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| Thursday,
November 9, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Jathedar alleges police role in drug trafficking Drug addicts turn into AIDS patients 2 cops arrested in custodial death case Party posts: PPCC leaves it to Sonia Census operation from Feb 9 Protest about FIR against PSEB official |
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Congress councillors boycott MC meeting Sukhbir reels off govt’s achievements
Notice to Excise Dept
on liquor warning A fort in state of decay HC: cancel bail of rape accused
Interference in women panches’ work to end
ADC told to be present in court on Nov 13
Warning to employee leaders
4 CEs in race for BBMB post Half-day holiday on Gurpurb eve BKU (E) activists
block traffic
Agents to be asked to build godowns Ramoowalia’s NOC for
construction cancelled Five women hurt in mishap Resentment over truck fare hike 40 lakh grant for Shiromani Awards Prem Singh Prem dead Punjabi writers from
abroad welcomed
Prevent paddy straw burning, DCs urged Panchayat poll on Nov 26 PSEB employees hold rally Thermal plant staff
hold rally
Swan river to have bridge Computerisation plan Objections to voters list invited
Markfed inspector held for graft Suicide by farmer: 2 arhtiyas held 17 officials booked
for graft
ASI dismissed in corruption case Transporters booked Agents accused of cheating farmers Undertrial’s escape:
2 cops booked Dowry & bigamy case: 5 summoned 2 held for screening
blue movies
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Jathedar alleges police role in drug trafficking ROPAR, Nov 8 — “The drug trafficking in the state was being carried out in connivance with the Punjab Police,” alleged Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar, Takht Shri Kesgarh Sahib, while speaking at a community policing seminar organised by the Ropar police in Anandpur Sahib, today. He alleged that the drug trafficking was openly continuing at Majari village near Anandpur Sahib and at Kiratpur Sahib, but the local police was not taking any steps to curb this menace. Many youth of the area have taken to drugs due to their easy availability at the local chemist shops, the Jathedar added. The DGP, Punjab Police, Mr Sarabjit Singh, talking to the newsmen later at a press conference, however, refuted the charges made by the Jathedar. He said, the duty of checking the produce of the illicit liquor and the sale of the narcotics, was with the Excise Department and the drug enforcement inspectors. But now since the matter had been brought to his notice, he would take it up with the SSP Ropar and the Himachal police under whose jurisdiction the village fell, the DGP added. The DGP was at Anandpur Sahib today to supervise a medical camp, a carrier counselling programme and the community policing seminar organised by the Ropar police. These programmes are being organised as part of effort of the Punjab police to improve its public image. While speaking at the seminar, many speakers representing the local public, lamented the poor image of the Punjab Police. They alleged that most of the common people were afraid of approaching the police for help. Later while replying to a query regarding Nishan Singh, the DGP said that he had been marked absent from duty for the period he eluded the CBI, he, however, declined to comment if Nishan Singh would be suspended after being chargesheeted by the CBI. Mr J.P. Virdi, IG, Jalandhar Range, Mr P.S. Sandhu, D.I.G., Ludhiana Range, Mr GS Grewal, Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, Mr G.P.S. Bhullar, SSP, Ropar and Mr DJ Singh, Deputy Director, Police Training College, Phillaur, were among others present on the occasion. The decision to fill the 188 posts of the Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP) lying vacant in the Punjab Police would be taken by the state government, the DGP said, when asked to comment about the Punjab and Haryana High Court direction to the Punjab Police to fill the posts by January 15.The high court, in an interim order on a petition of certain Punjab Police officers led by the SP Mohali, had directed the Punjab Police that an appropriate seniority list of the rank of the inspectors should be settled and the persons who were eligible for the promotions to the ranks of DGPs should be promoted. |
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Drug addicts turn into AIDS patients BATHINDA, Nov 8 — Rajesh Kumar (name changed), a resident of Ferozepore district has been fighting against all odds to keep alive after he contracted AIDS following the sharing of a needle while taking injections of morphine for a ‘kick’ with his associates. Twentyeight-year old and only earning hand of the family of five, Rajesh is now repenting on his deeds and trying to get rid of this deadly disease. He was referred to Ferozepore civil hospital, from the local Red Cross De-addiction Centre when he came here for treatment. Shailinder Singh (name changed) who had been sharing a needle with his friends for the past five years for injecting morphine in his body for fun, was shocked to learn when the doctors in the local Red Cross De-addiction Centre told him that he was suffering from AIDS. Now he has been finding it difficult to save himself from imminent death. To avoid social stigma to his associate, he refused to disclose their names. He only disclosed that he had been sharing the needle with 10 persons and taking four morphine injections daily. Dr Mehboob Singh Sran, Project Director, Red Cross De-addiction Centre, said that despite publicity about the ill effects of drug abuse, there had been no let-up in the rising number of addicts. He added that reporting of drug addicts who had become full-blown cases of AIDS was a serious matter. He said that such patients had been coming from three border districts, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepore, of Punjab. The victims of
addiction belonged to all age groups and all sections of society. Apart from it, more and more farmers of the border districts have been shifting to smack from poppy husk and opium as its
availability had become easy. About 16 cases of smack addiction had been reported so far in the centre. He pointed out that number of addicts who came here for treatment always kept their
identity a secret as they feared that they might be suffering from AIDS or would emerge as HIV positive cases. Mrs Raj Gupta, Chairperson, District AIDS Control Organisation (DACO), when contacted, said that five to 10 per cent of total drug addicts had become AIDS patients or HIV positive cases due to sharing of needles for injecting intoxicants in veins. On the other hand, the district police authorities have launched a campaign to free Bathinda district from drugs and in this connection the police had been holding de-addiction camps in the district in collaborations with the non-governmental organisations and other voluntary organisations. |
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2 cops arrested in custodial death case MALERKOTLA, Nov 8 — The police here has arrested Inspector Ram Kumar and Constable Dilber Khan in connection with the murder of Balbir Singh, a nephew of Mr Sarwan Singh
Phillor, Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, Punjab, here yesterday. According to information, the two were arrested due to pressure from the family of the deceased. Two constables Hans Raj and Bhim Chand had already been arrested, while three of the seven suspects were still at large. These included Head Constable Bhadur Singh and Harbhajan Singh and Constable Sukhwant Singh. Balbir Singh, a
Dalit, died of internal injuries in police custody here on September 2. An FIR was lodged by Mr Resham Singh, an uncle of the deceased, stating that his nephew was watching some youths playing cards at the local tempo union office when some policemen raided the spot. The boys began to run and in the melee his nephew was arrested. Later, the policemen allegedly thrashed him which resulted in internal injuries to him. Mr Phillor told mediapersons that his nephew had been implicated in the gambling case. A case had been registered under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC against Inspector Ram Kumar, Head Constables Bhadur Singh and Harbhajan Singh and constables Dilber Khan, Hans Raj and Sukhwant Singh. All seven had already been suspended. Relatives of Balbir Singh had staged a dharna and blocked traffic at the Jarag chowk here on October 21 in protest against the delay in the arrest. The police claims that the remaining accused were on the run, but the relatives of the deceased charged the police with shielding the accused. |
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Party posts: PPCC leaves it to Sonia Patiala, Nov 8 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today authorised Party President Sonia Gandhi to nominate the president of the state unit and office-bearers of the PPCC and members of the All-India Congress Committee from the state. Talking to newspersons here , Capt Amarinder Singh said the pradesh Congress members, who held a meeting yesterday, had decided to leave the nomination of the state unit president, besides other posts from the state to the Congress President. He said there was complete unanimity on the issue among the PPCC delegates, with 193 of the 209 members signing the resolution in this regard. He added that few members could not sign the resolution due to various personal reasons but held the same view. Capt Amarinder Singh said the PPCC members had also handed over a resolution endorsing the candidature of Mrs Sonia Gandhi for the presidentship of the party in the forthcoming elections to central leaders Natwar Singh and Manmohan Singh, who had come to Chandigarh yesterday. He said the elections of the state units had now been delinked from the Congress President election. He said the central election committee had now decided to allow the state returning officers to determine dates for the election to the state unit, if the need arises. |
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Census operation from Feb 9 SANGRUR, Nov 8 — Mr Inderjit Singh, Director, Census Operations, Punjab, today said that nearly 50,000 enumerators and supervisors would visit about 42 lakh houses for covering an estimated population of about 2.40 crore in the state during the second phase of the census operation to be held from February 9 to February 28, 2001. He was addressing a district-level conference-cum-training programme for census officers here. In this programme, Mr Anirudh Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner; Mr G.K. Singh, ADC; SDMs, Tehsildars, BDPOs, Naib-Tehsildars and Master Trainers participated. The Director further said the first phase of the census houselisting operation, had been successfully completed in Punjab from May 3 to May 24 last. He said in Sangrur district nearly 4,000 enumerators and supervisors would be deployed in the second phase of the census
operation. The Director, emphasising the role of census officers, stressed on the close monitoring of census work at all levels for the successful completion of this time-bound operation. This was essential as the provisional population totals for the country as a whole and its constituent states and UTs were to be released in published form on March 26, 2001, he added. He stated that the listing of houseless population would be done on the night of February 28, 2001 followed by a revisional round from March 1 to March 5, 2001. To accomplish this task, whole machinery of the census organisation and the state government had been put into action, he added. Mr Anirudh Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner, said that there would be three different rounds of training for the enumerators and supervisors in order to ensure quality of data collection. He also said that a significant number of enumerators and supervisors would be drawn from among women. He also made it clear that the work, done by them, would be reflected in their annual confidential reports
(ACRs). |
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Protest about FIR against PSEB official FEROZEPORE, Nov 8 — Registration of a criminal case against an Executive Engineer of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) here has evoked protest by PSEB employees and the Opposition parties. The Executive Engineer, Mr Manjeet Singh Rajput, had been booked under the Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act and various sections of the IPC by the cantonment police. The case had been registered on a complaint by Mr Joginder Singh, alias Jindu, a member of the local cantonment board, who accused Mr Rajput of using derogatory and casteist remarks. Although no arrest had been made so far, the police had started investigation into the matter. A section of the PSEB employees, however, alleged that Mr Rajput had been crucified for annoying ruling party leaders during a drive against power theft in the city. While Mr Rajput said that a motivated case had been registered against him at the behest of Mr Joginder Singh, whose relatives had been asked to remove illegal “kundi” connections, Mr Joginder Singh charged Mr Rajput of using derogatory words, when he had tried to stop him from harassing civilians on the pretext of checking power connections. Mr Rajput told TNS that the trouble arose, when the PSEB staff raided Khatik Mandi area to remove illegal “kundi” connections and were roughed up by Mr Joginder Singh and his supporters. He claimed that he had rushed to the rescue of his staff and did not abuse anyone. He alleged that a motivated case had been slapped against him for ‘annoying’ Mr Joginder Singh, who wields political influence in the area. However, Mr Joginder Singh charged Mr Rajput of using derogatory words, when he tried to prevent the PSEB staff from harassing residents of Khatik Mandi on the pretext of a raid. Mr Joginder Singh lamented that being a member of the cantonment board, he had every right to intervene, as and when the cantonment residents were in trouble. He charged the PSEB staff of delaying the provision of meter connections to the residents and forcing them to draw electricity through “kundi” connections. Denying the charge of using his political influence in getting a case registered against Mr Rajput, he accused the PSEB staff of trespassing into houses of civilians during odd hours on the pretext of raid. Earlier, supporters of Mr Joginder Singh had gathered outside the cantonment police station to press for the registration of a criminal case against Mr Rajput. The police station was virtually under siege, as nobody was allowed to enter it for sometime. The situation was normalised only after the case was registered. Condemning the police action against Mr Rajput, an All-India Shiromani Akali Dal leader, Mr Karnail Singh Bhawra, accused Mr Joginder Singh and his supporters of resorting to “goondagardi”. |
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Congress councillors boycott MC meeting BATHINDA, Nov 8 — Four municipal councillors belonging to the Congress today boycotted a meeting of the municipal body convened to pass a resolution to approve auction of octroi posts to private contractors and other items. Interestingly, four BJP councillors, too, did not attend today’s meeting despite the fact that SAD-BJP alliance ruled the municipal body. Mr Jagroop Singh Gill, Municipal Councillor and a senior Congress leader, in a press note issued here today, said that he and other councillors of his party boycotted the meeting as the Punjab Government had failed to fulfil its promise of abolishing the octroi from the state. He added a committee constituted, for developing alternative modes of revenue for the municipal councils by abolishing the octroi, under the chairmanship of Punjab Local Bodies Minister, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, had also failed to give its report so far. He said a local minister, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, had said he would resign from the Punjab Government if the octroi posts were auctioned. He alleged the SAD-BJP alliance government of Punjab had been befooling the people of state by making false promises. He added that money collected from the people in the shape of various taxes was being wasted about the undue publicity of achievements of the Punjab Government. He added that those municipal councillors belonging to Congress were Mrs Paramjit Kaur Brar, Ms Rajni Sharma, Mr Gulab Mahant apart from
himself. |
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Sukhbir reels off govt’s achievements FARIDKOT, Nov 8 — Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, former Union Minister of State for Industries, yesterday addressing public meetings at Kotkapura and Baja Khana and Chak Kalayan villages after assuming the charge of the General Secretary of the SAD, sought the cooperation of the people to strengthen the SAD-BJP alliance for the next five years. He said during the past four years, the ruling combine had spent thousands of crores on various development projects like the construction and repair of more than 15000 km link roads,
setting up of science city at Jalandhar, Marshal Academy at Anandpur Sahib and similar other projects. Mr Badal promised uninterrupted power supply in the rural areas by installing 33 kv to 66 kv grid substations within the next two years. He said a nursing college and law classes would be opened from the next academic year here. A proposal for setting up focal point on the Faridkot-Kotkapura road had also been finalised, he added. He inaugurated a bus stand building and presided over a sports mela at Baja Khana and Chak Kalayan, respectively. Later talking to mediapersons, Mr Sukhbir Singh said a special campaign would shortly be launched to rejuvenate the party. Regarding the election of Bibi Jagir Kaur as the president of the SGPC for the next term, he said the issue would be decided after the return of the SAD President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, from his Europe trip. |
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Notice to Excise Dept
on liquor warning SANGRUR, Nov 8 — Mr Dusvir Singh Dalee, a local advocate, who is also a joint secretary of the District Bar Association has urged the top Punjab Excise authorities to withdraw a warning being displayed by the local cable operators that Rs 1000 required to be deposited with the Excise authorities in case liquor was to be served in marriage parties and other functions to be organised in marriage palaces and other such places. In a legal notice served on the Financial Commissioner (Taxation), Punjab, and others, Mr Dalee has also mentioned that besides this warning, the Excise authorities are also displaying that public is bound to purchase liquor only from the local liquor contractor. Mr Dalee in the notice has alleged that such instructions are against the public interest and against legal rights of the citizens of Sangrur, and hence illegal. He has also stated that the Excise Department cannot force the public to purchase liquor from the local
licences as purchasing of liquor from any shop in Punjab is the legal right of a citizen of Punjab. Mr Dalee has also mentioned that with the issuance of such instructions the local contractors on their own disturb the smooth functioning of marriage parties/family get-togethers. Mr Dalee demanding public apology from the Excise authorities, has demanded withdrawal of the warning/instructions in a month, failing which he will be compelled to file a civil/criminal case against the Excise authorities. |
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A fort in state of decay BAJWARA (Hoshiarpur): Decades of apathy on the part of the government and residents has led to the gradual decay of the historical Bajwara Fort in this village, which has the distinction of having been witness to the legendary performances of singer Baiju Bawra. The indifference towards this monument has been such that only a part of the huge structure exists today, with no conservation efforts in sight even now. Baiju Bawra had settled here permanently after coming to India from Ghazni and had become a disciple of Swami
Hari Dass in whose memory a fair was held regularly in the village till a few years ago. The village, which was once as big as any present-day township, has a rich history. It is said that Sher Shah Suri, who is known for creating the vital infrastructure of roads in northern India, was born at this place. It is also associated with the great Chinese traveller Huen Tsang. Although nobody in the village knows much about the fort, which earlier had seven minarets, it is said that it was built by Sansar Chand, Raja of Kangra, who took control of the village in 1801. Prior to this, the village was a part of a Sikh misl under Sirdar Bhup Singh Faizalpuria. It again went to the Sikhs with the forces of maharaja Ranjit Singh attacking and defeating Sansar Chand’s men in the early 1820s. The process of destruction of Bajwara is said to have been initiated by Raja Todar Mal, who had got furious as the residents had not accorded a warm welcome to him on his maiden visit to it. He reacted by dividing it into 12 parts before handing it over to the Pathans. However, the fort began crumbling in the early part of this century and neither the British Government nor the authorities concerned after Independence took any pains to ensure its conservation. According to Satpal, a resident, parts of the fort started caving in, particularly during the monsoon, in the early seventies and as a result only two of the seven minarets remain today. He said during the past two decades he had never seen the officials concerned coming to the village and making efforts to save the fort. During a visit to the fort this correspondent found that the remaining two minarets and other parts of the structure were about to crumble. Besides, persons living around the fort and some colonisers had encroached on land on which the other minarets had stood. |
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HC: cancel bail of rape accused CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — Mr Justice S.S. Nijjar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a suo motu notice for cancellation of the bail granted to a co-accused in a 14-year-old minor girl’s rape case. Counsel for Ms Asha Rani, wife of Naresh Kalu of Rampura Mandi in Bathinda district, contended that she be granted bail as a co-accused, Sham Lal, had been granted bail by the District and Sessions Judge, Bathinda and adjourned Asha Rani’s bail plea to November 23. The accused Sham Lal was assisting the construction work of the house of his brother-in-law along with Mukhtiar Singh. It is alleged that Ms Asha Rani brought the minor girl to Sham Lal and Mukhtiar Singh who allegedly abducted the girl and Mukhtiar Singh raped her. An FIR has been registered against the accused. Mukhtiar Singh has reportedly accepted his guilt and had offered to marry the girl, but the Judge held that this made no difference. Mr Justice Nijjar while taking offence against minors as a serious matter observed that the courts have to adopt a protective attitude to ensure that children are not sexually abused when they are left in the care of persons other than parents or legal guardians. Sexual exploitation leads to a traumatic life of the victim. |
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Interference in women panches’ work to end CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — An unusual request by elected women sarpanches that the Punjab Government intervene to enable them to work independently of the influence of the men in their families while discharging official duties, has been accepted. The issue was raised by women sarpanches — Paramjit Kaur, Dhawant Kaur, Hardeep Kaur and others — at a two-day seminar on training of the elected representatives of the panchayati raj system, which concluded at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) , here today. The Principal Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayats, Mr J.S. Kesar, informed the participants that the matter had been discussed with the Minister and order to the effect would be issued tomorrow. He said men from families from which women sarpanches and panches had been elected were often seen visiting the panchayat samiti and zila parishad offices for various kinds of odd jobs in the name of elected women panches. “Henceforth unless a woman sarpanch or a panch herself took up any issue concerning official matters, men would not be entertained on behalf of any village panchayat”, he added. The women participants, among the 35 sapanches from four blocks, greeted the government decision while men sarpanches appeared unhappy. The seminar, according to the CRRID Director, Mr Rashpal Malhotra, was sponsored by UNICEF. While a Punjab Minister, Mr Surjan Singh, inaugurated the seminar on Tuesday, the Minister of Finance, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, presided over the concluding function today. A member of the Planning Commission, Mr Kamaluddin Ahmed, attended the seminar to understand the problems and requirements of grassroots-level institutions. |
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ADC told to be present in court on Nov 13 CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice Amarbir Singh Gill and Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal today directed the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Fatehgarh Sahib district to be present in the court on November 13 in connection with the election of the President of the Mandi Gobindgarh Municipal Council along with the record of the proceedings of the council’s meeting by which it elected its new President, Mr S.S. Bhabhri, on November 6. The High Court, earlier, on a writ petition filed by the council’s Vice-President and officiating president Ms Madhu Bansal had directed the ADC, Mr A.S. Sandhu, to hold councillors’ meeting to elect the new President but not to declare the result till further orders of the poll. The petitioner today alleged that in spite of the orders having been passed in the presence of both parties, the ADC declared the result of the election. The petitioner alleged that the ADC under the presence of the Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, who was present in the office of the council during the meeting did not comply with the orders passed by the high court. |
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4 CEs in race for BBMB post CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 —Intense lobbying is going on for the post of the Member (Power) in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). The post fell vacant following the retirement of Mr S.P. Sharma early this week. As this post is to be filled from the Punjab quota by the Union Power Ministry, a panel of four names has been forwarded to the authorities concerned by the Punjab State Electricity Board through the state government. Punjab is one of the partner states in the BBMB. Informed sources said that the names of four Chief Engineers (CEs) had been sent to the Union Power Ministry. They are Mr Labh Singh Deol, Mr S.C.Mittal, Mr Amrik Singh and Mr M.K.Vashist. The names will go to the Cabinet Committee on Appointments (CCA) for selection. Engineers in the PSEB wanted that the name should have been approved before the retirement of Mr Sharma. They said that there was no rationale behind keeping the post vacant for some weeks after the retirement of Mr Sharma. |
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BKU (E) activists
block traffic MANSA, Nov 8 — Activists of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta) blocked traffic at Bhaini Bagha village on the Bathinda-Mansa main road due to the slow procurement of paddy, non-lifting of the procured paddy and no payment of the procured paddy after October 17, 2000, by the state paddy procurement agencies. The road traffic was blocked today in the morning. Mr V.K. Meena, Subdivisional Magistrate, Mr Balwinder Singh Romana, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mansa, Mrs Balbir Kaur, Executive Magistrate, Mansa and Mr Chhabra, Depot Manager, Markfed, reached the spot and assured the union leaders about removal of their grievances till tomorrow, but the union leaders refused to withdraw their agitation till the total paddy was procured, lifted and payment made. They alleged that problem persisted due to shortage of gunny bags. The block president, Mr Gora Singh, showed 15,000 bags of unsold paddy and 80,000 bags procured, waiting to be lifted to the press members. Later, the activists organised a rally on the road and the rally was addressed by Mr Ruldu Singh, senior vice-president, Punjab, Mr Nirmal Singh Khokher, Mr Ram Singh, Bhaini Bagha, Mr Bhola Singh and Mr Sher Singh and said that this agitation would continue till total settlement. The Deputy Commissioner, Mrs Raji P. Shrivastva, could not be contacted as she was not available and was on tour to other paddy procurement centres of the district. |
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Agents to be asked to build godowns CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — The Punjab Agriculture Minister, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, said here today that in case of the detection of the sale of spurious pesticides and insecticides in any part of the state, the Chief Agriculture Office concerned would be held responsible for it. Warning against the sale of spurious pesticides and insecticides, Mr Badal said instructions had been given to all concerned to take adequate steps in this connection. He said at the rural foodgrains procurement centres, the state government would ask commission agents and farmers to build godowns for the storage of wheat and rice. He said the farmers would be paid rent for such storage. The tractors from villages would be issued licences for the transport of such foodgrains to railway sidings for further transportation through rails to other states. He said even labour from the villages falling in the jurisdiction of such procurement centres would be employed for this purpose. He said the government was trying to reduce the area under wheat for diversifying into the other areas like sugarcane, oil seeds, etc. |
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Warning to employee leaders CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — Not satisfied with the explanation submitted by certain employee leaders in connection with the violations of instructions issued to ban rallies and meetings, the Punjab Chief Secretary, Mr R.S. Mann, has issued a warning to certain leaders of employees’ unions. He has also told the authorities concerned to attach a copy of the warning with the annual confidential reports (ACRs) of these leaders. The Punjab Civil Secretariat and Mini Secretariat Administration had banned all rallies, dharnas and meetings by employees on their premises. However, employees held rallies, dharnas and meetings on the secretariat premises to press the Government to concede their demands. Taking notice of such rallies and meetings, the authorities concerned issued notices to leaders of the employees unions and asked them to explain their position. Among the leaders who have been given a warning are Mr Sham Lal, President, Punjab Civil Secretariat Service Officers Association, Mr Oma Kant Tewari, President, Punjab Civil Secretariat Staff Association, Mr Jaswant Singh Randhawa, Chairman, Joint Action, Committee of employees, Mr Atma Singh, Mr Tejvir Singh, Mr Karnail Singh Saini and Mr Devinder Sharma, all office bearers of various unions. However, representatives of these unions said today that such warnings by the state Government would not cow them down and they would continue to hold rallies and meetings on the secretariat premises. They claimed that they were forced to hold rallies and protests as the authorities concerned did not resolve the issues pertaining to employees. Employees said that the Chief Secretary should not have issued such warning to their leaders and instead should have asked the Government officers concerned to resolve the problems faced by them. |
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Ramoowalia’s NOC for
construction cancelled NABHA ( Dera Bassi), Nov 8 — The Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) has cancelled the No-objection Certificate (NOC) for a construction raised by a member of Parliament, Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, on his plot in this village, located along the Zirakpur- Patiala highway. The action follows an inquiry ordered by the Punjab Urban Development and Planning Minister, Dr Upinderjit Kaur, into the issuing of the permission. Mr Ramoowalia had been earlier given the NOC by the SAS Nagar zone office of the PUDA, enabling him to apply an electricity connection from the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB). The inquiry had revealed that the permission had been given without proper verification. On the basis of the report, Dr Upinderjit Kaur, has directed officials concerned to seek an explanation from all PUDA officials involved in the process of issuing of NOCs in the areas falling in the periphery. An aerial survey conducted by PUDA on the expiry of the December 31, 1998, deadline regarding regularisation of constructions in the periphery had revealed that construction on the land of the MP did not exist at that time. |
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Five women hurt in mishap BATHINDA, Nov 8 — In a road accident on the Mansa road of the city all five occupants of a car were injured, two of them seriously. The passengers of the ill-fated Maruti (DNJ-4103) who were injured included Mrs Kamaljit Kaur, Mrs Harjit
Kaur, both Taxation Inspectors, Mrs Jagtar Kaur, clerk, Mrs Satwinder Kaur, clerk and Mrs Charanjit Kaur, sewadar. They are employees of the Sales and Taxation Department of the Punjab Government. Two of the injured Mrs Kamaljit Kaur and Mrs Jagtar Kaur, who sustained serious injuries on chest and head, respectively, have been referred to Ludhiana the other three have been admitted to the civil hospital here. It could not be established that whether they were on official or personal visit. The car in which they were travelling has been badly damaged. The numbers of trucks are PB 03C-0890 and PCI-4766 which hit the car had blocked the road. Police sources said that a case in this connection would be registered soon. |
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Resentment over truck fare hike MOGA, Nov 8 — The prices of essential goods like pulses, sugar and soaps have registered an increase between 11 to 15 per cent during the past few days following an increase in the truck fares due to the hike in prices of petroleum products, according to a survey of the local market today. It said the prices of sugar and gur which were earlier quoted at Rs 17 and Rs 10 per kilo a few days back have now reached Rs 19 and Rs 13, respectively. Similarly, prices of other goods like cloth, vegetables and ghee have also registered an increase by 13 per cent. |
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40 lakh grant for Shiromani Awards Patiala, Nov 8 — The Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, yesterday announced a grant of Rs 40 lakh to honour eminent writers, journalists, artistes, publishers and other literary personalities with shiromani awards which have not been distributed for the past three years. Making this announcement during his address at the concluding function of the Punjabi Week at the State Language Department headquarters here, the Finance Minister said a committee had also been instituted under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to select the writers to be honoured with the shiromani awards. The Finance Minister said an autonomous organisation would also be established to promote Punjabi language. He said the organisation will also undertake the job of printing of books so that the quality of printing can be improved. He said the Punjab Government was making efforts to promote Punjabi language further. Hans Raj Hans, a well known Punjabi Sufi singer was felicitated by the Finance Minister on the
occasion. ‘Name Ki Vadeyayi’ by Dr Inderpal Singh was judged the best book. |
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Prem Singh Prem dead Chandigarh, Nov 8 — Renowned Punjabi writer, poet and former minister Prem Singh Prem passed away at the PGI after a prolonged illness here today. He was 86 and is survived by his son, who is a military officer. He was a staunch Congress activist and took part in the freedom struggle while he was a student at Government College, Lahore. He graduated from the college and went on to complete his law degree. He kept his association with the Congress till the end. He was a cousin of Chief Minister Gurmukh Singh Musafir and was inducted as a minister in charge for the Chandigarh Capital Project in 1952. He was elected from the Banur and Rajpura constituencies. He was a son-in-law of Principal Teja Singh. He was again inducted as a minister in charge of Cultural Affairs in the Pratap Singh Kairon Ministry in 1962 and also as the Cabinet Minister for Education in 1966-67. He also took out time for penning three books on romantic poetry. The books — ‘Suta Ishq Jaag Piya’, ‘Peed Naroyee’ and ‘Dard Jawan’ — were well received in the academic circles and critically acclaimed. Mr Gurmail Singh Chaudhry, who was a minister in the Kairon ministry, described him as an “ardent nationalist and an honest human being who always had the welfare of the poor at his heart and worked tirelessly for the betterment of the people.” Former MLA Basant Singh expressed sympathies with the bereaved family. |
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Punjabi writers from
abroad welcomed AMRITSAR, Nov 8 — The school of Punjabi studies of Guru Nanak Dev University organised a welcome-cum-interaction programme with Punjabi writers, Kailashpuri from Britain and S.S. Parwana from Denmark at the conference hall of the university here today. Eminent scholar Principal Narinder Singh Soch presided over this function. |
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Prevent paddy straw burning, DCs urged PATIALA, Nov 8 — The Punjab Pollution Control Board has requested all Deputy Commissioners in the state to take action against those involved in the burning of paddy straw. An official note issued here today said this was being done as the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 did not cover pollution caused by such activities. It said it had requested the Deputy Commissioners to take action in the matter following complaints from the public about the burning of paddy straw in the fields following the harvesting of paddy crop. The high content of suspended particulate matters (SPM) in air decreased the visibility on the roads, caused traffic hazards and increased accidents in the evening. Part from this it resulted in global warming and serious health problems, specially diseases like bronchitis, asthma and eye infections among people residing in the villages. The board was monitoring the air quality in various parts of the state, including Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Mandi Gobindgarh, Patiala, Nangal, Batala, Bhatinda and Dera Bassi and that there had been a sharp increase in SPM during the post harvest season of both kharif and rabi crops. |
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Panchayat poll on Nov 26 BATHINDA, Nov 8 — The by-elections for posts of Sarpanch and Panch in the villages of the district would be held on the 26th of this month. Giving details Mr Vivek Aggarwal, Additional Deputy Commissioner cum Election Officer, in a press note issued here yesterday, said that, three seats of women Sarpanch and seven seats of woman panch were vacant in the different village panchayats of the district. He added that the nomination forms could be filed till November 16 which would be verified on the next day and the candidates could withdraw their candidature till November 18. |
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PSEB employees hold rally BATHINDA, Nov 8 — Activists of the Punjab State Electricity Board Employees Struggle Committee (PSEB ESC) today held a rally to protest against the policies of the PSEB. The committee has been observing the ‘work to rule’ since November 7. Mr Brij Mohan, convener of the PSEB ESC, alleged that Mr Rakesh Goyal and Mr Hardidar Singh, SDOs of the suburban and cantonment divisions respectively, had marked certain employees who were present as absent. Mr Brij Mohan alleged that the authorities were not supplying tools and equipment to the workers. |
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Thermal plant staff
hold rally BATHINDA, Nov 8 — Activists of Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant Employees Federation (GNDTPEF) today organised a rally in front of the main gate of the plant in protest against the transfer of the president of the federation. The activists organised the rally in a peaceful manner to express their dissatisfaction against the authorities concerned. They also met the Chief Engineer of the Thermal plant and urged him to cancel the transfer. Mr Sampuran Singh, general secretary, GNDTPEF, said that the transfer of Mr Gursewak Singh, president of the federation, was illegal and should be cancelled by the authorities concerned. He alleged that the president was transferred only to take revenge from the employees. |
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Half-day holiday on Gurpurb eve CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — The Punjab Government has declared a half-day holiday on November 10 in the government offices, boards and corporations and educational institutions on account of nagar kirtans to be held on the eve of Parkash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev in the state. In a statement issued here today, a spokesman for the Government said that the offices, etc, would remain closed in the afternoon. In Chandigarh, offices of the state government and its boards and corporation would remain closed in the afternoon on November 9. |
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Jobless teachers hold rallies BATHINDA, Nov 8 — Jobless teachers of the Unemployed Elementary Teachers Union, Punjab today held a rally and marched through the city in protest against the education policy of the Punjab government. The protestors raised slogans against the government and gathered near the Sadhbhawana Chowk, where leaders of the union addressed the activists. They also submitted a demand letter to the Deputy Commissioner. NAWANSHAHR: District unit of the Berojgar ETT Adhiyapak Union held a rally in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here today. They also submitted a memorandum. |
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Swan river to have bridge ROPAR, Nov 8 — The demand of people from about 60 villages of the Bhalan area near Nangal for a bridge has been fulfilled as the Punjab Government at the recently held Cabinet meeting has cleared the proposal to canalise the Swan river and built a bridge over it near Algram village. The work for collecting topographical and geological data for the bridge to be build at a cost of Rs 2 crore, would be started within a week. It is expected to be completed within 18 months. This information was given by Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Civil Supplies Minister,
Punjab, who was on a visit to his constituency. The use of the bridge would reduce the distance of Nangal from Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and other stations on the similar routes. Moreover, the canalisation of the river would save hundreds of acres of land, which is currently in the river bed, for agriculture. |
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Computerisation plan PATIALA, Nov 8 — The Punjab government has decided to go in for phased computerisation of all government departments with a view to bring in more efficiency in their working. This was announced by Finance Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh while inaugurating a centre for training medical transcription professionals at Chhoti Baradari here yesterday. Speaking on the occasion, the Finance Minister said that the government had decided to computerise the Sales Tax Department as a first step, following which it would computerise the Transport Department, government treasuries and the Revenue Department. Mr Dhiraj Chalana of the centre while explaining the concept, said medical transcription was a language which interpreted and transcribed dictation by physicians and other health care professionals regarding patient, clinical courses and health care. |
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Objections to voters list invited PATIALA, Nov 8
— The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, who is also the
District Election Officer, has invited objections to the preliminary
voters list finalised on November 2. This was decided in a meeting
held at the Red Cross Bhavan between Mr J.S. Bir and representatives
of various political parties. Objections can be filed till November
30. This has been done under the guidelines of the Election Commission
(EC). People can approach Patwaris and respective municipal
corporations and committees to file their objections. Mr Bir said
that for getting enlisted in the voters’ list people should use form
No 6 and to file their objections they can make use of form No 7. For
amendment in the list form No 8 should be used and for rectification
of a mistake in the photo identity card form No 4 should be used. He
urged representatives of political parties to help in preparation of
the voters’ list. Mr Manjit Singh Narang, SDM, Mr Bhupinder Singh,
SDM, Rajpura, Mr Zora Singh SDM, Nabha, Mr T.P.S. Phluka, Assistant
Commissioner (Grievances), Ms Parneet Kaur, Member Parliament, Mr Ved
Parkash Gupta President of the DCC, Mr Kashmir Singh Mavi, President
of district Akali Dal (rural) and Mr Piyara Lal Sabharwal of Bahujan
Samaj Party were prominent among those who were present in the
meeting. |
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Markfed inspector held for graft FATEHGARH SAHIB, Nov 8 — A team of the district Vigilance Bureau caught Iqbal Singh, Field Officer-cum-Inspector, Markfed, at Anaj Mandi Chuni Khurd today, allegedly while accepting Rs 2,000 from a commission agent for the purchase of the paddy and recovered the amount on the spot. The raid was conducted on the basis of a complaint lodged by the agent, Mr Harnek Singh. According to commission agents and farmers, officials of procurement staff have been demanding money for the purchase of the paddy. Mr R.S. Dhillon, DSP (Vigilance) said the culprit had been arrested and a case registered in this regard. When the inspector was arrested, the farmers and the commission agents raised slogans against him and in favour of the Vigilance Bureau. They also demanded inquiry against all those who were involved in procurement process. Some of them alleged that an inspector of the local Civil Supplies Department had allegedly collected Rs 3 per bag of paddy and had allegedly spent lavishly on the recently held marriage of his daughter.  |
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Suicide by farmer: 2 arhtiyas held DHURI, Nov 8 — The two absconding accused in suicide case of Harbhajan Singh (35) of Kherri Khurd village near Sherpur, who allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticides a day before Divali after his failure to sell paddy and alleged harassment by the arhtiyas have been arrested. According to police sources, Sandip Kumar, alias Bhoja, and Bheema both arhtiyas of Sherpur, who were allegedly instrumental in the suicide of Harbhajan Singh, were arrested by the police yesterday and were produced before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Dhuri. They have been remanded in judicial custody up to November 21. |
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17 officials booked
for graft CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — To check corruption in the state, the Punjab Vigilance Department has registered 15 cases against four gazetted officers and 13 non-gazetted official, as they were caught for accepting bribes during October. Announcing this here today, a spokesman for the Vigilance Department said after conducting five regular inquiries, the departmental reports had been sent to the state government. In these, five gazetted officers, 11 officials and four individuals were involved. The Vigilance Department had recommended registeration of cases against two gazetted officers, initiation of departmental action against two gazetted officers and filing of a case against one gazetted officer. Besides the department had also recommend registeration of cases against 11 officials and four individuals. |
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ASI dismissed in corruption case JALANDHAR, Nov 8 (UNI) — Punjab police Assistant Sub-Inspector Sucha Singh has been dismissed from service following his conviction in a case of corruption by the court of Additional Sessions Judge Gurdev Singh. SSP Gaurav Yadav said today that the police official was dismissed as per the provision of the Punjab police rules when the judge convicted him and sentenced him to one-year rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1000. The SSP said the case of corruption under Section 7.13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against the ASI by the Bhogpur police station on August 23, 1996, on the complaint of Head Constable Nirmal Singh. Sucha Singh, who was posted at Bhogpur police station then, had gone to the house of the Head Constable to verify his character and antecedents and demanded Rs 500 from his wife for the no-objection certificate. The deal was struck for Rs 200 which was paid in the presence of a panchayat member Kartar Singh, the SSP added. Mr Yadav said Sucha Singh had been sent to jail. |
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Transporters booked PHAGWARA, Nov 8 — The police last night registered a case under Sections 364, 379, 148, 149, IPC, against some persons reportedly from a private transport company on charges of kidnapping with intention to kill, rioting with deadly weapons and stealing. The case was registered following an armed attack by these persons on staff and other persons of a rival transport company. Subsequently for over an hour traffic was blocked by the aggrieved bus crew on the GT Road outside local bus stand last night. Amrik Singh and Kuldip Singh of the Express Transport Company, Hoshiarpur, were injured in the attack. An INTUC leader was also attacked. The assailants kidnapped Amrik Singh and even hijacked a rival bus which, however, was later retrieved. The aggrieved transporters were joined in by Pepsu Roadways staff in blocking traffic which was opened only after DSP Satinder Singh ordered registration of case against assailants. |
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Agents accused of cheating farmers FEROZEPORE, Nov 8 — Criminal cases will be registered against commission agents found cheating farmers during the paddy procurement process. Fresh directions in this effect have been given by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, following an inquiry into the complaints of farmers, who alleged that the commission agents held not given them full payments in accordance with the minimum support price. Farmers of Jang, Jhoke Tehal Singhwala and Tara Singhwala villages had earlier charged certain commission agents of pocketing the minimum support price of Rs 540 and paying them lesser amounts. Since these farmers had sold paddy through the commission agents, they complained having been paid Rs 500. The farmers had also accused the agents of wilfully denying them valid receipts or J forms. Subsequently, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mr D.P.S Kharbanda, toured several markets to verify the charge and found these complaints true. Mr Kharbanda disclosed that over 20 commission agents were found to have cheated the farmers and had been asked to give the balance payment or face music. Any defiance would invite stern legal action, he added. |
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Undertrial’s escape:
2 cops booked MOGA, Nov 8 (UNI) — Two policemen have been booked in connection with the escape of an undertrial from their custody on November 5 near Talwandi Bhai, the police today said. A case under Sections 224 and 120-B, IPC, has been registered against the accused, head constable and constable, for allegedly conspiring the escape of Sukhdev Singh, while being escorted from Ferozepur Central Jail to the Moga sub-jail. The absconding accused had been arrested under the Arms Act, registered with Moga sadar police station. Superintendent of Police Narinder Pal Singh said the handcuffed prisoner reportedly expressed desire to respond to nature’s call but instead fled in a waiting car, the official said. |
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Dowry & bigamy case: 5 summoned PATHANKOT, Nov 8 — The local Judicial Magistrate, Mr Harish Anand, summoned five persons, in a case filed by Ms Pushpa Devi of Mirzapur village against demanding dowry and contracting another marriage. Those summoned included her husband Ashok Kumar, father-in-law Paras Ram, mother-in-law Ram Piari, second wife Nirmala, and father of the second wife Des Raj. According to the complainant, she had married Ashok Kumar in July 1991 and sufficient dowry was given at the time of the marriage. Her in-laws started maltreating her to force her to bring more dowry. She was ultimately turned out of her in-laws’ house in May 1992. The complainant said in spite of her being the legally wedded wife of Ashok Kumar, he contracted second marriage with Nirmala of Budhi Nagrota village in Kathua district. The magistrate after recording preliminary evidence summoned all the accused under Sections 406 and 498-A of the Indian Penal Code. 2 held for screening
blue movies BATHINDA, Nov 8 — The police has reportedly arrested Raj Kumar and Ajay Kumar for allegedly screening blue movies in their shop. In a press note issued here today, the SSP, claimed that they were arrested when they were screening blue movies in their shop near court road. He said 18 CDs, two VCR cassettes, a VCR, a TV and CD player had been seized from them. A case has been registered. In another case, the police has arrested Kulwant Singh, Gurdas Singh and Lakshman Singh, for their alleged involvement in theft cases. At least 70 kg of poppy husk, a Tata Sumo car had been recovered from their possession. |
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