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| Sunday, December 10, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
1 more
woman shifted to Patiala Families
refuse NHRC relief Minister’s
brother likely to be held Calendar
order setback to Bibi Land
record tampering sparks row |
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| PGA to
file PIL against PSEB BATHINDA, Dec 9 — The Public Grievances Association will file a Public interest litigation plea before the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the Punjab State Electricity Board.
Rinwa
rules out truck with BSP Cong to
start campaign against govt Bogus
voters in lists: Cong
Anti-dumping
potent weapon: Nitish
Dhindsa for direct fertiliser subsidy Maneka
pays tributes to Bishnoi leader PSHRC to
launch literacy drive Postal
strike for fifth day Pay
structure irrational, says Engineers’ body A ticket
counter “that rarely opens” Jeweller’s death:
kin go berserk CITU leads
protest jatha 90 farmers
given “krishi cards” PSEB staff to
join strike PSEB
accountants seek higher pay scale PSEB chemists
reject pay scales ADC
‘handcuffed’ by magician Inflated
bills irk consumers ISI’s
effigy burnt
100 driving
licences issued at ‘open darbar’
Father rapes daughter ISI agent
used to sell belts, tea
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Tribune follow-up SANGRUR, Dec 9 — Another woman, Mrs Manjit Kaur of Shahpur Therri village in Noonak subdivision, who was operated upon along with 10 women for tubectomy on December 4 at a family planning camp in a Mini Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Khanauri in this district, was today shifted to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, from the local Civil Hospital in a serious condition. Earlier, three women — Daya, Rajpati and Santosh — all residents of Andena village in Moonak subdivision of this district, were shifted to Rajindra Hospital from here yesterday. These women were admitted to the local Civil Hospital along with Dhanpati of Andana village and Manjit Kaur and Sulindra of Shahpur Therri village on December 7 in a serious condition after complications following tubectomy operations. Two women — Reshma of Banarsi village and Sheela Devi of Shahpur Therri village — died after tubectomy on December 5 and 6, respectively. Among the three women, who were shifted to Patiala yesterday, one is improving slowly while the two others are said to be out of danger. Meanwhile, three women — Kapoori of Andana village, Bimla of Gulzarpura village and Tejo of Banarsi village — who were brought to the local Civil Hospital yesterday by the health authorities from their respective villages as a precautionary measure, also developed complications today and were suffering from fever. The local health authorities today collected blood samples of the women for blood culture tests. Later, they sent these samples to Rajindra Hospital as there is no arrangement to conduct this test. Talking to TNS here today, Dr C.P. Bansal, Civil Surgeon, said Manjit Kaur was shifted to Patiala today as there was little improvement in her condition and the authorities here did not want to take any risk. Dr Bansal said the authorities were monitoring the health of all women here. The Civil Surgeon further said the three-member fact-finding committee, formed by him had today gone to Khanauri. He said the members of the committee — Dr Suresh Goyal, District Family Planning Officer, Dr V.P. Goyal, SMO, Malerkotla, and Dr Narpal Singh, a gynaecologist — would check the sterilisation process in the mini PHC at Khanauri. They would also seal the entire material used in the tubectomy operations on December 4. Dr Bansal further said the Director, Health Services, Punjab, was keeping abreast of the developments. Earlier in the day, the Civil Surgeon, along with Dr Narpal Singh, Dr V.P. Goyal, Dr Ravinder Kaur Klair and Dr Anup Kad, visited the women patients. They thoroughly examined the women and prescribed relevant tests and medicines. Meanwhile, Dr Surinder Singla, Regional Secretary of the PCMSA, today said a meeting of family planning surgeons of the district had been convened by the association on December 14 in the local Civil Hospital to discuss steps for preventing such occurrences in future. Dr Singla said the Punjab unit of the IMA had appealed to the Health Minister, Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, to intervene and order a high-level probe into the incident. |
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Families refuse NHRC relief CHANDIGARH, Dec 9 — The family members of all 18 victims of “enforced disappearances and secret cremations” in Punjab have rejected the compensation proposal by the national Human Rights Commission “as no attempt has been made by the NHRC to determine wrongs and losses. “Talking to mediapersons here this afternoon, the Punjab convener of the Coordination Committee on Disappearances in Punjab, Mr Ram Narayan Kumar, said that these family members were of the view that the procedure adopted by the NHRC to examine their cases was “without going into merits of the matter.” He said the families rejected the “miscarriage of justice by the NHRC committee constituted three years ago to independently probe into allegations of abuse of the law committed by various agents of the Union Government against its own citizens in Punjab from 1984 to 1994”.He said the NHRC had deliberately followed a restrictive method while circulating claim forms as a result of which only 88 claim forms were received by the NHRC. Of the total claims, the NHRC excluded 23 on the ground that they were beyond the purview of the commission’s jurisdiction as these were from outside Amritsar while 47 other claims were disputed on various grounds. Only 18 cases were taken up for consideration for dispensation of compensation to the families concerned. Quoting the case of Ms Jaswant Kaur, a widow belong to Kaseel village in Tarn Taran, whose three sons fell to the abuse of police and political power of the state in early 90s outrightly rejected the NHRC proposals for compensation as it failed to fulfil minimum requirement of justice. The woman is being allowed compensation for one son as two others were killed outside the jurisdiction of Amritsar district. The Committee for Coordination on Disappearances in Punjab has decided to move the Apex court. He demanded that the court should restore the original intent of justice, the universal nature of right to life and liberty and equal protection of the laws to the proceedings pending before the NHRC. On December 10, 1996, the Apex court received the CBI report on enforced disappearances and secret cremations allegedly carried out by the security forces. Mr Kumar said proceedings of the NHRC were characterised by an atmosphere of impunity and brazen collaboration with the very same forces of injustice and violence. According to a survey conducted by the committee, there were 838 incidents or reports of illegal abductions leading to disappearances from all over Punjab between 1984 and 1994. The NHRC used the CBI report to limit the scope of inquiry to Amritsar district alone. The compensation being offered was discriminatory by excluding those who suffered similar abuses in other districts of the state, Mr Kumar added. |
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Minister’s brother likely to be held Patiala, Dec 9 — The police has reportedly started legal proceedings to secure the arrest of Faujinder Singh, brother of Punjab Minister of State for Public Works Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur, in the case involving the death of a farmer, Balwant Singh, against whom the family of the minister is embroiled in a land dispute. The minister’s family and Balwant Singh have been involved in a land dispute for more than three years after the first wife of Balwant Singh got part of her land in Bhedpura village of Samana subdivision in this district registered in the names of certain relatives of the minister. The registry was contested by Balwant Singh who alleged his wife “died” under mysterious circumstances soon afterwards. The case is presently going on before revenue officials. Sources said the start of legal proceedings against the minister’s brother is the culmination of police investigation into the case following the shooting of Balwant Singh on November 18 allegedly by a group of persons, including Faujinder , and subsequent death on November 25. District police chief Harpreet Singh Sidhu while not confirming the start of legal proceedings to arrest Faujinder, however, said he was not traceable till now. Mr Sidhu said eight persons had been arrested in the case and that a inquiry was going on into all aspects, including the claim by the minister that a Patwari, Mohan Singh, was playing a dubious role in the affair. Meanwhile, the Patwari, accompanied by Jal Kaur, who is the widow and second wife of Balwant Singh, held a press conference here and demanded that the minister should be ousted from the Cabinet to ensure a impartial probe into the incident. Jal Kaur, who was also accompanied by her four-year-old daughter, alleged that her family was being persecuted by the minister for the last four years. Giving examples she alleged that on October 13 this year Faujinder and his accomplice cut paddy in one acre of land of her husband but no action was taken. Instead a case of theft was registered against her husband and others at the instance of the minister . On November 18, Faujinder accompanied by some other persons destroyed four acres of wheat crop in her husband’s land and also shot at her husband and another person, she alleged. Her husband expired in a hospital a few days afterwards. She claimed that even though the police registered a case many of the accused, including the main culprit Faujinder, were not arrested. She alleged that two of the attackers continue to roam free in Bhedpura village. Mrs Jal Kaur also released a copy of a letter written by the Rajpura Tehsildar to the Deputy Commissioner. The letter requests the Deputy Commissioner to entrust the land dispute case involving the minister to someone else as there was political pressure on him and he would not to able to do justice in the case. The minister when contacted said he was not aware of the communication of the Tehsildar. He however, alleged that the same Tehsildar had earlier alleged that Patwari Mohan Singh, who was tilling the land of Balwant Singh, was filing false complaints against him. When asked whether his brother Faujinder Singh was absconding, he said this was not the case and Faujinder would be produced before the police whenever needed. Mr Mukhmailpur also alleged that Mohan Singh stood to gain by the death of Balwant Singh and that none of the men who had gone to sow wheat at Bhedpura had shot at Balwant Singh. ‘’They only fired in the air from a distance to give a warning Mohan Singh and others who wanted a confrontation and there is no way in which a bullet from them could have hit Balwant Singh’’, he alleged. |
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Calendar order setback to Bibi AMRITSAR, Dec 9 — The directive of Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, for celebrating birth anniversaries of gurus according to traditional samvat calendar is considered a rude shock to former SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur who had implemented the Nanakshahi calendar without waiting the report of the sub-committee, constituted by Akal Takht. He, however, stated that committee of Sikh scholars would give its final verdict on this issue. Giani Joginder Singh was appointed Jathedar during the presidentship of Bibi Jagir Kaur after sacking Giani Puran Singh who had banned the implementation of Nanakshahi calendar. During the time of Bibi Jagir Kaur, Jathedar Vedanti did not touch this sensitive issue for obvious reasons. Instead, immediately after his installation as
Jathedar he had rescinded all controversial hukamnamas issued during the time of Giani Puran Singh, including the one which had excommunicated Bibi Jagir Kaur from the Sikh Panth for implementing the Nanakshahi calendar. However, after taking over by Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, Jathedar Vedanti took this significant decision which could annoy Bibi Jagir Kaur. Members of the SGPC may discuss the calendar issue in the forthcoming meeting of the executive scheduled for December 12 and 13, Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi has also announced that he would review the decision of boycotting jathas to visit the Sikh shrines in Pakistan. |
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Land record tampering sparks row MAMDOT (Ferozepore), Dec 9 — An alleged attempt to alter the revenue record of a reserved forest land at Chak Sarkar Dona Jaimal Wala village adjoining the Indo-Pakistan border, near here, has sparked a controversy. Revenue records of land measuring 123 acres were altered by a section of the Revenue officials allegedly to enable 23 landlords to take over its possession. Although the District Revenue Officer had rectified the error on the intervention of the Forest Department, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) has upheld the previous alteration in names of landlords after accepting their plea. While the landlords claim to have been tilling this land earlier, both the Forest and Revenue officials have ridiculed this claim, saying the area was never under cultivation. The Forest Department has filed a fresh appeal before the Commissioner for quashing the SDM’s order. Challenging the SDM’s order as “wrongful”, the Forest Department is reported to have pointed out that the land is a part of the reserved forest zone presently under cover of trees and wild growth. Of this, the disputed area of 123 acres falls across the security fencing raised to check infiltration from Pakistan. Despite the fact that the area was notified as reserved forest in 1955, the landlords are staking claim on the plea that they have been tilling it earlier. Even as the Divisional Forest Officer, Mr Karamjit Singh, confirmed having moved an appeal before the Commissioner, he declined to elaborate on the controversy. However, a section of the forest officials feel that this may have been done under political pressure to favour the “influential” landlords. Significantly, the District Revenue Officer (DRO) after visiting the site in March last had also observed in his report that the area never came under cultivation and no crop was ever sown-here. Adding that the Forest Department was unaware of the conspiracy, the DRO had also admitted connivance of his own officials in the report. On being contacted for comments the SDM, Mr DPS Kharbanda denied having favoured anyone under pressure. He however, admitted that he never visited the site before handing down the order, which he said was open for appeal before the higher authority. He added that since the matter is slightly old, he can only comment on the merits behind his order without the relevant record. |
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PGA to file PIL against PSEB BATHINDA, Dec 9 — The Public Grievances Association (PGA) will file a Public interest litigation plea before the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB). In a press note issued here yesterday Mr Sadhu Ram Kusla, general secretary, PGA said although the association had issued a notice to the authorities of the PSEB regardings octroi fees on electricity bills which was being charged illegally from the consumers of the city. He added that the PSEB authorities had done nothing in this regard so far. He pointed out that the PSEB authorities were asked to adjust the octroi fees charged from the electricity consumers but the authorities had not taken any action in this regard. He added that the PSEB had been charging 2 paise per unit from April 21, 1994 and 4 paise per unit from February 26, 1999, as octroi fees from the electricity consumers who were residing within the limit of the Municipal Council. He added that the general public was facing various problems due to the frequent power cuts. He added that the people were not getting power regularly even in a city like Bathinda, where the electricity was being generated from two thermal plants. Meanwhile, Mr Sadhu Ram Kusla, Chairman, All-India
Drda Employees Welfare Association (AIDRDAEWA), said the Central Government should take the demands of the postal employees seriously. He added that due to the strike of the postal employees general public was facing the problems as their important documents were not being delivered in time. He added that all postmen and other staff members were performing well and the government should fulfill their genuine demands as early as possible. |
Rinwa rules out truck with BSP JALANDHAR, Dec 9 — The BJP has no objection if its alliance partner the SAD forms an alliance with the BSP headed by the Kanshi Ram. Talking to mediapersons here yesterday, Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, President of the Punjab unit of the BJP, who was accompanying the President of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes wing of the BJP, Mr Ram Nath Kovind, said though his party was not contemplating any truck with the BSP, it would not object if the SAD forms an alliance with the BSP.
“We are with the SAD and will adopt the same course adopted by it,” said Mr Rinwa. Similarly, Mr Kovind said unlike in the past, his party was not going to take the BSP as an ally in the next elections since the BSP supremo was not considered as a leader with credibility. He said people were fed up with the BSP and even Dalits were rejecting it. On the other hand, the BSP has also changed its track and Mr Kanshi Ram and Ms Mayawati have stopped abusing the non-Dalits. “Rather they have started saying that they will take along even Brahmins,” said Mr Kovind, adding that the BJP had done a lot for the uplift of Dalits and appointment of a Dalit as the Vice-Chancellor of Benaras Hindu University was an example of it. |
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Cong to start campaign against govt LUDHIANA, Dec 9 — With an eye on the forthcoming assembly elections in the state scheduled to be held within a year, the Pradesh Congress Committee plans to launch a mass movement in the state to mobilise public opinion against the “failure” of the Shiromani Akali Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party alliance government in the state. Disclosing this here today, PCC president Capt Amarinder Singh told reporters here that the movement would focus on the failures of the government and help in ventilating the grievances of different sections of society. It was his first visit to Ludhiana after being unanimously appointed the PCC president. Critcising the policies of the ruling alliance in the state, the PCC president pointed out that it had failed to fulfil all promises it had made in its election manifesto. He revealed that the Congress workers would bring out the differences in words and deeds of the ruling alliance. He claimed that every section of society in the state was feeling great resentment against the government. Farmers, industrialists, traders and employees were feeling let down in the state. Sensing the mood of the people, Capt Amarinder Singh said the Congress has decided to ventilate their resentment. It had formed a high level committee headed by former IAS officer Mr R.R. Bharadwaj, which would suggest 25 year longterm strategy for the allround development in the state. The SAD-BJP government lacked all initiative and commitment for public good and was only interested in and obsessed with saving itself from disintegration. Referring to the plight of farmers, he observed that they were facing the worst of times. He alleged that at no stage had the farmers in the state felt so desperate as they were feeling today. They had not been able to get adequate returns for their labour all the year and huge stocks of paddy were still lying unclaimed in different mandis. Critcising the BJP, the PCC president said the party claimed itself to be the champion of the cause of urban people. However, the party had failed the traders and industry. The BJP had promised to abolish octroi in the state. Instead of abolishing the octroi, the rates had increased three times during its regime. He regretted that a number of industrial units in the state were getting closed as the government had no industrial policy. The PCC leader expressed grave concern over the worsening law and order situation in the state and alleged that crime was increasing at an alarming rate. Giving figures the increase in crime during the Congress regime was 9 per cent, while it had risen to 33 per cent under the present government. |
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Bogus voters in lists: Cong GIDDERBAHA, Dec 9 — Mr Raghubir Singh, a senior Congress leader and former MLA, today alleged that thousands of bogus voters had been included in voters’ lists at Muktsar, the home district of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during the revision of lists. Talking to mediapersons here today, he alleged that government officials concerned who were assigned the talk to revise the voters’ lists had given their consent for enlisting 9,000 voters in Gidderbaha Assembly segment, 6,000 in Lambi segment, 3,600 in Malout segment and 2,600 in Muktsar segment. He alleged that most of persons who had applied for registering as voters were not genuine and the officials concerned did not verify application forms. He pointed out that 9,000 new voters had emerged in the Gidderbaha Assembly segment when the voters’ lists were revised just before the last Lok Sabha election. He alleged that most of the votes were made on the diktats of the ruling party. He said that he had complained against this to Chief Election Commissioner M.S. Gill, State Chief Election officer Brajinder Singh, Muktsar Deputy Commissioner K.J.S. Cheema and other authorities concerned. Mr Singh demanded a high-level probe into the matter. He added that officials concerned had displayed neither the voters’ lists in their offices nor had they published these as per the directions of the Chief Election Officer, Punjab. Mr K.J.S. Cheema, Deputy Commissioner, could not be contacted. |
Anti-dumping potent weapon: Nitish RAJASANSI (Amritsar), Dec 9 — “The weapon of anti-dumping can be used against any detrimental effects of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) policies”, Mr Nitish Kumar, Union Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, stated while inaugurating a regional plant quarantine station here today. Saying that apprehensions about the WTO were unfounded, he said import duty on milk powder which was previously nil had been imposed at a rate of 7 per cent, affecting the export of milk powder from other countries. Stressing on the quality of exported goods competing with international competitors, he said the fourth quarantine station in Amritsar after three major stations in Delhi, Chennai and Calcutta would provide quality goods to get maximum export returns. Mr Nitish suggested diversification and crop rotation to solve the problem of overproduction. Food processing was strongly projected as a solution to cut wastage, boost utilisation of produced food stuff and subsequent economic benefits. Only 2 per cent of eatables were being processed. It could be raised up to 10 per cent to tide over the storage problems. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced a compensation of Rs 3,000 per acre to farmers of border villages. A sum of Rs 16.7 crore for 21 blocks and another Rs 30 crore had been sanctioned for the development of border areas by the Central Government. A sum of Rs 180 crore had been sanctioned for the upper Doab canal and its tributaries which would be strengthened on a war-footing, he added. Another package of Rs 20 crore had been sanctioned for the maintenance and construction of bridges in the border areas. The quarantine plant is a joint project of the FAO and the UNDP. The project has been undertaken by the Central Public Works Department at a cost of Rs 261.3 lakh. The plant will have a room for inspection, collection, incubation, decontamination and culture. The next quarantine station is slated for Mumbai which will bring the total stations in India to 26. |
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Dhindsa for direct fertiliser subsidy JALANDHAR, Dec 9 — The Union Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister and senior Akali leader, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa while talking to TNS at the “sarpanch mela” organised by the management of the “Modern Kheti”, a Punjabi agriculture magazine at Lyallpur Khalsa School here today denied that there was any move in the party to give any new assignment to Bibi Jagir Kaur. It is up to Mr Parkash Singh Badal to decide. Mr Dhindsa said there was a need to change the current system of subsidy to fertiliser manufacturing units so as to pass on the maximum benefit of the facility to the farmers. Mr Dhindsa, who clarified that there was no move to change the current fertiliser policy, said a way out could be to extend subsidy directly to the farmers. On the issue of the Ram Temple, Mr Dhindsa said his party would make its reaction and stance public after the meeting of the National Democratic Alliance, which is to be convened by senior NDA leader George Fernandes. |
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Maneka pays tributes to Bishnoi leader ABOHAR, Dec 9 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, failed to turn up at the function organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Jeev Raksha Bishnoi Sabha for unveiling the statue of Late Sant Kumar Bishnoi, an environmentalist and winner of Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Award. He was the founder-president of the sabha also. The other notable absentee was Mr Bhajan Lal former Chief Minister of Haryana. The chief guest Mrs Maneka Gandhi, was so punctual that she had to wait for 10 minutes on the Seetogunno road bypass as even the chief organiser of the function was not available there. She expressed annoyance when no garland was made available to pay respect at the bust after unveiling it. She moved into the crowded pandal and without any formalities started addressing the audience as she was to rush back to Patiala to catch the plane. Interestingly, Mr Ram Singh Bishnoi, a minister from Rajasthan and President of the Bishnoi Mahasabha, entered the pandal when Mrs Gandhi was half way through her speech. Mr Surjit Kumar Jiyani, Forest Minister, Punjab and other MLAs arrived so late that Mrs Gandhi had left for Patiala after completing her speech same was the position of majority of media persons. Mrs Gandhi paying tributes to Sant Kumar Bishnoi said the environment could be preserved successfully only by the public spirited leaders like Mr Bishnoi. He had built up a formidable reputation as saviour of animals and an environmentalist of national repute. His operations in the wild life sanctuary spread over 16 villages of the subdivision were primarily responsible for the protection of black duck which was an endangered species. His organisation had worked more effectively than the government agencies could possibly had done. The great Bishnoi leader came from along line of environmentalists. His ancestors bought against poachers at the cost of their lives. Mr Bishnoi had donated the enter amount of Rs 1 lakh given to him as a part of national award for Environment protection. Mrs Gandhi said the 29 principles included in the Bishnoi dharma could lead the country in a big way. We had suffered a lot due to illegal cutting of forests which caused natural calamities. Similarly the number of cows and other animals had gone down. The so-called modernisation in farming had put more burden on foreign exchange as fuel imports had to be increased manifolds. The excessive use of fertilisers had made our land less fertile. Insecticides had wiped off friendly pests and polluted gains, vegetables,
fruits making more people sick. Sources said the All India Bishnoi Sabha had early this year criticised the SAD government for dividing the wild life sanctuary by constructing Abulkhurana drain. The authorities had earlier refused permission to
install Late Sant Kumar Bishnoi’s statue on the bypass arguing that state and national highways could not be allowed for such purpose. It was on Mrs Maneka Gandhi’s intervention that the state government granted permission to
install the statue in the triangle of Seetogunno bypass crossing near the convent school here. |
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PSHRC to launch literacy drive PHILLAUR, Dec 9 — The Punjab State Human Rights Commission, will soon start a literacy drive in the state for child protection and child rights. This project will be started from Palahai village near Phagwara with a target to make it a model village with 100 per cent literacy. This was stated by the Punjab State Human Rights Commission Chairman, Justice
V.K. Khanna, while talking to this correspondent at Punjab Police Academy here today. Justice Khanna appealed the NGOs to participate in this literacy drive of the commission. He claimed that the commission had received about 8,000 complaints of human rights violation till date and succeeded to solve more than 62 per cent of them. He said out of 5,000 complaints received this year, more than 80 per cent were against police excesses. Justice Khanna assured to uplift the status of women in the state and to repeal the Punjab Women and Children Development and Welfare Corporation
ACt, 1979, and handing over the existing mental hospital at Amritsar to the Punjab Health System Corporation. |
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Postal strike for fifth day PHILLAUR, Dec 9 — Postal services remained disrupted for the fifth day today as postal employees continued their countrywide strike. The employees held a demonstration outside the local post office and raised anti-government slogans. Employees’ leaders threatened to continue their strike till the acceptance of their demands. They criticised the government for its alleged apathy towards their demands. BATALA: Postal employees held a gate rally at the main gate of the Head Post Office. Various employees’ leaders addressed the rally. They urged the Central Government to accept their demands without further delay. MALERKOTLA: Postal services remained affected for the fifth consecutive day due to the ongoing strike of the postal staff. The General Post Office and the sub post offices of the town wore a deserted look as no business was conducted. ROPAR:
The ongoing strike of postal employees in the district affected the postal services for the fifth consecutive day. Work in the post offices of the district was on a standstill, severely impairing the work of the government offices. |
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Pay structure irrational, says Engineers’ body BATHINDA, Dec 9 — Engineers of Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP) Lehra Mohabat, organised a ‘protest meeting’ against the authorities concerned to express dissatisfaction against the categorywise scale announced by the Board. The engineers of the thermal plant did not attend the offices on Thursday evening from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. to express resentment against the policies of two government. The engineers have been on strike since December 4. Mr M.S. Bajwa, President, Punjab State Electricity Board Engineers’ Association (PSEBEA), in a statement issued here yesterday said the pay structure of the engineers announced by the management was irrational. He added that the scales of induction-level posts had not been equated and the existing differential of four increments kept in mind while structuring the categorywise scale. He demanded that there should be parity of scale between the Sub Divisional Officer, area officer, Senior Executive Engineer and Deputy CAO. He pointed out that the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCEEE) would observe a strike on December 12 in protest against the Electricity Act, 2000, being introduced by the Central Government. |
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A ticket counter “that rarely opens” BATHINDA: The ticket window at the outer side of Bathinda railway station which was opened for the convenience of commuters belonging to Paras Ram Nagar, Partap Nagar, Gurukul Road, Jogi Nagar, Gopal Nagar and Janta Nagar, seems to have become meaningless, as most of the time the window remains closed. This window for tickets was opened to decrease the rush at the main ticket windows at the station but the situation is unchanged. The passengers of this locality have to go to the main window to purchase tickets as the outer window is not open even during office hours. Daily passengers of the areas mentioned above who have to go to Rampura Phul, Ferozepore, Goniana, Kotkapura, Faridkot, Barnala, Dhuri and Patiala, face difficulty in buying the tickets on time. Sometimes the passengers have to miss the train due to a rush at the ticket counters. The working hours of the counters are from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. but, according to the complaints of the passengers, it is not open for the entire period. One prospective passenger said that he did not see a ticket counter open for 10 days. Although several complaints have been registered to the railway authorities yet nothing has been done so far. The signboards at the main counters, giving information regarding various stations for which tickets are to be bought, are also not correct. These boards sometimes give wrong information. One cannot buy tickets for Patiala, Dhuri, Nabha, Barnala, Rampura and Ambala from the counter where the boards are displayed. Even the educated class has to find out from the enquiry counter the exact window from where they could buy the ticket for their destination. Mr Pawan Toayal, head of the Railway Passengers Association (Northern Zone), said owing to closure of the outer ticket window, residents of this locality were facing problems. He alleged that one counter had not been opened for the past week and the passengers had to go to the main ticket window to buy tickets. The passengers were not getting any benefit from this window and the purpose for which it had been opened was defeated. He pointed out that although the association had submitted a memorandum to the General Manager, N.Rly, and apprised the authorities of the difficulties being faced by the passengers, yet nothing had been done. He alleged that the railway authorities were trying to close the ticket counter permanently on the ground of non-viability. Thousands of people of this locality travelled on the Bathinda-Ambala, Bathinda-Delhi, Bathinda-Ferozepore routes daily. He demanded that the ticket counter should be opened from early morning till the evening keeping in mind the rush of passengers. Mr Harbans Lal, Station Superintendent, when contacted, denied the allegations and said the outer ticket window was being opened from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. regularly. He admitted that during training and leave days of the employee, the counter might have been closed but it was not routine. When asked about the boards providing misinformation, he said the boards hung on the counter were old and would be replaced as their earliest. |
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Jeweller’s death:
kin go berserk JALANDHAR, Dec 9 — Nearly 100 agitated relatives and friends of an Amritsar-based jeweller went berserk and blocked the traffic on the busy Jalandhar-Amritsar GT Road following his death in a private heart-care centre here yesterday evening. The relatives and friends of the deceased Pawan Kumar (40), led by his brother Ravi Shankar alleged that Pawan died due to negligence of a doctor who “forcibly” admitted the patient to the hospital even as they wanted to go to another heart care centre for seeking an advice before undergoing an operation. He further alleged that though the patient, who was admitted at 3 p.m. died at 6 p.m. but the doctor misled them and did not declare him dead even after three hours of his death. He alleged that despite the death of his brother the doctor maintained till 9 p.m. that Pawan was in a serious condition as one of his veins had fractured during the operation and he was trying to revive him. Mr Amar Singh Chahal, SP, said if needed the body would be sent for the post-mortem. A case will be registered only after a written complaint was lodged by the relatives of the deceased, Mr Chahal added. |
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CITU leads protest jatha AMRITSAR, Dec 9 — The Centre of Indian Trade Unions
(CITU) led a massive jatha protesting against the alleged retrograde economic policies detrimental to the country. The jatha which started after paying tributes to martyrs at the Jallianwala Bagh was campaigning against government policies causing widespread closures of industrial units, unprecedented price rise, and unemployment. In a statement, CITU alleged that the government dictated by the IMF the World Bank and the WTO is selling public sector units. The jatha which is heading to Gurdaspur will cover various districts of Punjab up to December 16 before embarking on a countrywide campaign, including Delhi and Rajasthan. The onslaught on India’ self-reliance was being seen in the textiles, mining, power sectors, CITU said “The meagre social security provided to poor people like health, education, rationed commodities is being taken away to please reformists” it adds. The situation in Punjab is worse as industrial units are being closed and sold, workers retrenched and minimum wages are denied for the past five years. The jathas endeavour to prepare people to build nationwide resistance to these police, Mr Chander
Shakhar, spokesman for CITU said here today. |
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90 farmers given “krishi cards” FAZILKA, Dec 9 — The Punjab National Bank, Hammad branch, organised a farmers’ conference (Kisan Goshti) today. According to Mr Subhash Chander Kamra, Branch Manager, 90 farmers of the area were given “krishi cards” worth Rs 7.56 lakh to improve living standards of the farmers. Addressing the conference, Mr G.B. Singh, Chief Manager, PNB, regional office, Ferozepore, explained the importance of “krishi cards” for farmers and disclosed that PNB had planned to distribute Rs 160 crore by the end of this financial year. Mr R.C. Malhotra, Senior Manager, regional office, Ferozepore, and Mr S.K. Sharma, district coordinator, highlighted different schemes for the development of agriculture. |
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PSEB staff to join strike Patiala , Dec 9 — The executive committee of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) staff association today passed a resolution to participate in the 24 hours complete strike on December 12 on the call of the National Coordination Committee of the Electricity Employees and Engineers . In a statement here, association President Anil Miglani said a coordination committee was working out details for ensuring complete participation by all categories of workers , employees and engineers. Mr Miglani said the executive committee condemned the electricity Bill, 2000, as a sell-out of the country‘s economic independence to multinationals. It alleged that the disastrous experiments of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Enron would be carried out in the country’s leading to unbearable increase of tariff , gross profiteering by multinationals and economic bankruptcy which would enslave the country’ s economy . He said the committee felt that Punjab should learn a lesson from the Enron disaster and immediately scap the GVK deal and also review the setting up of the state electricity regulatory commission as it would be counter productive . The executive committee meeting was attended by association president M.S. Bajwa , senior vice-president R.S. Sohal and vice-president Sital Singh Sangha besides all regional secretaries from the thermal plants and field regions . Meanwhile the PSEB authorities today said instructions had been issued to all controlling officers to apply the principle of no work, no pay, break in service, forfeiture of past service and adverse entry into annual confidential reports of the striking employees . The release, issued by Board Secretary D.K. Tewari, said PSEB officers and employees having less than five years of service or those being more than 50 years of age would be liable to be removed from service . It said retired officers had been requested to give their names and addresses to the office of the Superintending Engineer, Headquarters, so that their services could be utilised on December 12 if needed . It said an honorarium of Rs 1,000 would be paid to retired officials and Rs 500 to non gazetted employees . The Board Secretary said the strike call was unjustified, illegal and uncalled for besides being politically motivated . |
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PSEB accountants seek
higher pay scale AMRITSAR, Dec 9 — The PSEB Accounts and Audit Association expressed resentment over the discrimination by the Board regarding the grant of pay scale to accountants. In a press note Mr Aksharan Jit Singh, president of the Amritsar unit, Mr Jatinder Pal Singh, general secretary, and Mr Rajwant Singh, organising secretary, stated that for long the Board had been reluctant to remove the anomaly of accountants pay scale with the same cadre posts of divisional superintendent. Accountants of the Board, are SAS
qualified and entrusted with the control of finance, budget and cash of the Board. But in case of pay this cadre, though small in number in the Board, is being ignored. Though the Board had given full assurance to remove the anomaly in the pay scale of accountants, till now they are being ignored. |
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PSEB chemists reject pay scales BATHINDA, Dec 9 — Members of the PSEB (Chemists) Officers Association have rejected the pay scales announced by the management for various posts of chemist cadres. In a press note here today, Mr A.L. Mahajan, Secretary of the association, alleged that the PSEB management had reduced the pay scales of senior chemists, deputy chief chemists and chief
chemists. He said the PSEB management had introduced disparties in pay scales. Apart from reducing the pay scale of deputy chief chemists from assistant executive engineers, it had also banned promotional time scale and promotional increment for the same post. |
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ADC ‘handcuffed’
by magician KAPURTHALA, Dec 9 — Internationally renowned and National Award winner Samrat Shankar, in a charitable show, handcuffed the Additional Deputy Commissioner with his magic tricks when he asked the magician to unlock his handcuffs here yesterday. Magician Shankar enthralled the audience by floating a girl from the audience to six feet high in the air, disappearing a car, cutting a girl with a saw and turning a beautiful girl into a bear. Earlier in the day, he drove a motor cycle in the bazars of the town after blindfolding himself. |
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Inflated bills irk consumers MOGA, Dec 9 — Several power consumers here today were shocked when they received electricity bills amounting to several thousands rupees. Normally their bills did not exceed a few hundred rupees. Mr Prem Palte of the Civil Lines, Moga, said he had received electricity bill for over Rs 5,000. Although his bill did not exceed a few hundred rupees every time. Similarly Mr Kalwant Singh, an industrialist, said he had received a bill of Rs 8,000. He had never received a bill of more than a few hundred rupees only. These are not isolated cases as many power consumers here have been receiving inflated bills which has caused great resentment among them. They have urged the Punjab State Electricity Board to look into the matter and redress their grievances as they could not afford to pay such inflated bills. |
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ISI’s effigy
burnt AMRITSAR, Dec 9 — The All-India Anti-Terrorist Front, Punjab, today burnt the effigy of the ISI of Pakistan in wake of the ongoing activities of Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. District Youth Congress President, SC/BC cell, Amritsar, Mr Narinder Kumar Teenu, condemned the activities of Pakistan. A protest march was also taken out. The General Secretary of the Anti-Terrorist Front, Punjab, Mr Mohinder Singh Sidhu, said Pakistan was trying to break the unity of India. He asserted that Kashmir was an integral part of India. |
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100 driving licences issued at ‘open darbar’ GURDASPUR, Dec 9 — Mr B. Vikram, Deputy Commissioner, today presided over open darbars held at Halla village, 2 km from here, and Kesh village, 5 km from here organised by the local Inner Wheel Club and the Rotary Club Midtown, respectively, to solve problems of the people of the area at their door steps. Addressing the audience the DC said Gurdaspur district would be the first district to computerise records relating to pensions in the state. Several cases of old-age pension were completed on the spot. He added that the district had received Rs 3.5 crore which would be spent in border villages that fall within 16 km of border belt on rural development project. These villages fall in the border belt. The DC directed the District Development and Panchayat Officer and respective Block Development and Panchayat Officers to survey border villages and submit their report to him within a week. He said the projects would be executed at the earliest and there was no dearth of funds in this regard. He directed the Executive Engineer, Drainage, to plan digging of a drain to take out water from the waterlogged areas of Paniar, Dalla, Bhola and six surrounding villages. This will result in reclamation of 500 acres of farmland. Owners of the land where drain is to be dug offered lands free of cost to the government. Digging of Bariar drain was also ordered. In the absence of this drain, water remains accumulated and damages crops during rains. The affected villages included Bariar, Abulkhair, Mirpur and Sherpur. Mr Vikram announced a grant for the construction of one room in Government Middle School at Halla and distributed woollen cardigans among school children on the occasion on the behalf of the Inner Wheel Club. More than 100 learning driving licences were issued on the spot. As many as 55 complaints of the people of the area were redressed. The Deputy Commissioner directed the respective departments to dispose of the remaining complaints within a week. |
Father rapes daughter TARN TARAN, Dec 9 — A 17-year-old girl of Dalake village, near here, yesterday lodged a complaint at the city police station against her father Hardial Singh for raping her. Police sources told this correspondent here today that in her complaint, the girl has alleged that her father had been raping her for the past two years. On December 4, he molested her in the presence of some relatives and in protest she left her home on December 5 and went on to stay at a gurdwara. The police recovered the girl and registered a complaint against her father. |
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ISI agent used to sell belts, tea BATHINDA, Dec 9 — Khalid Mohommad, alias Sajid, alias Manit Singh, alias Sanjeet Singh, an ISI agent, who was arrested by the Army and Delhi police sleuths in a combined operation near the Badarpur area in South Delhi in the recent past sold belts and wallets, ran a tea stall in front of the Civil Lines police station and taught music to various persons in this city to carry out his mission in this city. Khalid Mohommad, who stayed in this city for three years from 1994 to 1997, frequently shifted his place of residence and name. He worked as a private teacher to teach the people how to play various musical instruments. Police sources said that the Army and Delhi police sleuths who visited various spots where Khalid Mohommad stayed and worked could not get any vital information regarding his area of operation and his style of functioning. The sources added that the Army and Delhi police sleuths who stayed here for two nights also questioned those persons who were acquainted with Khalid Mohommad. Some of the members of various orchestra teams of this city were also questioned. It was not yet clear whether these Army and Delhi police teams had succeeded in exposing the source from where Mohommad had got the incriminating documents relating to a defence establishment of the region. Mohommad was arrested by Army and Delhi police sleuths with 10 kilograms of RDX and documents relating to vital installations of the country. Mohommad was planning to carry out a bomb explosion in protest against the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992. He stayed first in Veer Colony and then shifted his residence to Paras Ramnagar and then to Poojanwala Mohalla. He developed contacts with low-ranking government functionaries. The Army and Delhi police sleuths had taken Mohommad to Jalandhar today for further investigations where he stayed for about a year. |
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2 killed in road accidents BALACHAUR, Dec 9 — Sukhwinder Singh Badal (31), a nephew of local BJP leader Milkhi Ram died, in an accident near the octroi post, number one, on the
Balachaur-Chandigarh road last night. His scooter was hit by a truck. The police has registered a case against the truck driver. The body was handed over to the family today after the post-mortem examination. In another accident involving a Maruti van, Jaspal Singh (19) of
Saroya, near Dialan village died on the spot. The police has arrested the van driver Hans Raj of
Begampur. |
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One arrested for killing ducks TARN TARAN, Dec 9 — Prem Singh of Chhanga village under Zira police station has been arrested by the staff of Forest and Wildlife Protection Department, Harike, for killing migratory ducks. Official sources of the department today informed this correspondent that the carcasses of the ducks have been recovered from the accused, who had killed them with some poison. The accused was produced before the Subdivisional Judicial Magistrate, Patti, who remanded him in judicial custody till December 15. |
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