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| Saturday, October 28, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
SIT to probe blast Shopkeepers
save lives Badal condemns blast, announces Divali, Vishvakarma Day celebrated Deny vote to
migrants: Khalra Committee
Amarinder ‘re-elected’ in secret deal |
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SAD, BJP
to expand base
Traffic problems multiply ‘Black’
Divali for PNFC workers
5,000 applications pending Shop gutted in
fire Drive against hike in medical charges Cattle loading rules being flouted Arrest of SI stayed Jathedar for
Sikh detainees’ release Witnesses in Giani crash case evasive Malta tragedy: 13 chargesheeted Ramoowalia alleges harassment of youth District Legal Services Authority Christians unhappy with delegates' list
90 kg poppy husk seized
College staff
meets minister
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SIT to probe blast BATHINDA, Oct 27 — A special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted by the state police authorities to find out the reasons of the bomb blast that took place in the Bathinda-Rewari passenger train near Raman Mandi yesterday afternoon, leaving two dead and about 34 injured. The police authorities are keeping all options open and are not ruling the fact that bomb blast might be the act of terrorists belonging to different states, including the group headed by Abdul Karim. Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, who heads the SIT, said that other members of the team included SP(O), Mr Kapil Dev, DSP(R), Mr Jaspreet Singh Sindhu, In charge, anti-goonda staff and In charge, CIA staff. The SIT had been formed to assist the General Railway Police to make proper investigations into the bomb blast, he added. A forensic team from Chandigarh had taken samples from the site of the blast. Preliminary investigations showed that the explosive used was low grade. Dr Jain said that statements of all injured had been recorded to develop information regarding the blast. Mr Jaspal Singh, District Magistrate, today ordered a magisterial probe into the train bomb blast. He said that Mr Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Additional District Magistrate (ADM), would hold the probe and submit his report within one month. |
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Shopkeepers save lives RAMAN MANDI (Bathinda), Oct 27 — Even as the forces inimical to India tried their best to mar the festival of lights by exploding an improvised device in the Bathinda-Rewari passenger train, near here yesterday, humanity finally triumphed with the local residents saving valuable lives and giving timely medical care to the needy. Immediately after hearing the news of the bomb blast, the residents of this sleepy town belonging to all sections of society descended on the railway platform to shift the injured to nearby hospitals. The shopkeepers, who were doing roaring business on the occasion of Divali, downed their shutters immediately and ran towards the hospitals for arranging medicines and other things for the injured. Most chemist shops located near the Civil Hospital here supplied medicines free of cost. Most of the four-wheelers owned by private persons were pressed into service for shifting the injured to hospitals at Bathinda and Ludhiana. Even the rural people, who had come here for buying sweets and crackers for Divali, involved themselves in the relief and rescue operations. Mr Mahesh Bindal, President, Local Sahara Welfare Club, Mr Vijay Goel, President, Sahara Welfare Club, Bathinda, volunteers from other social organisations and other citizens were repeatedly pleading with the doctors to take their blood for saving the injured. The private doctors of the town, bordering Haryana, did not lag behind and rushed to the local civil hospitals with their staff and equipment to provide medical help to the injured. In 1997, the residents of Bathinda and nearby villages had united to provide relief to the victims of the Lehra Khana train bomb blast, which left about 35 dead and many maimed. Yesterday, the volunteers of various organisations took charge of each injured themselves and looked after till their kin arrived. Some of the volunteers also donated blood. Mr Ravinder Kumar, who was travelling in the train and escaped unhurt, told TNS that a pall of gloom descended on the town and hardly anybody lighted candles or burst crackers. |
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Badal condemns
blast, announces CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 (UNI, PTI) — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh
Badal, in a statement issued here today condemned the Bathinda blast incident. Mr Badal has directed the Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, to undertake all relief measures, arrange best possible free treatment to the injured and transportation of the bodies of the victims to their respective native place. He announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in this tragedy. The Punjab Power Minister, Mr Sikander Singh Maluka, accompanied by the Akali Dal MLA, Mr Makhan Singh, and officials are camping at the Bathinda Civil Hospital, where 16 of the injured have been admitted. The state
DGP, Mr Sarabjit Singh, told PTI here last night that the blast was apparently caused by high-velocity Divali crackers “atom bombs” as jute covering of such crackers was recovered from the blast site. It was a low-intensity explosive and there were no projectiles, he said. No group had so far claimed responsibility for the explosion, a Northern Railway spokesperson said in New Delhi. Meanwhile, Northern Railway General Manager
S.P. Mehta has directed tightening of security measures at all railway stations in the region. |
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Divali, Vishvakarma Day celebrated AMRITSAR: The festival of lights was celebrated with traditional zeal and religious fervour here. Lakhs of devotees thronged the Golden Temple and other temples in the city to pay their obeisance. The Golden Temple was beautifully illuminated and fireworks were held in the evening. People had dip in the holy tank and offered prayers inside the sanctum sanctorum. The traditional display of historical and religious equipment was held on Thursday morning inside the temple. Gold gates along with jewellery were displayed for two hours. JALANDHAR: More than 2,000 families of police personnel, martyred during combat operations against terrorism in Punjab were given Divali gifts at their homes by police officers across the state. Jalandhar (Zonal) IGP, Mr J.P. Birdi, visited these families staying at the Police Lines. He was accompanied by DIG Suresh Arora and SSP Gaurav Yadav. Mr Birdi said while most police martyr families had been rehabilitated with employment to one eligible member each. Those who were either not eligible at the time of the death of police personnel or failed to avail of the rehabilitation package had been asked to apply for government job by February-end. PHAGWARA: Four cases of fires and six cases of burns were reported here. A shed was gutted near Harkishan Nagar when a cracker fell on scrap and other material lying in an open plot. However, there was no major loss. Another fire broke out in a mandi at Banga. Meanwhile, six persons sustained minor burns due to cracker bursts. Meanwhile, over one lakh devotees, mostly industrialists and artisans on Friday paid obeisance at the Vishvakarma Temple. A function was organised on the Banga road by the Vishvakarma Dhiman Sabha here. Mr Gurminder Singh Matharu, President, All-India Ramgarhia Federation, chaired the function. Punjab PWD Minister Joginder Singh addressed the congregation. HOSHIARPUR: Ms Mohinder Kaur Josh, state Minister for Health and Family Welfare, distributed sweets, fruits and crackers at a juvenile home and Home for the Aged in Ram Colony here. The minister also gave Rs 5,000 to them from her own pocket for Divali celebrations and announced a grant of Rs 25,000 from her discretionary fund. Meanwhile, Vishvakarma Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm here on Friday. A function was organised by artisans and employees of various factories at Shakti Temple where a havan was performed and prayers offered to Lord Vishvakarma. A “langar” was also served on this occasion. TARN TARAN: Divali gifts were given to families of police martyrs here. |
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Deny vote to
migrants: Khalra Committee AMRITSAR, Oct 27 — In a strong statement the Khalra Mission Committee has called for the removal of the names of migrants from Punjab’s voter list. Mr Surinder Singh
Ghariala, in a statement said that inclusion of the names of migrants will
cause a law and order problem as the electoral balance will, if unchecked tilt in favour of outsiders. He said this would clearly dilute the importance of Punjab
suba, which was created as a Punjabi speaking area. He said, an agitation would be launched on December 10 after a representation to the Chief Election Commission Mr MS Gill. |
Amarinder ‘re-elected’ in secret deal MANSA, Oct 27 — Although the date for organisational elections to the Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee are still to be announced the top leaders are reported to have agreed to distribute the seats among themselves rather than rely on the ballot. According to sources, the entire Punjab Pardesh Congress executive body including its president have been “renominated as part of the deal. The sources said while Captain Amarinder Singh and the PCC executive has been retained half-a-dozen district presidents have been replaced. In a meeting of the party high command at Imperial Hotel, Delhi attended by Mr Moti Lal Vora, Ms Ambika Soni, Captain Amarinder Singh, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Mr Jagmeet Brar, Mrs Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder and some other leaders a final list of nominees was drawn up. In it the Bhattal and Brar factions have been able to retain their hold in their home districts and adjoining districts but on the whole Captain Amarinder Singh has the upper hand. Sitting MLA Harmander Singh Jassi, Mr Surjit Singh, Mr Raghbir Singh and Mr Gulzar Singh have been nominated as district presidents of Bathinda, Faridkot, Muktsar and Kapurthala districts respectively, whereas Mr Ram Paul Dhaipi will continue as president of Mansa district. The main aspirants for the Mansa seat were Mr Sher Singh Gagowal, Ex-Minister Punjab, Mr Dalbir Singh Kaleke Ex-Municipal Commissioner Mansa, Mr Gurdev Singh Kharaksinghwala, and Mr Narotam Singh Chahal, Ex-president, Municipal Council, Mansa. Mr Sher Singh Gagowal, is considered to be very close to Mrs Bhattal. The president of the district Ropar unit has been changed while it is learnt that the remaining district presidents will remain in their posts. Predictably, party workers, who had done a lot of work in enrolling members to the party are feeling demoralised, and have expressed surprise at the “drama” in Delhi. The demand of 33 per cent reservation for women has also been belied. Although some new women members have been inducted mostly to please senior leaders. In Mansa district the Amarinder group has the upper hand. Mr Kirpal Singh Makha, ex-Minister from Jhunir block, Mr Sant Narain Muni from Sardulgarh, Mr Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi from Bhikhi, Mr Malkiat Singh Birmi from Budhlada, Mr Gurdev Singh Dhillon from Mansa (Rural) and Mrs Dalbir Singh Kaleke from Mansa (Urban) have been inducted. Mr Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi of Sardulgarh and Mr Malkiat Singh Birmi of Ludhiana who do not belong to any faction, do not even find mention in the voter lists of their respective blocks. Former president, Mansa district youth Congress, Mr Balwinder Singh Kaka, Municipal Councillor told this correspondent that all three groups had adjusted their own men in the party organisation, while loyal party workers, have been totally ignored. He said if the ‘elections’ were to be held in such a ‘dramatic way’, what was the need for initiating the whole process and for involving party workers. “Even the formal election date has not been announced, but the informal election is over!” Mr Kaka said. He demanded that the party high command clear the actual position to restore confidence amongst party workers. |
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SAD, BJP
to expand base CHANDIGARH, Oct 27— While the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has plans to expand its base in the urban areas , its coalition partner in the Punjab Government, the BJP is trying hard to spread its wings in the rural areas. After victory in Sunam and Nawanshahr byelections, the SAD leadership has felt encouraged to do so. In the urban areas of Sunam and Nawanshahr constituencies, the SAD candidates got more than the expected response. In earlier election, the SAD candidate used to trail in Sunam town, but this time the SAD candidate performed better. It was because of the wholehearted support extended by urban voters, especially traders and commission agents to the SAD-BJP candidate. Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President of the SAD, had purposely made Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, the State Law Minister, who belongs to the Aggarwal community, in charge of the byelections at both the places. This strategy of Mr Badal paid dividends. Mr Garg established contact with the various urban sections of society. The Aggarwal community has a very strong presence in a number of cities and towns in Punjab. Mr Garg operated through his relatives to make the business community vote for the SAD-BJP candidate. After the Sunam byelection, the party pondered over the strong recommendation made by the certain Sehajdhari Akali leaders to open the doors of the SAD for the traders and businessmen in the urban areas. As a result the Sehajdhari wing was set up in the party. Senior Akali leaders feel that the top leadership should become active in the urban areas. The only way to make punjabiyat stronger is to ask the trading community to join the SAD, said a senior Akali leader. He said when the business community was prepared for a direct relationship with the SAD, the party should have no hesitation in striking such a relationship. Punjab’s electorale has three main segments — urban, rural and Dalits. The Congress used to win the elections with the support of a combination of urban and Dalit voters. However in the past years Dalit voters, to a large extent and urban voters, to some extent were weaned away from the Congress party by the BSP and the BJP, respectively. The SAD-BJP alliance won the last Vidhan Sabha elections because it got a tremendous response from the urban areas. However, it lost the last Lok Sabha elections in a big way as the urban voters,who were annoyed with it because of its indifferent attitude towards the urban areas after the Vidhan Sabha elections, did not vote for it. The SAD wanted to concentrate on the urban votes in the next election and bringing back the farming community to its fold. The farming community had found the SAD-BJP Government wanting on various issues. The SAD leadership is wellversed in the art of raising emotive issues relating to the farming community. The BJP leadership in Punjab after initial statements against free power to farmers, has become mild on the issue. The president of the Punjab unit of the BJP, Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, has made several statements in the past months to woo the farming community in the state. Even on the paddy issue, the leadership of the BJP took a firm stand in support of the paddy growers. The BJP has its presence in rural areas of
Pathankot, Dera-bassi-Ghanur and Abohar-Malout belt. It has tried to bring important persons at the village level to its fold. It has often claimed that its members
include a number of sarpanches and panches. |
Traffic problems multiply BATHINDA: Traffic problems here have multiplied over time with an increase in the number of vehicles coupled with the indifferent attitude of residents and practically no control of the police on the situation. The lack of proper parking slots and the haphazard parking of civilian and Army vehicles on the busy main roads have led to traffic jams and accidents on many occasions. A resident said that it was difficult to find any motor vehicle in the city which had not met with a small accident. Most of the important roads are under repair and there is one-way traffic on these. Parking of vehicles, including cars, taxis and even Army trucks, on these only add to the chaos. Stray animals and the lack of proper streetlighting, apart from the callous attitude of road users, are among the factors which have led to an increase in the number of accidents. The Mall, which leads to the railway station, the sports stadium and a number of educational institutions, was under repair for some time. On this road, too, residents face parking problems. The office of the Deputy Commissioner had issued orders that there should be no parking on The Mall and in other “key” areas of the city, but in practice these are rarely implemented. An area on The Mall, which was earlier known as the “Milky Bazar”, is now being developed as a business hub by a private builder. This has led to the blocking of the road in that area. The authorities concerned have done little to seriously tackle the traffic problem and residents feel it is time they took effective action. |
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‘Black’ Divali for PNFC workers ROPAR, Oct 27 — It was “black” Divali for about 500 workers of the Punjab National Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd (PNFC), Nangal, who have not been paid salaries since September 1999. The workers whose fate has been left undecided by the Punjab Government since the closure of the plant about two years ago did not have any money this year to celebrate the festival. The PNFC unit here became operational in 1985 at a cost of Rs 65 crore. It was installed keeping in view the easy availability of ammonia in the adjoining unit of the NFL. It was designed to produce ammonium chloride fertiliser and soda ash as co-products. However, after 14 years, despite functioning at full capacity, the PNFC stopped production about two years ago due to the withdrawal of the subsidy on the ammonium chloride fertiliser by the government. It rendered one of the products of the PNFC unviable in the market vis-a-vis other urea fertilisers were still subsidised. With the closure of this unit, about 1,500 families of the area lost their source of income and an equal number of truckers rendered jobless. Though the BIFR directed the closure of the PNFC from March 1 this year, no decision has been taken in this regard yet. The workers who are awaiting retrenchment dues come daily to the plant to mark their attendance and are forced to sit idle for the entire day. Ironically, the Punjab Government had announced a pay hike for them in January this year, in spite of the fact that they have not been paid anything since the past one year. About a month ago, the workers had requested the district administration to sell off the equipment in the plant to pay off their dues. They alleged that equipment worth crores was decaying, and if sold on time, the money could be used to pay retrenchment benefits to the workers. The district administration has, however, expressed its helplessness in the matter. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr G.S. Grewal, said the bankers of the PNFC had attached the property of the plant due to which they could not take any decision regarding it. The case had, however, been sent to the state government with recommendations, he added. The workers alleged that they were being forced to stay in the plant without work or pay. |
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Shagun scheme GURDASPUR, Oct 27 — As many as 5,000 applications under the Shagun Scheme are pending in the district. The District Planning Board had been requested by the District Statistical Officer to release Rs 2.65 crore in this regard, but in vain. The situation regarding scholarships to female students belonging to Scheduled Castes and studying in primary schools which is to the tune of Rs 500 per month is also bleak. The District Statistical Officer requested the release of Rs 85 lakh in this regard at a meeting of the Board on October 23 but again in vain. As many as 17,000 beneficiaries under the scheme were to be given the scholarships. To add fuel to the fire, the Punjab Government has imposed an admission fee of Rs 20 per student for matriculation examination from this year which was exempted earlier. About two lakh students are likely to be adversely affected in this regard. An admission fee for students appearing in plus two examination has also been introduced. The sources said the old-age pension and housing schemes for the homeless belonging to Scheduled Castes had also not been effectively implemented so far. Adequate grants for implementing the schemes had not received adequate funds since the inception of the present SAD-BJP government in Punjab. A part of the funds which were released during the period in this regard had not been properly utilised due to lack of interest by the officials of the Social Welfare Department. The sources said students of class I to X belonging to Scheduled Caste had been distributed 1,05,458 books to female students during the current year so far. |
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Shop gutted in
fire PATIALA,
Oct 27 — One shop was gutted in a fire in Samana, 25 km from here, yesterday allegedly due to an incense stick which caused a short circuit. In Patiala city there were reports of small fires breaking out last evening. However, all of them were controlled and no damage was caused due to the fires. In Samana, Maha Lakshmi Electrical Shop was gutted in the fire which allegedly caused a loss of Rs 5 lakh last evening. One fire engine was rushed to Samana from here to tackle the fire. The engine took nearly two hours to control the flames. However, the fire did not spread to nearby shops due to timely action taken by neighbourers . In Patiala, three incidents of fire were reported. A fire broke out near Anardana Chowk where dry grass in front of a shop caught fire when it was ignited by a cracker. However, it was brought under control by timely action by the shopkeepers. Another incident was reported from a furniture shop in Sirhindi Gate. Here also a “rocket”, which landed in the shop, was responsible for igniting a fire. A small fire broke out near Airconditioned Market in Adalat Bazar which was put down by nearby residents. Meanwhile, the district police has taken action against those selling crackers unauthorisedly. The police registered 53 cases in the district yesterday in this regard. As many as 55 persons have been arrested . District police chief Harpreet Singh Sidhu said 191 gunny bags and 170 boxes of crackers had been seized. He said action had been taken
against those selling crackers unauthorisedly.
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Drive against hike in medical charges BATHINDA, Oct 27 — The Insaaf International, a voluntary organisation, has launched a campaign to press the Punjab Health System Corporation (PHSC) authorities to withdraw the hike in the charges of medical care for power people in the hospitals manned by it. Dr Vineeta Gupta, general secretary, Insaaf International, in a press note issued here today said an appeal had been made to various international organisations to send protest letters to the President and the Executive Director (India) of the World Bank and the Managing Director of the PHSC in this connection. She pointed out that the PHSC was created to improve the health care system, increase coverage and effectiveness of services at primary and secondary levels and serve the needy. But in reality, it had resulted in the denial of the right to health to the poor. She alleged that the World Bank was systematically privatising health care in the Third World countries by funding the commercial health care institutions in the name of removing poverty and this move had exposed the designs of both the World Bank and the government. She pointed out that on the one hand the World Bank and the government were trying to project that these institutions had been helping the poor in providing medical care at subsided rates and on the other hand the poor had been eliminated from the list of the
beneficiaries. |
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Cattle loading rules being flouted FEROZEPORE, Oct 27 — A number of incidents of loading of cattle from various parts in Punjab are coming to the fore despite of the restrictions levied by the government and district administration. These cattle are being sent to states like West Bengal from where these are allegedly smuggled to Bangladesh and other countries for slaughter. Some people come to northern states especially Punjab, and buy old and sick cattle for municipal pounds and local cattle mandi’s at a premium. False certificates are then obtained stating that the cattle have been inspected and that they are healthy and capable of producing milk and ploughing. As per the Animal Rules, 1978, notified under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, no cattle can be transported across the state boundaries without following a procedure to prevent cruelty to them. The transportation of cattle from the North Bihar and West Bengal continues via trains. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Railways, a permission from the District Administration is must before loading the cattle on trains but more often than not, these instructions are flouted brazenly. Recently a case of booking of livestock in full block rake for Howrah in West Bengal from Makhu Railway station in Ferozepore on October 12 was reported. According to Mr Amarnath Bhambri, Secretary, Gau Raksha Samiti, the cattle have been sent for slaughter on the pretest of agriculture purposes after getting fake certificates from a veterinarian. In a letter to the railway authorities, he has alleged that fake certificates were obtained from the district civil authorities who have already imposed a ban upon the booking of livestock through a railway division circular which was not cancelled and the booking was done on violation of the same. The samiti has demanded action against people who have kept the administration in dark and managed to get 3,000 animals loaded in a block rake of 30BCX for Howrah where a slaughter house exists. Moreover, water and first aid facilities are not made available in coaches loaded with animals which are prescribed under the rules. When contacted, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S. Kulbir Singh Sidhu, said he had already imposed stay on the export of cattle. |
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Arrest of
SI stayed CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Mr Justice K.S. Garewal, Vacation Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, has stayed the arrest of Sub-Inspector Manjit Singh against whom FIR No. 203 under Sections 362, 365, 368, 340, 344, 345, 346, 347,
387, 389, 166, 167, and 120-B IPC had been registered at Nurmahal police station in Jalandhar district. Staying the arrest, Mr Justice Garewal observed: “Notice to State of Punjab for October 30. Meanwhile, arrest of the petitioner in FIR No. 203, registered on September 6 last, shall remain stayed. Put up for motion hearing before the Bench on October 30”. The petitioner had alleged that the FIR against him had been registered at the behest of Nurmahal MLA Gurbinder Singh Attwal as he had refused to listen to the MLA when he was posted as SHO at Nurmahal police station. The FIR against SI Manjt Singh had been registered for keeping two persons, Surjit Singh alias Nikku and Taru of Mau Sahib village in illegal custody on September 15 last. |
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Jathedar for
Sikh detainees’ release AMRITSAR, Oct 27 — In a significant development, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar Akal Takht emphasised the need for releasing innocent Sikh detenus languishing in various jails of the country. In his message in the name of Khalsa panth on the occasion of Divali, Jathedar Akal Takht has said it was the duty of the Sikh community to look after innocent Sikhs, detained in jails and efforts should be made to secure their release. Giani Joginder Singh said Divali is being celebrated by Sikhs as ‘Bandi chhor divas’ as the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Singh secured the release of 52 kings along with his own freedom from Gwalior fort. He also appealed to Sikhs to look after the families of “martyrs”. Citing the example of Bhai Mani Singh who was butchered to death by the Mughal rulers, Giani Joginder Singh urged Sikhs to adopt a practical approach and maintain Sikh traditions. Only by doing this could the panth maintain its distinct separate identity. He pointed to various problems confronting the Sikh panth and urged that these be solved by sitting around the table and unitedly. |
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Witnesses in
Giani crash case evasive ROPAR, Oct 27 — Law is a bottomless pit is an adage from The History of John Bull. This seems certainly the case in India where not just the common man but a case involving an ex-President drags on for almost six years with no decision in sight. Giani Zail Singh, a former President, died in a car crash on November 29, 1994. According to the FIR lodged in sadar police station Ropar, on the statement of Assistant Sub Inspector Ram
Krishan, the crash occurred due to the rash driving of the driver of a tip truck which rammed the ex-president’s car. The
ASI, who was on VIP duty near village Mianpur on the Anandpur Sahib-Chandigarh road alleged that Tarsem Lal was driving the tipper on the wrong side very fast and did not change direction in spite of signals from the pilot jeep of the ex-President’s convoy. The tipper rammed the Ambassador car of the ex-President. In the accident the driver of the ex-President lost both his legs, the personal security officer sustained multiple fractures and an MLA Basant Singh, who was sitting in the back suffered an arm fracture. The ex-President, who sustained internal injuries, succumbed to them at the
PGI. A case under Sections 337, 270 and 338 of the IPC was registered against the driver on the same day. Even the case has dragged on in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ropar with the prosecution unable to produce supporting evidence in court. It had listed 43 witnesses which included on duty police officials, PGI doctors who attended the ex-President, his personal security guards and others present at the accident site. However, most of them have proved untraceable delaying a decision. A police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity said that many of the witnesses, which includes PGI doctors and the security personnel of the ex-President have been transferred to other places and many have even shifted residences. Due to this they have not been able to serve summons upon them for all these years. Meanwhile the inordinate delay in the decision has converted the crash into a nightmare for the accused driver, Tarsem Lal and his family, who live in a one room kucha house in Nahar village in Kiratpur Sahib. Narrating his woes to this correspondent he said he has been going to court once or twice a month since the past six years. As a consequence he has not been able to hold down a permanent job. This has “shattered his economy”. The defence council of Tarsem Lal blamed the state authorities for the delay and said it was unfortunate that even a case involving the ex-President languish for years. The maximum possible sentence in the case is two years. However, the delay has been a virtual six-year sentence for
Tarsem. |
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Malta tragedy: 13 chargesheeted HOSHIARPUR, Oct 27 — Thirteen accused in the Malta boat tragedy were chargesheeted in a court at Sarkooza in Italy on Wednesday, according to a message received at the probe mission office here. In a letter to Dr Balwant Singh Khera, Chairman of the probe mission, Mr Yogesh Gupta, an Indian Embassy officer in Rome, has sought an immediate supply of the list of the drowned persons and statements of all 22 eyewitnesses of the tragedy. Mr Gupta pointed out that the Indian Government or any other source had not supplied any list of the 170 Indians who got drowned in the tragedy or any other information relating to the tragedy to the court in Italy. Mr Khera met officers of the Foreign Ministry and the CBI in Delhi on Tuesday and asked them to send statements of the eyewitnesses to the authorities concerned in Italy and Greece. He also approached the Joint-Director of the CBI for this purpose. |
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Ramoowalia alleges harassment of youth MOGA, Oct 27 (PTI and UNI) — Former Union Minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia today charged the Centre with denying passport and visas to Punjabi youths on the pretext of links with militants. “Large number of youths were denied visa and passport facilities without any reasonable cause despite their having never been involved in militant activities,” the Rajya Sabha Member said here today. He urged Members of Parliament to take up the issues of these youths who had gone abroad for economic reasons and were now not being allowed back in the country. The former minister suggested a team of all-party MP’s go to these countries and make an on-the-spot study of their cases. He also suggested formation of “public comittees” to scrutinise ‘black lists’ and list of suspected militants in Punjab. |
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District Legal Services Authority CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 (UNI) —The Punjab Government, after consulting the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, has established legal services authorities for all 17 districts and 33 subdivisions of the state which will organise Lok Adalats and promote the cause of legal aid to the poor. According to a government notification, each district as well as subdivisional-level legal authority will have three members. The District and Sessions Judge will be the chairman of the District Legal Services Authority. The government has also notified names of all 51 members of the District Legal Services Authority which are as follows. Amritsar: Satpal Dang, Dr Injderjit Kaur and Laxmi Kanta Chawla. Bathinda: Raj Gupta (lecturer) Brig Bant Singh (Retd) and Kartar Singh (sarpanch). Faridkot: Yadevinder Singh, Inderjit Sharma and Prem Gill. Fatehgarh Sahib: Surinderpal Singh, Kulwant Singh Menta and Dhanwant Kaur. Ferozepur: Kanta Bhola, Bhagat Ram Darshan and Dr Parveen Goyal. Gurdaspur: Dharam Chand Attari, Inder Pal Kaur (lecturer) and Bal Kishan Mittal. Hoshiarpur:
K.C. Saini, Dr B.G. Goyal and Ashaa Chaudhary. Jalandhar: Parminder Beri, Suman Sareen and Sudhir K. Puri. Ludhiana: Dr Saroop Chand Gupta, Kuldeep Kaur and Rubby Fernandez. Kapurthala: Shanta Kapoor, Rattan Lal Jain and Harcharan Singh. Mansa: Ashwani Kumar, Jatinder Kumar and Renu Goyal (advocate). Moga: Bir Bhan Garg, Amar Singh Dhiman (journalist) and Sneh Jain. Muktsar: Gyani Thakur Singh, Paras Ram Baggi and Sarvesh Gowri. NawanshAhr: Parvesh Kumar, Ved Maini and Indira Singla. Patiala: Prof Harbax Singh, Shiv Raj Singh Ghuman and Kulwant Kaur. Roopnagar: P.C. Saini District and Sessions Judge (Retd), R.S. Parman and Kamaljit Kaur. Sangrur:
Brinider Pal Singh Grewal, S.K. Jain and Shivinder Kaur Mann. |
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Christians unhappy
with delegates' list CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Convener of the minorities cell of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Salamat Masih, has criticised the PPCC leadership for not electing any delegate from the Christian minority. He said today at least 15 lakh Christians were living in the state, a majority of them in Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Ferozepore districts. He said though the Congress was a secular party, not a single Christian had been given representation in the electoral college of the state PPCC. He urged the party leadership to give adequate representation to the Christians in the list of delegates. |
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Medical subsidy for cops JALANDHAR, Oct 27 — The district police has launched, “suvidha”, a unique pilot
project for the welfare of police personnel to enable them to get different medical tests conducted at a private concern at subsidised rates. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, in a press note released here today said that the police personnel who were not able to afford costly medical tests like CT scan, MRI, ultrasound and others will benefit from the arrangement with city based Mann Diagnostic & Scanning
Centre. |
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Infantry Day celebrated FAZILKA, Oct 27 — The Army celebrated Infantry Day here today. The celebrations commenced with laying wreaths on the memorial to the soldiers, who had died in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, by Brig SKS
Rana, VSM, at Asafwala village, 7 km from here. The memorial was raised by local residents to commemorate the sacrifices of the jawans who had saved Fazilka from falling into the hands of Pakistan. Rich tributes were paid to the martyrs by Col
L.B.S. Gill, Col N. Venugopal and Col B.N. Kumar. They recalled the sacrifices made by soldiers of the First Infantry who had repulsed Pakistan’s onslaught 52 years ago on this day in Jammu and Kashmir under the leadership of
Lieut-Col Diwan Ranjit Rai. |
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OBC status
for Ramgarhias soon MOGA, Oct 27 (PTI) — Ramgarhia Sikhs in Punjab will soon get the benefits extended to backward classes. This was stated here today by Punjab Education Minister Tota Singh on the occasion of Vishwakarma Day at Ramgarhia Bhavn. |
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Freedom fighter dead PHAGWARA, Oct 27 — Freedom fighter Kartar
Chand, a close associate of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, was cremated on Tuesday. Executive Magistrate Rajiv Verma and municipal councillor Pawittar Singh were among those who attended the funeral. |
90 kg poppy husk seized JALANDHAR, Oct 27 — The district police claim to have busted a gang of poppy husk smugglers with the arrest of six persons and recovered 90 kg of poppy husk from their custody. Mr Gurav Yadav, SSP, stated here today that a police party had laid a naka at Lohan Nangal chowk today morning and intercepted an Ambassador car. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of three gunny bags containing 90 kg of poppy husk. Its occupants Kesar Singh, Nirmal Singh, Bhajan Singh, Rama, Udo and Lalit Kumar were immediately arrested by the police party. |
College staff
meets minister AMRITSAR, Oct 27 — The staff of SLN Ayurvedic College held a meeting with Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, Health Minister, following the suspension of its three senior staff members by the college management owing to the indefinite strike by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) teaching and non-teaching staff since October 17. The Minster was apprised of the situation and the staff was assured of an early solution. The staff also postponed its agitation for tomorrow following the intervention of the minister, who is also a member of the Durgiana Education Foundation. Meanwhile, the Durgiana Education Foundation (DEF) in a press statement alleged that the agitating staff misbehaved with Mr Om Parkash Aggarwal and Mr Laxmikant Sridhar. The National Students Union of India (NSUI) has condemned the alleged high-handedness of the DEF towards the striking staff of SLN Ayurvedic College. |
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