 |
|
| Saturday,
March 24, 2001, Chandigarh, India |
|
|||
|
FIR amended; murder
case registered Sahnewal, March 23 According to the FIR registered on March 19, on the statement of Hardeep Kaur of Shahpur village, Balbir Singh, alias Beera, the husband of Hardeep Kaur, had been killed by an unidentified vehicle on the Shahpur-Kotli road while he was going to his tubewell late in the night. A case was registered under Sections 279 and 304 of the IPC by the Payal police. But as the police began investigations, an entirely new story emerged contrary to what had been said by the wife of the deceased. Baldev Singh, brother of Balbir Singh, gave his statement to the police that it was not an accident case, but a case of murder. He said, “Hardeep Kaur was having illicit relations with Harvinder Singh of Siora village from 1998 as he came very often to their house. Many in the village were aware of the fact. Balbir Singh on the other hand was a drunkard and used to beat his wife very often and most of the time their relations remained strained. As Hardeep Kaur wanted a “companion”, she developed relations with Harvinder Singh, Baldev Singh added. It was on the night of March 18 that Hardeep Kaur contacted Harvinder Singh on a mobile phone and said that she had given pills to her husband, as she usually did to meet her lover in the night. According to plan, Harvinder Singh came to their house and with the help of Hardeep Kaur murdered Balbir Singh with an iron rod, then put his body into the Contessa car of Harvinder Singh and dropped it on the Shahpur-Kotli road, making it look as if he had been crushed under some vehicle. Baldev Singh, said that on the night of March 18, he had seen both of them putting the body into the car, and thinking that Balbir Singh might be ill, he went on his own way, as the two brothers were having strained relations for some time. It was only the next day that the whole story became clear to him. According to Mr R.N. Dhoke, SSP, Khanna, the FIR number 35 registered on March 19, has been amended and Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC have been included. The alleged accused, Harvinder Singh and Hardeep Kaur, have been arrested by the Payal police, and according to Mr Charan Singh Atwal, SHO, Payal, “Both of them have admitted their crime.” |
|
Rash drivers — beware of hidden
cameras Ludhiana, March 23 According to the Mr Satish Malhotra, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic), cameras were installed at the behest of the SSP, Mr Kuldeep Singh, for streamlining the increasing traffic in the city. During the past few years the vehicular traffic has increased in the city at a phenomenal rate making the management difficult. Mr Malhotra said with the help of latest technology, the police will be able to check the traffic violations and also minimise the accidents, which usually occur due to the negligent and rash driving. The cameras have been installed in such a way that nobody can see them. In case anyone violates traffic rules the culprit will instantly be detected by the camera as one person will be regularly sitting before the monitor. The camera will simulatenously do the recording also. In case anyone has the doubts or argues with the cops, as usually happens in such cases, the recording can be shown to the erring driver. Mr Malhotra said the traffic police has geared up to check the people who often violate the traffic rules. The police is making all efforts to avoid such situations. With installation of cameras the people will be discouraged to flout traffic rules. A camera was installed at the Old Courts crossing on the experimental basis today. A police van fully equipped with the visual terminals and the recording devices was standing adjacent. Every traffic rule violator was shown the recording to convince him that he had violated the rules and challaned. Mr Malhotra, who is in charge officer of the experiment, told this correspondent that the installing of camera permanently at various crossings could reduce the arguments of the cops with the public. |
|
Riot victims flay MLA’s
stand Ludhiana March 23 A meeting of the state working committee of the ‘Danga Peerit Welfare Society held here today, with Mr. Surjit Singh in the chair, condemned the stand of Mrs Chawla, who had opposed the resolution of condemnation of the 1984 riots, adopted by Punjab Assembly recently. According to Mr. Surjit Singh, the BJP legislator had also made objectionable and derogatory remarks against widows of the riots during an election campaign in Majitha byelection. In a resolution adopted at the meeting, the society urged the BJP high command to keep activities of Mrs. Chawla under check lest the communal amity and peace in the state should be disturbed. Criticising the state government for its dilly-dallying attitude and the bureaucratic apathy, the society observed that decisions taken by the government in May 1999 for rehabilitation of the riot victims were yet to be given effect. On the top of it, some riot victim families, living in LIG houses in urban estate, Dugri, Phase II houses, were being harassed by PUDA authorities. The meeting issued a warning to the PUDA administration to desist from their provocative acts and urged the state government to intervene and save the situation from taking a turn for the worse. The society put on record its gratitude to the SAD(B) - BJP government, led by Mr. Parkash Singh Badal for its initiative to bring a resolution of condemnation of the 1984 riots in Punjab Assembly. It made a fervent appeal to the MPs from Punjab to take up the issue in the Parliament for bringing the culprits of the riots to the book. |
|
Women’s grievances cells to be set
up Ludhiana, March 23 This was stated by Master Mohan Lal, Minister of Higher Education, Punjab, who was in the city to award degrees to the students of the Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Gujarkhan Campus, yesterday. The minister said that the decision to set up grievances cells had been taken after he received complaints of injustice, denial of maternity leave, earned leave and medical leave to women lecturers of colleges. Regarding the new eligibility criteria for principalship in colleges, Master Mohan Lal said that he had written to the UGC to give relaxation for the post as not many senior lecturers in colleges were PhD qualified. About the issue of underpayment raised by the ad hoc staff, the minister said that ad hoc staff was getting its complete due. He said that they were being paid adequately for the number of lecturers they were taking in the colleges. Regarding the issue of increasing the number of covered posts for lecturers in colleges, Master Mohan Lal said that the ministry was short of funds. He said that even though the Punjab Government had to pay just 20 per cent of the total amount of salaries of the staff, it was very difficult to adequately pay the amount to the incumbent covered staff in colleges. On the occasion, delegation of Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) met the minister. Professor K.B.S. Sodhi, president, PCCTU, demanded early implementation of pension-cum-gratuity scheme, parity to DPEs and librarians with lecturers, introduction of career advancement scheme in non-government colleges. Also, Mr Ishwar Singh, president, and Mr Gurbir S.Sarna, general secretary, Non-Government Management Federation of Punjab and Chandigarh, presented a memorandum to Master Mohan Lal demanding early release of the 80 per cent of grant from the central government to its aided colleges. |
|
Protest march against sacrilege Ludhiana, March 23 Immediately after finishing the weekly Friday prayers at the local Jama Masjid, thousands of protesters carrying black badges marched silently towards the Deputy Commissioner’s office. They submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Speaking on the occasion the Punjab state unit president, of the Indian Muslim Council, which had organised the protest march, Mr Atiq-ur-Rehman said, apprehensions were being expressed that these incidents were part of a deep-rooted conspiracy aimed at spreading riots in the
country. |
|
Sale of cut fruit banned Fatehgarh Sahib, March 23 He has also banned the sale of cut vegetables, meat, cakes, biscuits, bread, perched grains, sugarcane and fruit juices and other such items unless these are covered. |
|
BOTTOMLINE Ludhiana, March 23 One day, when Mr Meg Raj Thapar came back from school in the evening, he saw a huge gathering of people at Nau Ghara who were beating drums and shouting “Azadi Mil Gai Hai”. Later, he came to know that Sukhdev had been hanged to death along with Bhagat Singh and Rajguru the previous evening in the Lahore Central Jail. He also learnt that the British government had buried the dead bodies near Ferozepur border to avoid the tension. The next day, he could not go to school because of the tension in the town. He could not understand then what had been happening, but after growing up, he realised that he had been a witness to a historical moment. He feels proud that he, too, is a Thapar and belongs to the area that produced a national hero like Sukhdev. Regarding the government’s apathy towards the ancestral house of the martyr, he said our people, after getting the freedom, had forgotten our heroes. Nobody, including the Thapar community and the government, have ever thought of setting up a memorial at the birth place of the martyr. Mr Meg Raj Thapar said it was common for any government to forget the people who could be role models for the young generation. “The government does not realise that stories of these martyrs can encourage patriotism in people,” he said. He says that memorials help successive generations know that somebody sacrificed his life for them and the country. |
Apathy towards national
heroes Ludhiana, March 23 Seventyone years of martyrdom. Fifty four years of independence. Yet there is no memorial of Sukhdev, who was hanged to death along with Bhagat Singh and Rajguru on this day in 1931. However, after a long and sustained campaign the government ultimately decided to declare the ancestral home of Sukhdev as a protected monument, after the widow who was living there was provided alternate accommodation. There is a sense of regret among the people over this indifference. Mr Harikishan Puri, a resident of the Chaura Bazar area, blamed the government for ignoring the birth place of martyr. He said government should have set up a memorial much earlier. He was of the view that “setting up a memorial after 54 years of independence showed that our country could not give any respect to those who had laid their lives for the freedom”. He felt, “We are indebted to the martyrs.” He also blamed the Thapar community which has owned Sukhdev for his being a Thapar, for not giving a thought to set up a memorial at his birth place. Mr Kanwar Lal Thapar also a resident of Chaura Bazar area was of the opinion that it was the duty of the government and the community to set up the memorial. However, he felt consoled that after so many years the community and the administration had finally decided to do something.” He opined, “No country can survive without remembering and acknowleging its heroes otherwise history will not
forgive them”. Bhupinder Singh, owner of the Society Cinema, said, “Everybody in this city is busy in making money and nobody really
bothers what has happened in the past”. He was critical of the people in Ludhiana for not caring about their past. He pointed out it was the extreme of apathy and indifference towards our national heros on the part of the government and the community that campaigns had to be launched for setting up of their memorials. Jatinder Thapar, resident of the Nau Ghara, said the memorial should have been set up much earlier by the government. However, he appreciated the district administration for taking the step, albeit late. “Better late, than never”, he remarked. |
|
Badshahi sawari tonga: is it on the way out? Ludhiana, March 22 The city has two tonga stands, one at the new bus-stand and the oldest one is at the old bus-stand, but now it lacks status, glamour and the old world charm. The stand has existed for many decades. But with the tongas not remaining a popular and fast mode of transport, the tonga-stand looks like a garbage dump with stink from horse dung making things worse. Kewal Krishan, who supplies furnishings needed to adorn the horse like saddle, kanpatta, lagam etc said, “The entire paraphernalia costs Rs 1500. The tongas were carrying a lot of passengers five-six years back but now due to increased traffic , and a large number of three-wheelers plying, the people are preferring to go by three-wheelers. Sadly, people do not have time to go in the tongas.” The horses driving the tongas do not come cheap. According to Titu, “a good horse comes for Rs 1 lakh. We buy the horses at the fairs held at Muktsar on Lohri and Dussehra, or at Amritsar during Divali and Baisakhi. The best tongas are made in Patiala and they cost Rs 10,000. The old ones can be bought for Rs 3000 to 4000. The tongawalas said that they do not make more than Rs 70 for themselves a day. Around Rs 50 is spent on the black gram, choker and jaggery for horses. But they make a lot of money by using the mares for the weddings, birthdays, shobha yatras etc. Most of the mares are used as ghoris for weddings and they can make more than Rs 1000 a day, sometimes even more depending on the party. Manga Ram has made a ornamental buggy which he supplies for the bridegrooms and makes a handsome amount of money. At times, he is also invited at the birthday parties to give children a ride. During the shobha yatras, again his buggy is used. The buggi can be driven by two horses at a time and then he charges more. If a single horse is used to drive the buggy then the charges are reduced. The PFA also comes and advises them to take care of their animals. They have sanctioned a load of seven quintals per horse. A horse generally travels 50 km a day. These days the owners are becoming more aware of the diseases that can attack their horses and are getting them vaccinated. Unfortunately, their horses are not insured and when this idea was suggested to them, they readily agreed to it. They decided to ask their pardhan Niranjan Singh Makkar to take this issue up with the PFA and other concerned people. Titu said that Municipal Corporation does not give them any safai karamcharis and they all have faith in God that He will help them and
tongas will continue to carry passengers inspite of stiff competition by other means of communication.
Tongas are environmental friendly and are relics of the past and one hopes that they will continue to be seen on the roads.
AA |
|
TTE manhandles PCO owner Ludhiana, March 23 Mr Sharma he was with his PCO operator when the TTE, Darshan Singh Sodhi, came there and made a telephone call to Delhi. When the operator asked for the money, the TTE allegedly refused to pay. When Mr Sharma intervened, this infuriated the TTE who threatened the him that his PCO would be closed. He allegedly said that he never paid for making telephone calls. Mr Sharma was examined in Civil Hospital. He said a written complaint to along with his medical report had been sent to the railway police and the SHO of the Kotwali police station. However, no FIR has been registered so far. The police said it had received the complaint and was examining the facts. No railway official was available for comments. |
|
Noise pollution: disturbing
facts Ludhiana, March 23 WHO has in a report revealed that noise could also adversly affect performance of reading, attentiveness, problem solving and memory. The effect of noise on the human system can range from annoyance to problems with communicating to actual psycho-physiological effects. Dr
G.S. Wander, Chief Cardiologist, Hero DMC Heart Centre, said that excessive noise and disturbances are the major causes for stress. Hypertension is caused by acute stress, so noise pollution can be a cause of coronary artery diseases (CAD). Dr Wander also said that Urban people were more prone to CAD and hypertension because they lead stressful lives. “Rural people live in villages and they lead peaceful lives without any kind of disturbances, noise pollution does not harm them much”, added Dr Wander. Noise above 80 decibels may also increase aggressive
behaviour. The WHO report points out that in the developed world, noise related hearing impairment was mostly restricted to the work environment. WHO report on noise pollution says that industrial workers exposed to noise often turn up the volume of radios after work, but in the morning turn it down, as they find it too high. However, if the exposure is continuous, the hearing impairment can become permanent in 6 to 12 months in units where noise levels are above the recommended units. Dr Gursharan Singh, president, district unit of Indian Medical Association said that so far no formal study had been conducted on the subject in the city. “The effects of noise pollution can only be documented when there will be proper screening of the people. It is more significant in the older parts of the city. Being an industrial city, the industrial workers could be more affected by hearing
impairements”, added Dr Gursharan. |
|
Three samiti men
held Ludhiana, March 23 According to police sources, one of the three persons has been identified as Rajeev Tandon, while the identity of the other two could not be ascertained so far. DGP, Punjab, Sarbjit Singh had in a press conference held at Phillaur yesterday named Rajeev as the main suspect said to be assigned the duty of creating trouble in the city. Meanwhile, the police has stepped up vigil in the city, especially near the religious places. While yesterday security around the mosques was tightened , the police has extended the cover to all religious places fearing any untoward incident. Mr S.S. Sandhu, SP, City (I) said that the police was closely monitoring the situation and special force has been posted at all religious places. He said the police was keeping a close watch on all the angles of any threat to communal harmony in the city. Police sources revealed that senior police officials also held a number of meetings with leaders of various religious organisations and took stock of the situation. The police officials also appealed to help in maintaining peace and communal harmony in the city. |
|
Photographers to strike work on March 27 Ludhiana, March 23 Giving this information, Mr. Baldev Raj, President, Ludhiana Photographers Association, informed that the photographers have been asked by the Central Excise authorities to get themselves registered with the department. He said there was widespread resentment among the professional photographers over the ill conceived move of the government, which was bound to create a host of problems for the trade, which had a majority of ‘single person working establishments’. Mr. Baldev Raj informed that the striking photographers, including the photo studio and colour lab owners, will take out a protest march and hold a rally at Mini-Secretariat, where a memorandum will also be submitted to the district authorities. |
|
FLAVOUR OF THE WEEK ALMOST all schools have declared the results of exams conducted by them. Only results of board exams remain undeclared. Students are excited buying new books, copies and stationery items. A lucrative way to make a quick buck is to supply books, including bags, from the book store of the school. There is a good margin of profit and schools earn a neat packet. In some schools, the music cassettes composed by music teachers are made mandatory for students. The spate of convocations is giving new graduates, post graduates, nursing graduates and medical graduates to the societies, but will the society be able to absorb them? Students look very radiant on the day, but what about their future? It was heartening to note that this year the engineering students of Guru Nanak Engineering were picked up for lucrative jobs from the campus, so were the MBA students. Glamorous Shobha De, a famous columnist and a writer was in Ludhiana to inaugurate a book store at one of the posh departmental stores. Her presence created quite a furore. Many luminaries from different parts of India have been gravitating towards Ludhiana. It is the turn of Raj Babbar to arrive in the city on Friday on the occasion of the seventy-first martyrdom day of Sukhdev. The traffic police has installed cameras which will be able to detect traffic violators. The cameras will give authentic proof of the drivers jumping lights or committing other
traffic violations. One has to see how successful they can be. The new movie ‘Chupa Rustam’ has been released starring Manisha Koirala and Sanjay Kapoor (S.K. who? some may ask) . He is the younger brother of Anil Kapoor. The dances should be good as the choreographers are the well-known husband and wife team, Rekha and Chinni Parkash. The sultry Mamta Kulkarni will be seen after a long time. Punjabi writers and literature are getting quite an impetus as a number of award ceremonies honouring literary figures are being held on regular basis. New books are also being released. The mood in the city has been upbeat on account of our cricket team winning the Australia-India series. The celebrations are more conspicuous in Punjab as the hero, Harbhajan Singh, who crafted the victory, hails from Jalandhar. For people who want to lose weight, navratra will be starting on March 26. Many who fast get the choicest of fruits to eat. Even during kitty parties both at home and restaurants, special navratra food is served. Everything connected with religion is big business these days. |
|
AT THE CROSS ROADS Ludhiana, March 23 Ideals are brutal, but there is no escape from them. They are the products of imagination, without which one merely vegetates. But the world of today is averse to ideals. People have no patience for such nonsense. They are after petty gains. They seek small mercies. The result is a vast emptiness within. In that state the mind is always preoccupied with the acquisition of material comforts. The vicious circle starts, leaving no time for contemplation and no scope for readjustment. Sometimes I wonder why a person very close to you at a particular period of life becomes irrelevant at another stage. Most of our relationships are based on selfish motives. The moment the motive is attained, the other person becomes irrelevant. Then again the same person becomes relevant if there is an axe to grind. Someone has well said that in most relationships there are half masks and constructed postures. The element of possessiveness also robs the relationship of its independence. Kahlil Gibran has said: “Let there be space in your togetherness.” Consumerism, as we know, has cast its shadow on all the dealings in the present day world. Human nature is undergoing a sea change, as around us not merely the season but the climate is changing. In the present scenario, the policy of ‘give and take’ has blurred the images of life at all levels. In domestic life, the element of sacrifice is sadly missing. Self-centred individuals continue to live under the same roof till they manage to find escape from grim realities. In their search for pastures new, they are ready to take any risk. For them the future is now. Petty considerations weigh heavily also on the minds of the men of letters. They are too much engrossed in themselves to take notice of others. The endeavour is to win ‘the game of chess’ by all means. There is no pricking of the conscience for them. One who treads a lonely path is branded a maverick. It is in fact an attempt to cast aspersions on the performance of a person who thinks differently. The golden rule is to toe the line and lead a peaceful life . This peace, however, is shattered when one comes face to face with oneself. In the words of Surjit Patar- Keeta main horaan naal bathhera muqabla Hun taan hai mere naal hi mera muqabla |
In-laws and husband booked in forced abortion
case Ludhiana, March 23 Case against SI The sadar police yesterday registered a case against Parshotam Singh, an SI with the Punjab Police, about 10 days after the SI allegedly tried to kidnap a complainant. Mr Avtar Singh Gill, son of Mr Harchand Singh Gill, a resident of Ghawaddi village, had approached Mr Kuldip Singh, SSP, in this connection who ordered the registration of the case against the SI. Mr Gill had complained that while he was returning to his village from Rurka village along with his gunman on March 12, the accused, accompanied by Ranvir Singh and 15 to 20 other armed persons, overtook his vehicle and stopped them near Ghawaddi village. Parshottam Singh and Ranvir Singh started threatening him for the withdrawal of some old cases. They then tried to kidnap the complainant who was rescued from the grip of the accused by Head Constable Bhupinder Singh and Constable Sukhwinder Singh. The accused ran away after issuing threats to the complainant. A case has been registered under Sections 341, 506, 148, 149 of the IPC and sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act. No arrest has been made so far.
Dowry harassment cases Three separate cases of dowry harassment were registered by the police during the past 24 four hours. The first case was registered at the division number 2 police station under sections 406, 490-A, 506 and 34 of the IPC on the application of Kulwinder Kaur, daughter of Mr Jagdish Singh, wife of Balwinder Singh, resident of Nirmal Pura mohalla on the Gill road, against Balwinder Singh, son of Naranjan Singh, Jaswinder Kaur, daughter of Naranjan Singh, Pritam Kaur, wife of Naranjan Singh and Manjit Singh, brother-in-law. The complainant stated that she was married on April 17, 1994, and since then the accused had been harassing her for bringing inadequate dowry. The other case was registered by the focal point police under sections 406 and 498 A of the IPC on the complaint of Rajwinder Kaur, wife of Gurmit Singh, daughter of Mr Laskar Singh, resident of Tajpur Road, against Gurmit Singh, son of Mr Gurdev Singh, Gurdev Singh, Gurdial Kaur, mother-in-law, Jasbir Singh and Amrik Singh, both brothers-in-law. The complainant stated that she was married on December 6, 1998, and the accused harassed and tortured her to bring more dowry and demanded Rs 50,000 in cash. |
Apparel integrated parks mooted in industrial
clusters Ludhiana, March 23 According to Mr Kunal Sood and Mr Sandeep Batta, who represented the two association, this scheme has been conceptualised to provide financial and other assistance for building and managing apparel parks with high standards and infrastructural facilities and establishing textile and clothing manufacturing units for integrated production. Mr Khatua was informed about the ongoing efforts of the industry to set up a Textile City in Ludhiana, for which land had been designated. But the industry found the land insufficient and low lying. Mr Khauta suggested that there could be another phase for the park at Ludhiana, which would house knitwear units and the processors may stay at the already designated area. The low-lying area could also be filled. Regarding the de-reservation, Mr Khatua was informed that due to reservation, the average size of the firms was small and these may be under lot of pressure and de-reservation might mean more sickness. However, it was concluded that if the knitting garment manufacturers felt that they will be better off with a few more years of SSI reservation, they should de-link garmenting from knitting and knitting may be de-reserved whereas the knitwear garmenting be allowed to continue as reserved for the small scale industry for another two years. The limit for knitted garments investment may be increased to Rs 5 crore instead of Rs 1 crore currently. Mr Khatua informed that a survey had already been planned for the knitwear industry of Ludhiana and would be taken up at the earliest. It was emphasied that the survey should be conducted in person and not through mailing questionnaires as in that case there was little chance of the questionnaires being mailed back. The terms of reference for collection of information were also discussed. It was suggested to the Textile Commissioner that the unit-level information needed included total investment, total turnover, employment, process standards, product standards, installed capacity, capacity utilisation, problems and technology levels. The Textile Commissioner informed that only those sops, which were WTO compatible, could be considered for exporters. Citing some examples, he said that sops like income tax exemption and DEPB could not be allowed. To penetrate into international markets, the WTO regine sops like market studies, infrastructure development in the form of setting up permanent showrooms abroad, warehousing facilities and participation in international departmental stores promotion programmes, intensive publicity campaigns and presence in global trade fairs could be considered. |
|
Freight charges not to be raised Ludhiana, March 23 Giving this information, Mr Rajinder Jindal, president, Engineering Exporters Association of India, said that after the association pleaded with the CONCOR, the latter agreed on keeping the same freight rates. He said that since the exporters were having a geographical disadvantage of being away from sea port, they were facing tough competition. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
