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| Tuesday,
April 24, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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Bank robbery at Ludhiana Ludhiana, April 23 The youths, who came on a Bajaj Chetak scooter of silver grey colour, decamped with a bag containing the cash just after a cashier and a gunman of the bank had come out of the building at 1:30 p.m. to deposit the amount at the bank’s head office near Kailash cinema. According to gunman Bishan Singh, an ex-serviceman, the youths, one of them wearing a turban and the other wearing a helmet, suddenly swooped on him and the bank cashier, Gurbax Singh, just outside the bank. The turbaned youth, who was riding pillion, pointed a revolver at the gunman and ran away after snatching the bag. Interestingly, the gunman who was armed with a loaded double barrel gun, did not try to resist or fire a shot at the fleeing robbers. He and the cashier also failed to read the number of the scooter. The bank is situated in a crowded area but no one dared to intercept the youths. They are said to have fled towards Hambran side of the city. Later, talking to media persons, the gunman said he could not act in time as he was shocked at the act of the two youths. The cashier said it all happened suddenly and they were not able to resist or note the scooter number. The police, led by senior officers, reached the bank immediately. They recorded the statements of the bank manager, the gunman , the cashier and the other employees of the bank. The police showed photographs of several listed criminals to the gunman and the cashier but they did not identify any of them. Sources revealed that according to the on
preliminary investigations, the robbery seemed to have been committed with the help of an insider. Sources said that normally a van of the bank head office Kailash cinema comes and collects the cash in the afternoon. The bank sends the cash on its own when it becomes surplus. Today the bank learnt of the surplus amount at about 1:00 p.m. at which the cashier and the gunman were told to take the cash to the head office on a scooter. Sources said that the very fact that the even the bank does not know when the amount will become surplus indicates that the robbers had planned to strike only on one such day with immediate tip-off by some insider. The police was also investigating the theory that the tip-off could actually be given by some depositor(s) Mr S.S. Sandhu SP, city-II, said the police was recording statements and it was too early to comment. The robbery was the second in the last two months in the district. Earlier, a bank in Sudhar village near Jagraon was robbed of about Rs 2 lakh. The Jagraon police has yet to catch the robbers. |
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MC ‘orders’ probes to cover up issues Ludhiana, April 23 More often than not, the so called inquiries, to be conducted by senior officials of the rank of Assistant Commissioners, Joint Commissioners or Additional Commissioners, along with the area councillors and MC officers concerned, do not see the light of the day or are done at such a slow pace that the issues under probe either become redundant or any decisions become meaningless. In exceptional cases, when the inquiries are completed and the reports submitted to the MC administration, most of the time no follow up action is taken or the recommendations implemented to make the whole exercise worthwhile. During the past few months, the MC had ordered inquiries into various issues regarding cycle/two-wheeler stand in Sabzi Mandi, which was not put for auctioning for at least four years, thereby causing a financial loss of an estimated Rs one crore to the MC, auction of four commercial sites, adjoining a temple in Purana Bazar, unauthorised construction on land earmarked for community purposes and demolition of 26 shops in Chhawni Mohalla, near Old Sabzi Mandi on the G.T. Road in the city. According to sources, till date there has been no progress at all in any of these cases. The inquiry committees, set up by the Mayor for looking into the alleged lapses and acts of omission and commission, have not met even once to create an impression that the process of inquiry has been set in motion. The BJP councillor, Mr Sunil Mehra, who had raised the issue of auction of commercial sites, adjoining a temple in Purana Bazar, said that the ‘ordering an inquiry’ was just a ruse and a convenient way for the civic body high ups to wriggle out of difficult situations for the time being and thereafter making sure that the proceedings were either not started at all or delayed beyond all reasonable limits. Mr Jai Parkash, an Independent councillor, and a member of Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC) of the MC, observed that despite the civic body being a little bit ‘too top heavy’, with two Assistant Commissioners, two Joint Commissioners and two Additional Commissioners, the day-to-day working left much to be desired. The MC administration was taking advantage of bickering and fighting between elected representatives, who had got in the habit of giving importance to trifles that the vital issues got eclipsed. He was also critical of the so called decentralisation of functioning in the civic body at zone level. ‘‘At zonal offices of the MC, no officials or other functionaries are available and the people still have to go to the headquarters to get their works done.’’ |
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Cong infighting goes to high command Ludhiana, April 23 The regimentation has already taken place with the former Assembly speaker and senior leader, Mr Harnam Dass Johar, local MLA, Mr Rakesh Pandey, and the District Youth Congress (urban) president, Mr Parminder Mehta, on one side and the District Congress Chief, Mr Surinder Dawar, MP, Mr Gurcharan Singh Ghalib, Mr Nahar Singh Gill, Mr K. K. Bawa, Mr G. S. Lapran and Dr Harbans Kaur, all members of the PPCC on the other. While the former group owes allegiance to the former Chief Minister, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, the latter group is loyal to the PCC president, Capt Amarinder Singh. Recently the official group led by Mr Dawar submitted a memorandum to the AICC president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, seeking action against Mr Pandey, Mr Johar and Mr Mehta charging them with creating unruly scenes during the Congress rally on April 11 in Ludhiana, which was organised to protest against the corruption as exposed by tehelka. The memorandum alleged that the three leaders were responsible for the anti-Amarinder sloganeering at the Ludhiana railway station. It accused Mr Pandey of misbehaving with the DCC president, Mr Dawar, at the Circuit House. The memorandum said, “Three Congressmen Rakesh Pandey MLA, Harnam Das Johar AICC member, Parminder Mehta Ludhiana DYC chief along with few others indulged in sloganeering against the state Congress chief Capt Amrinder Singh in an unfortunate display”. It also alleged that Mr Pandey misbehaved with Mr Dawar at the Circuit House and Mr Johar “physically pushed” Mr Ghalib off the stage and used unparliamentary language. On the other hand Mr Johar, Mr Pandey and Mr Mehta have also complained to the AICC president. However, Mr Mehta said, “We did not go to the press as it is against the party discipline”. He said that they had also demanded an inquiry into the unfortunate incidents on April 11. He pointed out, everything was in the notice of the party high command as Mr Moti Lal Vohra was himself present when these incidents took place. “We will welcome an independent inquiry so that guilty are brought to the book”, Mr Mehta said. |
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Probe into share market scam sought Ludhiana, April 23 The bank unions have no faith in the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe as the present government had failed to take corrective measures though Mr Yashwant Sinha, Mr Murasoli Maran and Mr George Fernandes were the members of the JPC that had conducted a probe in the 1992 share scandal against Harshad Mehta. This demand was raised by the All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC) in a memorandum to the Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, said Mr S.R. Sen Gupta, general secretary, AIBOC, while talking to the newsmen here today. He had come from Calcutta to address the 14th general body meeting of the Bank of India Officers Association. While addressing the delegates from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh, he called upon the members to analyse their work and make trade unions responsive to the public whose interests were correlated with the future of the public sector. Mr Sen also demanded strict policy measures to handle the non-performing assets that had come to Rs 60,000 crore due to the wrong policies of the government. ‘‘Now it was the duty of the unions and the public to force the government to take strict action against the defaulters,’’ he said. |
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Rail passengers resent reservation hassles Ludhiana, April 23 The passengers, especially the migrant labourers, allege that they are helpless when the station supervisor and the railway traffic manger behave rudely with them. Instead of providing any satisfactory answer, they are told, ‘‘ It is not our duty to ensure to link the system that has been disconnected due the fault of the Telecommunication Department. The technician is trying to solve the problem.’’ Unfortunately, it is not a problem of one day or
two. There are 10 computer terminals at the reservation centre. Two computer terminals are used for enquiry as a result just eight computers are left for the reservation of thousands of tickets every day at the local railway station. There are not adequate seats for the passengers to sit at the centre. The passengers allege that often the railway booking clerks give tickets to their own people who enter from the back door. One can easily get a ticket by paying Rs 50-100 extra to the security men or a coolie but not by standing in the queue. The railway officials as usual deny these charges. Incidentally, on Sunday and other holidays the rush at the reservation centre increases manifold but the reservation centre is closed quite early leading to chaos and problems for the common people. The railway officials are also not there to listen their complaints. Mrs Rani Bajaj, a college teacher, says,‘‘ With the increase in temperature, lot of people are going to the South and other hill stations. The reservation clerks will often tell us after standing for hours that tickets are not available for the next 15 days. However, once you pay an extra Rs 100 to a coolie or agents roaming around the station, you will get the ticket within minutes.’’ Mr Kuldeep Singh, Area Traffic Manager, says,‘‘ It is not the shortage of the computer terminals but the problem of regular breakdown of the system network that causes the problem.’’ The reservation staff on the other hand admit that with the increase in railway traffic the number of computers should have been increased to at least 12 if not 15, long ago. The number of private booking agencies should also be increased to check the pressure on the reservation counter. Mr Dhiraj Kumar, a regular commuter, has also a point when he says,‘‘ The local railway officials can easily solve the problems faced by the passengers to great extent by keeping a check on the inefficiency of the lower staff and by responding to the complaints of the public. There should be some mechanism to attend the complaints on Sunday and other holidays also.’’ |
Harassment by bank employees alleged Machhiwara, April 23 Levelling these charges against bank employees through an affidavit, he said that he had applied for a loan to the Punjab Ex-servicemen Corporation through the District Sainik Welfare Officer, Ludhiana, in February 2000. The department concerned forwarded the case for further action to the said bank. The bank officials sanctioned his case and sent it back to the corporation to get a subsidy of Rs 10,000 on April 26, 2000. After that whenever he went to the bank, he was asked to come on some other day. At last the bank manager called him on December 7, 2000 to receive the cheque of the sanctioned amount. But when he went to the bank, an employee of the bank, Mr Ajit Paul Azad, informed him that his case had been sent back. He was asked to pay Rs 10,000 to get his work done, he alleged. Mr S.S. Multani, manager of the bank, and Mr Ajit Paul Azad said that they feared misutilisation of the loan amount. Apart from this, the subsidy was also not received by that time. For that reason, they had filed the case. Mr Jagdish Singh has demanded an inquiry into the matter.  |
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SAD(B) councillors support Dr Sandhu Ludhiana, April 23 Led by Mr Dukhia, a veteran party functionary and an old timer in the civic body affairs, as many as 12 councillors of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), including those, who had recently joined the party, met Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab during a ‘sangat darshan’ programme in Ludhiana East constituency here yesterday to place on record the vision and dedication, with which Dr Sandhu was pushing ahead various development projects in the city. Others, who accompanied Mr Dukhia in the meeting with Mr Badal were Mr Hakam Singh Giaspura, Mr Kashmir Singh Sira, Dr Parshottam Lal, Mr Arjan Singh Cheema, Giani Baldev Singh, Ms Sukhwinder Kaur, Ms Harpreet Kaur, Ms Jagdish Kaur, Ms Manjit Kaur Gogi and Mr Darshan Singh. The support extended by SAD(B) councillors to the MC Commissioner assumes political significance in the wake of relentless campaign, launched by district unit of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), the coalition partner of SAD(B) against the MC top brass, especially targetting Dr Sandhu. Even though a constituent of the ruling alliance, the BJP has been openly critical of the working of MC and has even demanded shifting of the Commissioner. |
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Development sidelined in war of wits Ludhiana, April 23 As part of the Akali Dal’s statewide developmental programme aimed at the forthcoming elections, Mr Dhillon had organised eight functions of laying foundation stones in eight different villages of the constituency. These foundation stones were today laid down by the speaker of the Punjab legislative assembly Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal. Mr Dhillon announced that Rs 1 crore would be spent on eight roads and all these roads would be completed by June 30. He said, besides the roads, other basic amenities would be made available to people in the area. In all villages he was given a rousing reception by the village panchayats. Realising the real purpose of Mr Dhillon, the sitting MLA, Mr Gabria, in an attempt to pre-empt his rival, organised similar functions one day in advance i.e yesterday. Interestingly, he also laid foundation stones in some of the villages where Mr Atwal was scheduled to do the same today. Mr Atwal laid foundation stones for roads in Bhatian, Shujatwal, Kanejan, Bajra, Prem Colony, Meharban, Bazigar Colony and Kakka to Jail Road. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Atwal and Mr Dhillon claimed that the government was committed to complete all development works. Mr Dhillon alleged that Mr Gabria laid down the foundation stones only after
he (Mr Dhillon) had announced his programme. He pointed out, so far Mr Gabria never cared to visit the area during all these years. He alleged, ‘‘Since I was busy with the Chief Minister’s visit yesterday, who was here in connection with a special sangat darshan, Mr Gabria organised the same programmes I had planned". Ludhiana (rural) is said to be one of the several constituencies identified by the ruling alliance for target-oriented developmental programmes where it feels that there are fair chances of winning. Only yesterday the Chief Minister spent one full day in Ludhiana (East) Assembly segment where he announced development grants to the tune of Rs 2 crore. Since the MLA from Ludhiana (rural), Mr Gabria, switched loyalties to Mr Tohra, Mr Dhillon is acting as Mr Badal’s representative in the Assembly segment and with all privileges and powers of a legislator. Mr Gabria was not available for his comments. |
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Cong men flay BJP campaign Ludhiana, April 23 The Congress functionaries said it was most unfortunate and undemocratic that the ruling party, which was the culprit as its senior leaders were caught while taking bribes to influence defence deals, had stooped so low that it had permitted its workers to retaliate and burn effigies of AICC President Sonia Gandhi. The NDA combine should rather regret its involvement in such wheeling-dealings and prove that it valued the issue of national security more than the power by quitting from office. Meanwhile, the Yuva Rashtriya Janata Dal has taken the Union Government to task for its inaction over the provocative Army action by
Bangladesh in which 16 Indian security personnel were killed. Addressing a party workers’ meeting, Mr Vijay Mahajan, president of Jammu and Kashmir unit of the party and in charge of Punjab affairs, lambasted the NDA government for its failure to take suitable retaliatory steps to safeguard the security of the national frontiers. ‘‘It is regrettable that Bangaldesh, which had attained freedom from repressive Pakistan rule with the active assistance from India, has chosen to commit such a hostile act,’’he added With reference to deteriorating law and order situation in J & K, Mr Mahajan held the government responsible for spurt in the militant activities. He said the BJP-led coalition was guilty of pursuing a weak-kneed policy, which had emboldened the militants. |
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Panel set up for Mahavira centenary celebrations Ludhiana, April 23 While addressing a state-level function to celebrate 2600th birthday celebrations of Lord Mahavira organised by the Bhagwan Mahavira 26th Centenary Celebrations Samiti at Arya College here, last night, the Chief Minister said that with a view to further spread the ideology propounded by Bhagwan Mahavira among the people, year long celebrations would be organised throughout the state. The celebrations will include organising of seminars, debates, conferences and other programmes highlighting the teachings of the lord. The Chief Minister announced that a big educational institution of important stature would be established or renamed after Lord Mahavira, so that the coming generation could seek inspiration and guidance from his valuable principles. He said India was the land of great gurus, saints and scholars, who had shown the path of mutual brotherhood, peace, love and amity among different sections of society and the whole world had later adopted their ideas to enthuse human and moral values in society. He pointed out Lord Mahavira had also propounded the principles of service to suffering humanity, non-violence and equality among the people during his life and his followers in Jain Samaj had been selflessly and sincerely working for the welfare of humanity and down trodden people. Appreciating the contribution of Jain Samaj for setting up good educational institutions through out the country to spread education among the poor and needy students, he said that the Jain Samaj had also made exemplary contributions in educating women, which resulted in spreading awareness among the whole society. Referring to the demands of the samiti , Mr Badal assured that the required piece of land at a suitable place would be arranged to establish an institution in the memory of Lord Mahavira to spread his message of peace, love and affection among the people. Mr Badal also announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh for the construction of a Sran (attendants’ bhawan) in Lord Mahavira Memorial Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, for which Lala Lajpat Rai MP had also announced a grant of Rs 11 lakh. Prominent among others who were present on the occasion include Mr Balramji Das Tandon, Local Bodies Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Supply Minister, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Technical Education Minister, Master Mohan Lal, Minister for Higher Education, Mr Sucha Singh Langah, PWD Minister, Mr S.K. Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.S. Sandhu, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Mr P.S. Sandhu DIG, Mr Kuldip Singh SSP, Mr S.R. Kaler ADC, Mr A. K. Sinha ADC(D), Mr Ram Kumar Jain, president of samiti, and Mr Jawahar Lal
Oswal. |
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Telephone subscribers sore over disconnections Fatehgarh Sahib, April 23 In a press note issued here today several subscribers alleged that the department had disconnected their phones and when they contacted telecom officials, they were told that one or two of their telephone bills between the period 1992 to 1997 were lying pending in their records and because of that the connection had been disconnected. They were told to produce the receipt of the bill in case they had paid it. The subscribers also alleged that some of them had produced the receipts but many were finding it difficult to produce 9-10-year-old receipts. They said if they had not deposited the bills them their connections should have been disconnected then and not after almost a decade. Some of them further alleged that this argument was being used as an excuse to harass them. Certain phones have been disconnected since the past one month and some of the subscribers has deposited the pending bills once again. The consumers have demanded that if the department had to disconnect their phones they should serve a notice before taking any action. They also demanded that if any consumer does not deposit his bill the amount should be included in the next bill and if he fails to make payment even the next time then phone should be disconnected. They said it was difficult for subscribers to maintain a record of telephone bills for the past 10 years, where as the department has a full-fledged accounts branch. If they don’t have the record, how do they expect that the consumers would have this record. The consumers have also written to Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, Telecommunication Minister, to intervene in the matter. The District Engineer,
Telephone (DET), Fatehgarh Sahib, however, said not doubt the subscribers were facing difficulty, but they had no other alternative as they had been directed by the Accounts Department. He agreed that existing law in this regard needed to be discussed at a higher level. |
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400 attend Aggarwal Sabha meeting Jagraon, April 23 Speaking on this occasion Mr Mittal gave a call to the members to help in curbing social evils prevalent in this community. He advised them to adopt the practice of “prichay sammelans” (Know each other) as prevalent in Jaipur. At these functions hundreds of marriages are solemnised according to rituals which helps in curbing the evil of dowry and wastage of money. |
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Annual day
function held Ludhiana, April 23 While speaking at the function Mr Vidyasagar said that the HP Government was trying its level best to make the state self sufficient in all fields. He also said that the efforts were being to generate hydro electricity so that the state was able to produce one fourth of the power generated by the country. Many cultural programmes were also organised. As many as 11 sewing machines were distributed among needy women by the minister. |
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FENG SHUI TIPS FENG Shui is the question of balance and this is related to opposites, expressed in terms of Yin & Yang. All the energies of the earth are said to be either Yin or Yang in nature. The elements of the earth are said to have a Yin or a Yang essence. Yin and Yang have their own magnetic fields of energy. Each gives existence to the other and cannot exist without each other. When Feng Shui speaks of balance, it refers to best possible conditions of Yin and Yang. There is no exact formula to measure these energies. There should be more Yang but less Yin in places where we live. This means that over living and working places should be more lively (Yang) than still (Yin). Too much noise, activity and brightness are symptoms of excessive Yang and too much stillness is a place of Yin. Yin areas lead to illness end frustrations. Yin and Yang interact continuously to create constant changes in environment. Growing children need healthy Yang energies while sick people need young dose to head their bodies. Shopping places should be full of Yang e.g. lots of bright colours and activity. Young energies bring good business luck while offices with more Yin makes business suffer. As it is evident from the symbol, bad fortune transforms into good future.
— Harshna Address your Feng Shui queries to: |
Arhtiyas go on strike in Khanna mandi Khanna, April 23 Mr Rajewal further alleged that despite the talks the commission agents and farmers had staged a
dharna. After calling for a strike leaders of the local arhtiya association, including president Sadhu Ram
Nanda, general secretary Bharpur Chand Bector, Ranbir Sood, Harbans Singh Rosha and Wg Cdr Balbir Kumar staged a dharna in front of the civil supply
office. Commission agents alleged that the FCI was not procuring discoloured wheat but for the past two days the other state agencies had also started working on the same
pattern. They alleged that more than 5 lakh wheat bags were lying unsold in Khanna Mandi. |
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