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| Sunday,
February 10, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Inter-state gang of thieves busted Ludhiana, February 9 According to police sources, the gang was a headache for the police for the past several months as they were expert in day-light thefts. The sources said even though the gang leader was in jail yet through some channels he was able to advise the other gang members. The sources said the three arrested accused have confessed to the police that their life was spent either in jail or committing crime. They were arrested twice earlier by the local police but again indulge in criminal acts after they get bail. According to the police sources, Sub-Inspector Warryam Singh, in charge CIA-II, laid a special nakka in Haibowal last evening after receiving an information about the
presence of the gang members in the area. The police has arrested all the accused who tried to resist the arrest initially but were easily overpowered. All of them have been remanded in police custody by a city court. The three accused have been
identified as Ashok Kumar, alias Sonu, Raj Kumar, alias Raju, and Rohit. While the later two were residents of Shimla Puri, the first lived in Kot Mangal Singh Colony. The police has recovered some stolen valuables, apart from some vehicles as well from the accused. The police hopes to recover more stolen material from the accused. According to the police sources, the accused have confessed to have committed a theft in the house of Sunil Kumar in Shimla Puri and had stolen eight tolas of gold, apart from huge cash.. They have also admitted a theft committed in the house of Amrik Singh and G. K. Sood in Haibowal. At both the places, the accused decamped with over Rs 20,000 and about 10 tolas of gold. They have also confessed of committing a theft in the house of Hazara Singh in Jain Colony. This was the biggest theft committed by the gang. They had decamped with a huge cash and jewellery. According to sources, the gang was more notorious than the others as it was expert in daylight thefts. Their modus operandi was simple. They identified a house locked during the day time and broke into using a large dragger. The gangsters did not use any master keys and operated by breaking all locks. |
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Insult to Tricolour: DC seeks explanation from FCI Ludhiana, February 9 Meanwhile, the FCI officials have complied with the orders of removing the flag. According to information available, the FCI officials removed the flag after the publishing of the news-item only. Sources in the department said they had got the flag painted from a local painter and did not know they had to purchase it from the Khadi Gram Udyog. Sources said the authorities were preparing an explanation to be given to the Deputy Commissioner. Ludhiana Tribune had carried a news-item along with a photograph of the flag hoisted at the godown of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) near the main chowk in Mullanpur Dakha yesterday. The flag was smaller in size and also had black wheel in the centre instead of the mandatory royal blue wheel. Mr Sandhu, when asked about any action taken against the guilty officials, said he had sought immediate explanation of the officials responsible for the disrespect and had initiated the process for taking action against the guilty officials under the Prevention of Insults to National Honours Act, 1971. Mr Sandhu has also warned the city residents, government officials and employees to take due care before hoisting the National Flag from their respective offices or houses. He said the administration appreciates the patriotism of the people but due care is to be taken to avoid any dishonour or disrespect to the Tricolour. He was referring to the hoisting of the national flag for full 24 hours by several persons, especially a hospital owner, on the Mall Road. It should be added here that this hospital had also removed the flag yesterday only after the violation was reported in these columns. The flag was hoisted on the top of its building and was tied with a rope. |
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Cashing in on voters’ ignorance Ludhiana, February 9 Not to be left behind, supporters of the Congress candidate from Ludhiana-East, Mr Surinder Dawer, are also trying the same tactics. Interestingly, Mr Dawer’s symbol and name also corresponds to serial No 2. And his supporters have also been specifying on serial No 2 only. During a routine visit of the constituency, supporters of Mr Makkar were seen telling people to press the number 2 button, corresponding to the symbol of Mr Makkar. The Akali workers have procured the dummy voting machines which are being shown to the people. It is for the first time that the EVMs have been used in these constituencies and people are still unaware of their use. However, the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, Mr S.K. Sandhu, who is also the District Electoral Officer, said that the administration had given public demonstration of the EVMs. Moreover, he said, the presiding and polling officers would also explain to voters how to the cast their vote at the time of polling. |
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Poll-time PR exercise at cremation grounds Ludhiana, February 9 Ludhiana is a city where, on an average, five to six persons are cremated at various cremation grounds every day. Poll candidates maintain a constant touch with in charges of various “shamshan ghats” and whenever they come to know that some body has been brought for cremation, they rush to the place to express their “deep-felt” sympathies with the bereaved family and its circle of friends and relatives. In fact, there cannot be a better PR opportunity for them than a funeral. It provides them “an ideal opportunity” to “win over” the tragedy-struck people. The candidate, by his presence at the funeral and the consolation he gives, becomes “the man who stood by them” in their hour of grief and distress. So the death of ordinary, poor people, which would otherwise go unnoticed even by their neighbours, is being taken note of seriously these days. A manager of a cremation ground in the city told this correspondent that certain candidates under whose constituency the cremation ground falls are in constant touch with him to get the “latest” about the funerals on cards so that they could be on time. For example, an old, poor woman, belonging to the Rajasthani community of the Islam Ganj mohalla, falling under the city’s East constituency, died on Thursday. A candidate (name withheld) was on time not only to attend the funeral at the “shamshan ghat” but also expressed his “deep-felt condolence” for the bereaved family. Although other mourners were surprised at the appearance of the candidate at the funeral, they generally appreciated the candidate’s gesture. But some of them just dismissed it as an election-time PR exercise on part of the candidate. |
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College teachers seek exemption from poll duty Ludhiana, February 9 Giving this information, Prof K.B.S. Sodhi, president, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, said that since the teachers were engaged in a serious agitation against the Punjab Government, exempting them from duty would help in maintaining the ideal situation for fair conduct of poll. Prof Sodhi said that teachers had launched a struggle against the government for implementation of the Pension-cum-Gratuity Act of 1999, release of arrears received from the Centre in March, 2001, and continuation of 95 per cent grant-in-aid scheme. Therefore, he said that to avoid any unforeseen complication or objection by some candidates or their supporters, they should be exempted from election duties. |
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Website for disabled Ludhiana, February 9 The website www.handicappedonline launched on the occasion is the brainchild of Mr Ramandeep Singh Suri, a well known visually impaired software designer of the city. Giving details of the website, Mr Suri who is also the winner of the Young Entrepreneurs Award, said the site would provide an online facility for employment and placement, matrimonial, guidance and counselling and all live directories for national and international institutes for the disabled. To encourage the disabled for self-supporting enterprising endeavours, the website would also give individual success stories of disabled luminaries in the world, said Mr Suri. He said Mr Jaitley has been chosen as a lifetime patron for the cause. |
Dislodge corrupt govt: Manmohan Singh Ludhiana, February 9 Addressing an election rally in favour of Mr Malkiat Singh Dakha, Congress candidate from the Dakha constituency, at Mullanpur today, Dr Manmohan Singh said the NDA government had ‘signed the death warrant’ of farmers by rolling back the minimum support price (MSP) for agriculture which was the backbone of our economy and this decision would also completely damage the trade and industry in the country. He asserted that after the formation of the Congress government in Punjab, the party would strive hard for the continuation of MSP policy for the agriculture sector. He accused the Vajpayee government of adopting poor planning in the country and said on one side the food grains was rotting in godowns, on the other side crores of people were sleeping without food. Lambasting the NDA government for claiming to have strengthened the economy, he said during last year industrial production rate had touched all-time low. He said total chaos had been created in every field and the whole system had been badly corrupted. He said on assuming charge five years back Mr Badal had announced to honour a most honest officer every year, but during his five-year tenure he could not identity even a single officer to honour and now the rampant corruption was the talk of every household. He blamed the government for damaging the whole planing system of the state. He said during the past five years no big industrial unit come up in the state and the unemployment was increasing with fast speed. He said the SAD-BJP government had completely ignored the weaker sections and the welfare schemes. He claimed that it was Beant Singh who brought peace in the state. He said the Congress candidate from Dakha was having a background of sacrifices as he had been with Beant Singh during ‘black days’ in Punjab.  |
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It’s hitting below the belt: Khanna Ludhiana, February 9 Khanna, who was here campaigning for SAD-BJP candidates, challenged the Congress to prove the charges they were levelling against Mr Badal or withdraw them gracefully. He did not agree that there was any substance in the charges. Claiming that the SAD-BJP government had helped in removing the fear from the minds of people, he hoped that another chance to Mr Badal would strengthen peace and communal harmony in the state. Besides, the state would prosper under Mr Badal’s leadership. Khanna, who is representing the Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency, said Mr Badal’s government had launched several projects in the state. He claimed that the state had developed massive infrastructure during these five years. Replying to a question about his promise before contesting the Gurdaspur elections that he would turn the area into Paris, he claimed that he had been misquoted on the issue and he had never said like that. “But I have promised large-scale development and industrialisation in the area and I am already on the job,” he said. Asked as how influential film stars are during elections, he said, “they may be able to draw crowds, but they hardly influence the final outcome.” While referring to a question on Amitabh Bachchan’s campaign for the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, he said, “unless you are not committed to policy and programmes of a party, people will not believe you, not to speak of getting influenced.” |
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Cupid is in the air Ludhiana, February 9 The shops are flooded with a variety of gift items.”Candy, chocolate, cards with 101 reasons for ‘why I love you’, dancing couples, perfumed flower sticks, decoration pieces, hanging hearts, soft toys, multicolored bells, musical CDs, perfumes, bangle boxes and heart-shaped photoframes are very much in demand,” said Mr Gulbir Garewal, a shopkeeper at Rani Jhansi Road. A shopkeeper at College Road said,”
Girls seem to be more excited than boys this year. They want something different and unique. They prefer hearts on every item.” Some of the shopkeepers have introduced “speaking flowers”, which convey your message to your loved ones. These cost around Rs 150 each. The cards do give a variety of messages. Mr Neeraj Thapar, a married customer, however, complained,” They have not got much cards for wives. Now, I want to get a good card for my wife but every card is for your girlfriend.” Many clubs and hotels are also preparing for Valentine Day which falls on February 14. To spread the message of love, Ebony has come up with “Sparkles love affair with diamonds” whereby any purchase made above Rs 1,500 entitles the customer to participate in the lucky draw and the winner will get a beautiful ring by ‘Sparkles’. The Lodhi Club will celebrate Valentine Day on February 10 on the club lawns. Mr B.M.Mahajan, general secretary of the club, said that a dance party along with a professional DJ will be held on the occasion. The elections in Punjab on February 13 are bound to dampen some spirits as the district administration has ordered closure of all business establishments, schools, colleges and other public places on February 13, the eve of Valentine Day. |
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Seminar on income tax
tribunals Ludhiana, February 9 Mr S.R. Chhabra, senior advocate, explained the working of tribunals and told the members that the tribunal is the highest fact-finding authority in the country. He further said that the working of the tribunals was very transparent and judicious and that about 96 per cent of the judgements delivered by the tribunals were upheld by high courts and the Supreme Court. He advised young professionals to start practising in the tribunals as they could learn at lot from the same. The vice-president of ITAT, Chandigarh Bench, Mr Vimal Gandhi, chaired the seminar along with other members of the Bench. Senior officers of the Income Tax Department were also present at the seminar. The seminar was attended by about 150 members of DTBA (DT) comprising chartered accountants, advocates and income tax practitioners. |
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Dalits say no to liquor for votes Ludhiana, February 9 The Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, an NGO, is already organising rallies and awareness programmes against the use of liquor and drugs during elections in the state. The mission, a social organisation, which has branches in other countries also, works for the education and welfare of the Dalits. It has taken up cudgels against the menace of drug use in the elections. It is using traditional form of art ‘Jago’ in Dalit dominated areas to mobilise the youths against the menace. Mr Shiv Ram Saroay and Mr Jaswant Kataria, both office-bearers of the mission, said, “The candidates who are spending Rs 50 to Rs 70 lakh in the elections are just trying to purchase the votes through liquor and drugs. Our aim is to expose their deeds and demand education, employment and health facilities for the illiterate and poor youths.” Interestingly, a large number of youths from Salem Tabri, Dr Ambedkar Chowk, Karabara, Basti Jodhewal, Ghati Valmiki, Dharampura and Ambedkar Nagar taken out a procession in the city. They raised slogans against use of intoxicants, unemployment and corruption. |
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Misuse of animals in campaign resented Ludhiana, February 9 Taking a strong exception to the use of animals, for use of animals, the PFA has threatened that if the practice was not stopped immediately it would press the
administration to take stern action against those who used animals to woo voters by using them for different gimmicks. Dr Sandeep Jain, president of local chapter of the PFA, said the workers of the PFA were pained to see that certain candidates were exploiting animals like horses as a part of their election campaign. He said during the campaign numerous supporters were seen riding a tonga along with the candidate which amounted to cruelty against the animal. This practice was becoming a fad among the candidates during the current campaign for the assembly elections, he added. The PFA also urged upon the candidates to refrain from any such activity. “It is expected from the candidates that, they take oath to abide by the Constitution of India and not violate the law related to animals.” |
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Triplets born Jagraon, February 9 According to information, Devki and her husband live at Nanaksar, 5 km from here. The couple have already five children — three sons and two daughters. Of them two sons and one daughter are married. According to Dr Pravin Bala and Dr Anantjit Kaur all the three children and their mother are hale and hearty. |
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Baba Bedi foresees victory for Panthic Morcha Samrala, February 9 While addressing a conference in the grain market in favour of Panthic Morcha candidate Gurtej Pal Singh Bhagwanpura, Baba Bedi claimed that the waive in favour of the Panthic Morcha was in full swing. Baba Bedi said a clean administration would be given to the people of Punjab and no corruption
tolerated. |
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