DC orders inquiry into utensil kit scam
Manoj Kumar
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 6
Mr S.K. Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, has ordered an inquiry into the utensils scam in Machhiwara block of the Koomkalan constituency near here. The Panchayat Secretaries Union, Machhiwara, and the representatives of the Scheduled Castes had alleged the involvement of some higher officials in the district in the purchase of substandard utensil kits at a higher price, which were later distributed to the SC dharamshalas.

According to the information available, a delegation of the union and local leaders had recently met Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, and apprised him of the whole situation. The delegation lamented that the substandard utensils were purchased at a much higher rate than the market price.

They said the utensil kits, which included four carpets, four beds, four steel benches, 100 multi-purpose plates, 100 spoons, four scoops, two cooking vessels have been distributed after purchasing at a rate of Rs 29,600 per kit. Mr Atwal assured the delegation that the government would order an inquiry and action would be taken against the culprits. The panchayat secretaries said such kits could have been purchased at about Rs 15,000 each.

The inquires made with the local Block Development and Panchayat Office revealed that the office had received an amount of Rs 25.79 lakh from the ADC (Development), Ludhiana, for the purchase of 87 utensil kits to serve to the SC dharmshalas. One of employees told that Mr Mahinder Singh Grewal, DDPO, issued verbal instructions to transfer the whole amount to the account of the secretary, Red Cross Society Punjab, through a bank draft because the state government was interested to get the utensils purchased through the Red Cross Society only. However, Mr Sandhu, who is the district president of the Red Cross Society, said, ‘‘The society is not involved in the purchase of the utensils. I have asked Mr A.K. Sinha, ADC ( Development ) to conduct an inquiry into the whole episode and submit the report within five days. After the submission of the report, appropriate action would be taken against the guilty.’’

It is learnt that in the entire Koom Kalan constituency, which includes Machhiwara block and some villages falling under the Ludhiana Block II, Fathegarh Sahib and Ropar district, the state government has issued a grant worth Rs 74 lakh to distribute utensil kits to the SC dharamshalas.

One of the sarpanches, who did not wish to quoted, said, ‘‘A glimpse at the genuine rate of goods has put up a question mark on the sincerity and honesty of the SAD-BJP government which compares itself with the neat and clean regime of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It has also defamed the image of the Red Cross Society, which had allegedly purchased these kits at double the actual price.’’

Car dealers resent police directive
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 6
The police directive to the car dealers in the city not to sell or buy vehicles registered in other states has stirred up a controversy with the dealers vehemently opposing the move. They term it as an attack on their business right. The police, however, is sticking to its stand claiming that it was the only possible way to check car thefts.

The secondhand car bazaar in the city is the biggest such market in North India. People from several parts of the region come here every Sunday to buy and sell cars. The police, stung by the increase in number of car thefts in the region, has issued orders to car dealers not to deal in cars or other four-wheelers registered in other states without its permission. The vehicles are required to be brought to the police station for verification and only then any deal could be struck. Even the business transactions of cars bearing local registration numbers are also required to be intimated to the police.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, a number of car dealers said the police order amounted to their harassment. Their clients, fearing unnecessary police interference, would prefer selling their car at some other place or without mediation of dealers. Car dealers said most of their clients were industrialists. Many them have their units in other states also. Being based here, they prefer to sell their cars here. There is nothing illegal in it and the police was unnecessarily harassing them.

According to car dealers, whenever any deal is struck, dealer also signs papers. Due to this, he can in no way escape from being involved in a criminal case if the car was a stolen one.

However, a police official said the directions were necessary. He said the dealers should not resent the move if the deals were all legal. He said the police only wanted to check car thefts by directing the car dealers to first get the vehicle verified from the police and bring the deal in the knowledge of the police. He accused dealers of over-reacting on the issue.

On the other hand, car dealers argue that the main problem faced by the police was to control vehicle thefts in the city, but it has issued orders on the sale and purchase of vehicles registered in other states.

Mobile number on registration plate
Kamal Kishore Shankar

Ludhiana, January 6
A common practice among influential persons here is to write their designations like chairman, president or general secretary on their vehicles' number plates, instead of the mandatory registration number, to get noticed by policemen. While law breakers use banned pressure horns, black films on window panes or red lights on top of their cars, one city resident seems to have crossed all limits by writing his mobile-phone number on the back number plate of his jeep (Gypsy), where the registration number should be.

Perhaps the owner wants to convey that here is someone who is really worth talking to or that it would be great fun to talk to this "innovative and smart" person. Besides the mobile number, the name of a marriage palace is also written. This could be an advertising strategy, getting cheap and effective publicity. Whatever the reason, it is clear violation of traffic rules.

Ludhiana residents are not only famous for their lavish and different lifestyle—who want to remain the centre of attraction at any cost—but also for making themselves popular, for which they do mind bending a few traffic rules. The creativity of citizens of this city is on display on vehicles, especially four-wheelers, all over town—one can easily spot vehicles with words like "police," "Punjabi munda," "tough guys" or "city boys," emblazoned on them, instead of a simple registration number.

Another common practice is not to get vehicles registered and running them with temporary numbers only. A temporary number, which is issued at the time of purchase of vehicle, is valid only for a month.

The police has now launched a drive to set right this errant behaviour and has been challaning about 1,000 persons for violating traffic rules for the past few days. However, it appears rules and regulations are only for the commoners—the well connected or well-off people seem to be able to get away with offences, or at least that's how the common driver on the road feels.

BJP, Cong activists clash
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 6
Tension prevailed in Issa Nagar and adjoining colonies here today following a clash between BJP and Congress activists when the latter were carrying out a rally in the area against the SAD-BJP government. A number of activists from both sides received minor injuries.

The clash has brought to centre-stage the alleged financial irregularities committed by the local Municipal Corporation and a few leaders of the ruling party in the development of the Mini-Rose Garden in Kidwai Nagar. Congress activists were raising slogans against the ruling leaders, while BJP activists were defending them. The Division No 2 police rushed to the spot and was seen pacifying agitators. The police has, however, not registered a case till this evening. Congress leaders were, however, claiming that a case was registered.

Mr Parminder Mehta, a senior Congress leader, said the Congress had taken out the rally to inform the public about the rampant corruption in the SAD-BJP regime. They had burnt an effigy of the government. The activists had just finished the rally and the gathering had almost dispersed when nearly 40 activists of the BJP armed with swords, sticks and rods attacked them. 

Models display traditional outfits
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 6
A fashion and beauty contest was organised by the Events and Show Organisers here last evening. Budding models of the city sashayed down the ramp with confidence. The models wore traditional Indian outfits. Male models wore ‘achkan’ and ‘kurta-pyjama’ with colourful ‘odhnis’, while female models draped silken, crepe and chiffon sarees.

A new singer Baljinder Babbal was also launched. The show was choreographed by Gagreen and directed by Inderjit.

Cops' functioning draws locals’ ire
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 6
Local residents feel that law enforcement agencies should be more active and act more responsibly, only then can the sudden spate in crime in the city be controlled. They think that the police should work efficiently to solve pending cases.

A retired commandant of the Border Security Force, Mr. J.S. Dhandra, is of the view that investigation agencies are dull and are unable to strike at the roots of crime to maintain law and order. He says after the murder of Nirmal Jain, the police has pulled up its socks to nab the criminals, but despite night patrolling, there has been no major breakthrough. He adds that the basic principle to nab criminals is to have information about them, which can be gathered only if intelligence officials work hard with result-oriented objective.

A businessman, Mr Purushotam Mittal, says the increase in crime rate in the city is alarming. He is of the view that the law enforcement agencies should not take the complaint of any person lightly and do proper investigations to avoid any untoward incident.

Another businessman, Mr Ajay Jindal, says the murder of Nirmal Jain is a shocking incident and residents have started feeling insecure. He opines that for maintaining law and order it is necessary that murder cases be solved at the earliest. He says if the Jain murder case is not solved soon, people may not go to the police for solution to their problems.

A school teacher, Mr Kewal Krishan, is of the view that the government should take appropriate action now. He opines that vehicle theft incidents have increased in the city, but this does not mean that the whole city police would remain engaged only in challaning traffic offenders. He is of the view that if law enforcement officials are not up to the mark, they should be replaced.

An entrepreneur, Mr Ashok Sharma, says the people are fed up with the slow investigation system of the police, which has not been able to solve cases. According to him, if the police works with this speed, it will be difficult for the common man to lead a peaceful life here. He is of the view the police should gear up its investigation process.

Police checking irks people
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 6
The district police challaned about 1000 vehicles last week following special checking of vehicles at nakas erected almost on every road in the wake of crime spurt in the city. While the public is angry at the harassment caused to it due to their checking several times a day at one point or the other, the police said stringent security measures were necessary to catch criminals.

The police is also on a red alert for the last four days, especially after the murder of an industrialist Nirmal Jain and a burglary bid even as it still fails to trace the youths involved in crimes in the city recently.

An alleged two-member gang continues to give sleepless nights to the police as a crime incident takes place one after another in the city. While the police has got no definite clue about the involvement of the same youths in all crimes, it suspects on the basis of the common modus operandi used in a majority of the cases that it could be the handiwork of same youths.

The police so far gropes in dark. Its action has been limited to sounding a red alert after a fresh incident and then launching search operations.

There is resentment among the public at the police checking as a person is reportedly being checked several times. A number of callers to the Ludhiana Tribune office today expressed their anger at the harassment to the common man while the criminals were striking at will.

Young Voice
Working for rights of common man

One of the most outstanding students of Punjab Engineering College, Jitin Talwar, passed out with a degree in mechanical engineering last year. As convener of the Students Council, PEC, Jitin organised PECFEST 2001, coordinated the college’s NSS activities and remained secretary of the PEC speakers club.

Jitin was one of the few PEC students to be picked up by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) through campus selections but Jitin chose to pursue studies in law. Currently doing his first year in law in Panjab University, Jitin says that the reason he opted for law as he feels that there is what he belongs and has the ability to reach the top in the profession. Presently, Jitin is working towards bringing up a Legal Awareness Forum which will raise legal issues and act as a watchdog for the rights of the ordinary people. TNS