and PPCC organising secretary Anil Datta could be termed her victory, Mrs Bhattal quipped, “She is a common candidate and all of us have to work for her victory. There is no question of a personal victory of any individual when it comes to the interests of the party. It is a good step that Mr Datta has been taken back since he has been a good worker.” Mr Datta was expelled by the PPCC president on February 16 after the Nawanshahr byelection on the plea that he had worked against the party interests during the poll. Mr Datta had been claiming that he had been expelled by the party president without following any set procedure according to which serving a showcause notice was mandatory. His reinstatement by the PPCC president after six months has been hailed by former Punjab Minister Santokh Singh and veteran Congress leader Darshan Singh who described the act as a “right step in the right direction.” |
Rally by striking telecom
staff PATIALA, Sept 6 — In compliance with the directive of 3 federations of telecom employees namely NFTE, BTEF and FNTO, Telecom employees of Patiala went on indefinite strike today. A mass rally of the striking employees was held in front of Telephone Bhavan compound. Briefing the Press, Mr Nirmal Parshad, convener, employees co-ordination committee and Mr. S.K. Singhi, district secretary, E-III said the strike was complete in Patiala, Nabha, Samana, Patran, Sirhind, Rajpura, Amloh and Mandi-Gobindgarh. The rally was also addressed by Mr Dev Dutt, circle secretary, BTEU-Class III. Addressing the rally, Manohar Lal Sharma, circle secretary AITEU Class III, Punjab elaborated the main demand for which three federations had given call of strike. At the out set Mr Sharma said that the Minister of Communications was misleading the general public through electronic and print media that the government had accepted the demands of the striking employees. He explained that the government had not ensured financial viability of proposed corporation, disbursement of pension through consolidated funds of the government, to retain more than 50 per cent shares of the proposed corporation, to ensure service security of the employees in future and to compensate the losses which the corporation will have to incur in giving connections in rural and uneconomic areas. Mr Sharma said the strike
was complete throughout Punjab. Mr Nirmal Singh Dhaliwal,
general Secretary, PRTC, while addressing the rally
expressed solidarity with the striking employees.
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Man’s fatal ‘fall’ leads to bandh BHAGTA BHAI KA (Bathinda), Sept 6 — Shopkeepers of this town today observed a complete bandh up to 2 p.m. to express sympathy with the family members of Mr Prem Nath, who died early this morning under “mysterious circumstances.” Police sources said Mr Prem Nath died after he slipped from the round stairs of a under-construction double storeyed bungalow in the town. He was accompanying a police party to the bungalow which was raided to apprehend some culprits. Mr Harmesh Kumar, son of the deceased, told TNS that he suspected foul play but did not want to register a case as he was alone in the family. He added that nine years ago, his elder brother Jaipal was kidnapped by terrorists and his whereabouts were still unknown. Mr Gurpreet Singh Gosal, SHO, Dialpura police station, said Mr Prem Nath was not murdered and he died after he fell from the stairs and his head hit the ground. There was no light in the bungalow, he added. He pointed out that last night five boys were present in the bungalow along with a girl. One of the boys, who was out of senses entered the adjacent house of Mr Jagdish Bhadoria. The occupants of the house along with their neighbours caught and handed over him to the police. He added that Mr Prem Nath accompanied the police party when it went to raid the bungalow to apprehend the other culprits. He added that the post-mortem report would throw more light into the case which would be available tomorrow. The police has registered a case under Section 174 Cr PC in this connection. Mr S.S. Khosa, DSP, said police parties had been dispatched to arrest the boys who had sex with the girl. He added that two boys had been identified as Gora and Gurpreet. |
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Monument for
BSF martyrs MAMDOT (Ferozepore), Sept 6 — A befitting monument in memory of the Border Security Force (BSF) martyrs, who had laid down their lives to recapture the Raja Mohtam Post near here that was occupied by the enemy in 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, shall be constructed shortly. A blueprint for the monument is ready. The martyrs, including Assistant Commandant R.K. Wadhwa and seven others had laid down their lives in an attempt to recapture the post that was occupied by the 9 Baluch Regiment of Pakistan in December 1971. Commandant Wadhwa was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra and Sub Inspector Iqbal Singh and constable Ram Singh were honoured with Seva Medals. Constable Lakha Singh was also honoured with the PPMG. Significantly, Commandant Wadhwa is the only BSF officer to get the MVC in the history of the
organisation. However, given the increasing involvement of the BSF in the anti-terrorist activities in Kashmir and elsewhere, the demand for a similar honour for others is gaining ground. Since the BSF comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs, their soldiers are given awards the police is entitled to. |
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Lathi charge on farmers flayed BATHINDA, Sept 6 — The local unit of the Punjab Khet Majdoor Sabha (PKMS) has condemned the lathi charge and use of water cannons on activists of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) by the police yesterday in Chandigarh. In a press note issued here today, Mr Surjit Singh, district unit secretary of the sabha said it was improper resort to lathi charge and the use of water cannons. The authorities should have called a meeting instead. He demanded that the officers guilty of misconduct should be suspended and a judicial inquiry should be ordered into the incident. |
Lathi charge on farmers condemned BATHINDA, Sept 6 — The local unit of the Punjab Khet Majdoor Sabha (PKMS) has condemned the lathi charge and use of water cannons on activists of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) by the police yesterday in Chandigarh. In a press note issued here today, Mr Surjit Singh, district unit secretary of the sabha said it was improper resort to lathi charge and the use of water cannons. The authorities should have called a meeting instead. He demanded that the officers guilty of misconduct should be suspended and a judicial inquiry should be ordered into the incident. |
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Probe into board’s
functioning sought AMRITSAR, Sept 6 — Cantonment residents in a press note have demanded an inquiry into the functioning of the board. In a written complaint to Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi, GOC-in-C, Western Command, residents protested against the casual attitude of the board towards their problem. The complaint was signed by 47 residents. Mr Swarnjit Singh, a spokesperson for the residents, said some eight to nine months ago a new water pipeline project was launched by the board but due to non-payment of the bills the work on the pipeline had come to a
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Ayurveda doctors to get better deal PATIALA, Sept 6 — The Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, Dr.Baldev Raj Chawla said Ayurvedic doctors serving in the state would get parity in pay scales, status and allowances with allopathic doctors, according to a press release issued here toady. Presiding over a meeting with the Punjab Ayurvedic Medical Services Association(PAMSA) held at the Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh yesterday, Dr. Chawla accepted all demands in principle saying that in India 80 per cent of the total population still depend upon the Ayurvedic system of medicine. Regarding the demand of non practicing allowances (NPA), Dr. Chawla said that the NPA would be given to the ayurvedic doctors soon. As the anomalies committee has recommended the scale of Rs.7220 -11660 for the ayurvedic doctors, therefore, they were entitled to class-A gazetted status. A notification in this regard would soon be issued, he said. In response to pitiful conditions of the medicines supply to the state ayurvedic dispensaries and hospitals, Dr. Chawla said the government Ayurvedic Pharmacy, Patiala would be brought under the control of Director Ayurveda from the control of Director Research and Medical Education, Punjab. Dr. Chawla said the budget for medicines which was still 20 lakh per year for the past 30 years would also be increased. Saying that Rs 800 for medicines to each dispensary per annum was much too less, he added that 25 per cent of the total amount collected as patient purchee fee could be used by the Dispensary for purchasing medicine. Mrs Mohinder Kaur Josh, State
Minister for Health and Family Welfare said ayurvedic
doctors should come forward for the national health programmes. As ayurveda was the only system for complete
health of the new millenium, more emphasis on research and
development should be given, she said.
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PUDA orders inquiry into illegal
digging PATIALA, Sept 6 — The Punjab Urban Development Authority ( PUDA ) has ordered an inquiry into the illegal digging-up of a room in the Kaur Sahab ki Haveli, in the city, which is presently under demolition. A six foot deep and around nine foot by four foot wide trench had been discovered by a night watchman of the haveli, shortly before its demolition was initiated by a private contractor. The security personnel deputed at the haveli by PUDA had also reported the matter to the authorities . PUDA Additional Chief Administrator Arunjit Miglani told TNS that Department Superintending Engineer S P Singh had been deputed to conduct an inquiry into the entire matter and submit a report in this regard to him. The inquiry officer has already visited the haveli and taken the accounts of various people , including the private contractor entrusted with its demolition , the security personnel who were on duty when the matter came to light and the night watchman who resides in the haveli complex . A visit to the haveli reveals that the digging-up of a trench in a small room still remains a mystery . Employees talk of a treasure hunt but are perplexed as to why digging was done shortly before the ‘haveli’ was to be demolished and not earlier. The last person staying in the room, vacated it around one and a half years earlier following which it has remained vacant . However, the night watchman and other workers under the private contractor have disclosed that the digging was done by professionals who knew their job . They claim this because a perfect rectangle has been dug down to six feet and even the level of the trench is even . The digging had also been done at great speed, in a secretive manner, as none of the employees residing on the floor above the room came to know of the activity . History also lends credence to speculation about a hidden treasure . This is because the last owner of the haveli, Kaur Sahab, was forced to leave it under forced circumstances . Kaur Sahab had assisted Bahadur Shah Zafar during the mutiny of 1857 . The British demanded that the then Patiala State Maharaja, Narinder Singh, hand over Kaur Sahab, his younger brother, to them so that he could be tried for waging war against the state. The Maharaja was able to convince the British that Kaur
Sahab had developed spiritual leanings, following which
the British said he should leave the state if that was
true . Kaur Sahab left Patiala for Haridwar where he was
known as ‘Tapasviji’. His wife shifted to the
Quila Mubarak where she lived for the rest of her life,
during which she was mainly engaged in religious and
philanthropic activities, acquiring the title ‘Ammi
Chillianwali’.
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Auction of octroi
post postponed BATHINDA, Sept 6 —In a significant move, the Punjab government has ordered the local municipal authorities to postpone the auction of octroi posts which was to be held tomorrow. A section of traders and activists of political parties were opposing the auction of local octroi posts. Even, the Punjab Science and Technology Minister, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, had stated time and again that octroi posts of Bathinda would not be auctioned. Interestingly, the order has come as face-saving device for Mr Garg as yesterday evening about 16 municipal councillors at an emergency meeting had decided to privatise the octroi posts. The 16 municipal councillors also rejected the appeal of Mr Garg, who had pleaded with them not to privatise the collection of octroi posts. Mr Garg had made this appeal after the municipal council authorities inserted an advertisement in news papers regarding the auction of octroi posts. It is learnt that the government has taken the decision as the traders of the area had threatened to gherao the cabinet ministers and other administrative authorities if the octroi posts were auctioned. Official sources said the order regarding the postponment of octroi posts had been issued by the principal secretary, local bodies, Mr N.K. Arora, and it had been faxed to the local municipal council authorities. Mr S.K. Mittal, Executive Officer, MC, when contacted, said that the reason of postponment was not mentioned in the order. |
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Fire engines to have wireless system PHAGWARA, Sept 6 — New fire engines fitted with wireless system were being added to the local fire brigade. This was disclosed yesterday at a meeting of subdivisional crisis group held at JCT mill with SDM Pritam Singh in chair. All ambulances would be stationed at one place, according to official press note. The SDM asked all industrialists to use safeguards in the use of chemicals to avoid any untoward incident. The group inspected the on-site LPG storage site in JCT mill in which
about 50 tonne LPG was used, added a press note. |
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AG's office goes hi-tech CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — The Union Law Minister, Mr Arun Jaitely, inaugurated the computer section of the office of the Advocate-General of Punjab, here today. The office of the Advocate-General of Punjab had recently moved to its new building in the high court complex. It is the first office of the Advocate-General in the country to have a computer section functional. Also present at the function were the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr Justice A. Saharya, and Judges of the court.
Earlier, the Advocate-General, Mr H.S. Mattewal, explained the salient features of the office of the Punjab Advocate-General's office in his address of welcome. |
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General category
welfare body rally on Sept 14 BATHINDA, Sept 6 — The Punjab State General Category Welfare Federation (PSGCWF) had given a call for rally to be held on September 14 at Sector 17, Chandigarh. In a press note issued here yesterday Mr Shyam Lal Sharma state president, PSGCWF demanded that caste-based reservations should be stopped immediately. He alleged that caste-based reservations were serving only the “Creamy Layer” of the reserved castes and the poor of the same castes were not getting any major benefits. Pointing out the drawbacks of caste-based reservations he added that even after 52 years of the Indian Independence caste-based reservations were continuing without any debate. Juniors are becoming seniors and merit is compromised in academic institutes.
He demanded that the orders of Supreme Court of India February 10, ‘95 (Sh. R.K. Sabarawal) and of March 1, ‘96 September 16, 96. (Sh. Ajit Singh Janjua) should be implemented immediately.
The PSGCWF has given this call in association with the Bharatiya Samanta Manch and the Aarakshan Samapti Abhiyaan New Delhi.
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CBI
explains stand on preliminary probe CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — The CBI in its reply to the petition filed by Mr Kanwaljit Singh, “husband” of Harpreet Kaur, daughter of S.G.P.C. president Bibi Jagir Kaur, today submitted that his petition on which the inquiry has been entrusted to C.B.I. into the death of Harpreet Kaur, did not disclose the commission of offence of murder. Hence, the C.B.I. after receipt of his petition and other documents had to make a preliminary inquiry into the matter. Mr Kanwaljit Singh had filed a petition before Mr Justice V.M. Jain stating that the C.B.I. in contravention of the High Court order was not investigating the matter but was only holding a preliminary inquiry. He contended that for investigating the matter, registration of an F.I.R. was necessary. The C.B.I. replied that in the such cases where prima facie material was not available at the initial stage for a cognizable offence and considering the facts as revealed in the inquiry steps would be taken according to the law for registration of case or otherwise. The
preliminary inquiry was in progress and steps would be taken in the
matter to convert it into registration of a case if a cognizable
offence prime facie is made out. No criminal offence was made from the
copies and papers received from the S.P. (C.B.I.) Chandigarh, had the
copy of the order of the High Court.
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Three held
for triple murder JALANDHAR Sept 6 —The district police has solved the triple murder case near Phillaur by arresting three persons from Saharanpur and recovering a truck and looted goods worth Rs 38 lakh from them. Three mutilated bodies had been recovered from near Phillaur on August 24, later identified as that of Amarjit Singh, a resident of Pangalipur, Tarn Taran, Dharam Singh of the same village and Phool Chand of Laksar villlage, driver, cleaner and helper of an Amritsar-based truck respectively. The truck was carrying cloth worth Rs 40 lakh. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, said after investigation it was found that all three were murdered by Gurmej Singh alias Geja of Ghariala village in Amritsar, Gurjeet Singh alias Gugh of Tigri village near Hardwar and Amir Singh a resident of Rajpur near Saharnpur, who were arrested and cloth worth Rs 38 lakh was recovered from a dera near Sanghkhera village. The three accused had murdered the three for quick buck. For this purpose, they had dinner and liquor with victims and administered sleeping pills to them before killing them with iron
rods. Later, Geja and Gugh went to Saharanpur and tried to dispose of the cloth. Dilawar and Nikka, the two accused are still
absconding.
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Human Rights activist arrested AMRITSAR, Sept 6 (UNI) — The police today took into custody human rights activist Rajiv Randhawa in connection with the Punjab and Sind Bank dacoity which took place in the city last week and in which the Senior Manager of the bank and guard were killed and Rs 1.96 lakh looted. Senior Superintendent of Police Parampal Singh Sidhu while confirming the arrest said Randhawa was arrested from the city. He has been booked under Sections 392, 394 and 396 of the IPC and under the Arms Act and remanded in police custody till September 9, he added. Randhawa, who claimed to have been an associate of slain Panthic Committee member Gurbachan Singh Manochahal, was a member of the Khalra Action Committee, a human rights organisation. He had yesterday presented a memorandum to British Home Secretary Jack Straw in the Golden Temple complex in which claims of alleged violation of human rights were made against the Punjab
police.
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2 telecom officials
held for graft PHAGWARA, Sept 6 — A vigilance team led by DSP Vipin Chaudhary today arrested two local telecom officials — SDO Ajit Singh Nagi and JTO Harjinder Singh Lali — for accepting Rs 500 each from PCO owner Lakhwinder Singh of Daddar Mohalla here. |
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80 kg of poppy husk
seized, 6 held BATHINDA, Sept 6 — The police has arrested six persons who were allegedly involved in the smuggling of narcotics, including poppy husk and opium. Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, in a press note issued here today said that from the six suspects who had been identified as Lakhvir Singh, Kaka Singh, Ajaib Singh, Amarjit Kaur, Daulat Ram and Risal Singh, more than 80 kg of poppy husk and 3 kg of opium was recovered. One jeep had also been impounded in this connection. He said in another case, a police party which raided a hotel in the heart of city, arrested Bhupraj and Prinkya who were in compromising position. A case in this connection under sections 3 and 5 of the Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act had been registered in city police station. |
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Labourer killed PATIALA, Sept 6 — In a gruesome incident, a labourer murdered his roommate and threw him on the road last night. The victim was crushed by a roadways bus in the early hours of the morning. However the victim’s chest where he had been knived did not come under the tyre of the bus and the police was able to arrest his room mate today who has confessed to the crime . Police
sources said Ram Swarup , a resident of Moradabad in
Uttar Pradesh , was knived to death by his colleague and
roommate Bhajan Lal who belongs to Bedoun in Uttar
Pradesh . Both the labourers were living in a one room
house near the Rajpura Byepass on the Sirhind road. The
sources said Bhajan Lal threw the body of his roommate on
the busy Sirhind road hoping it would be crushed by a
vehicle at night and the murder could be passed off as an
accident. |
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Booked for
killing husband TARN TARAN, Sept 6 — Solving a case in which a young man Baldev Singh of Dode village falling under Chabal police station, was found dead, the police has booked the wife and three persons from her parents’ family under Sections 302, 34 of the IPC on Monday. According to the police sources, the body of Baldev Singh (25) was found around midnight on April 7. His in-laws had lodged a report with the local police stating it to be a case of
suicide. On interrogation the police found that the deceased had gone to attend the marriage of his brother-in-law Tarsem Singh at nearby Bagha village. He was murdered by his wife Sukhraj Kaur in connivance with her father Aroor Singh, brother Tarsem Singh and another relative Gurbhej Singh. |
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Two crushed
to death PHAGWARA, Sept 6 — Two migrant labourers were crushed to death under a railway engine here yesterday. They were identified as Awadh Bihari Singh and Brij Bihari Singh of Bihar and UP, respectively. They were workers in a local factory and were returning after answering call of nature in fields and crossing railway line near the local Gobindpura mohalla unmindful of the speeding engine and were run over and
killed. |
College file lost in MC office ROPAR, Sept 6 — The lost file of the Nangal Municipal Council, containing the work estimates for the building of Shivalik College of Pharmacy has jeopardised its future. The college, at present is functioning from the building of Government Shivalik College. The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has threatened to withdraw their affiliation if the management of the Pharmacy College fails to construct a building of its own. According to the norms of the council a technical college should have its own building. On receiving the directive of the AICTE, the council issued a tender worth Rs 23 lakh for the construction of a portion of the college building, in March this year. Three parties bidded for the tender and the construction work was given to a co-operative society of Anandpur Sahib. However, the society was never given orders to start the work. The college authorities persuaded the director of the local government, who directed the authorities of the council to start the building work. However, the lost life has now jeopardised the work. The Executive Officer of the council has issued a three-day notice to the authorities concerned to produce the lost file. However, sources in the council said the file had been stolen from the council office by those who were against the allotment of the construction work to the society. The council authorities are now contemplating to lodge an FIR regarding the lost file. They are also thinking of issuing a fresh tender with revised estimates. However, this bureaucratic bungling has hit the chances of the Pharmacy College to start the B-Pharma courses. Pharmacy College was started as a department in Shivalik College run by a local council in 1983. However, in 1996 the Punjab Government took over the department of Shivalik College but for the pharmacy wing. The department became an independent College of Pharmacy and continued to be run by the Nangal Council. The council at the time of takeover by the government had agreed that it would construct a separate building for the college and the existing building would be vacated for Government Shivalik College. |
Dairy board Bill passed CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — The Punjab Dairy Development Board Bill-2000 was passed today in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Mr Hardev Arshi, a CPI legislator, opposed the passing of this bill.
Introducing the Bill, Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala, Animal Husbandry Minister, said that for commercialising the dairy farming and bringing about changes in this field, the government had decided to set up the Punjab Dairy Development Board. |
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FCI to get maximum
space for storage CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — Instructions have been given to the Punjab Mandi Board, the Rural Development Department, Sugarfed, Spinfed and the State Warehousing Corporation to provide the maximum space to the Food Corporation of India for the storage of foodgrains.
The arrangements were reviewed at a meeting presided over by Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Supplies Minister of Punjab. Instructions were issued that all procurement agencies must be ready with bardana and other items required at all procurement centres before the start of the season. Among those present at the meeting were officials of the regional office of the FCI. |
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