The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

2 sacked PAU teachers allege harassment
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 13
Two teachers of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) whose services were terminated from PAU today alleged that they were not allowed by the authorities to meet the Agriculture Minister, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, during her visit to the city inaugurate the athletic meet of the university two days ago.

Dr Amarjit Grewal and Ms Sarabjeet Dhaliwal, former Professor of Immunology and former Assistant Economist, respectively who were given the marching orders a few months ago today addressing a press conference and alleged harassment at the hands of the Vice-Chancellor of PAU. They said they wanted to meet the Agriculture Minister to hand over a memorandum to her demanding their reinstatement but they were not allowed to meet her. Dr Grewal alleged his services had been terminated as the Vice-Chancellor wanted to settle a score with him as he had challenged his appointment as PVC two years ago in the court.

Addressing mediapersons Dr Grewal said on April 2 when Ms Bhattal had visited PAU, security guards were posted outside his house on campus and they whisked him away when the two teachers were tried to meet her at the Sutton House — a guest house of the university.

Stating that this did not happen only on that day, Dr Grewal alleged that to harass him the authorities had posted security guards outside his house permanently and he was being followed by them wherever he went.

He said the Vice-Chancellor was also indulging in nepotism as he had terminated his services stating that there was no vacancy to adjust him while he had appointed his daughter -in-law, Ms Randip Kaur against a leave vacancy as Assistant Entomologist in PAU. He said Ms Randip Kaur was not even eligible for the post as she was MSc in Zoology and during selection candidates with Ph.D in Entomology were ignored.

Dr Grewal also said the university authorities were allegedly trying their level best to get the house he was staying on campus vacated. He said he had even paid the penal rent at the rate of Rs 10,000 per month to the university requesting them that he should be allowed to stay in the house. He said he had paid the rent at this rate vide demand draft no. 533215 (dated March 22, 2002), drawn at the bank of Baroda. But the university had written a letter on April 9 that he was occupying the house illegally and he should show cause why he should not be evacuated.

Dr Grewal further said while his case was still pending as the Chancellor and state government were considering his appeal the authorities were trying to get the house he was staying in vacated.

Councillor under fire from partymen
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 13
The SAD(B) councillor from ward no 40 in the city Ms Harpreet Kaur is under fire from her own party colleagues, who have charged her with neglecting the development of the localities represented by her and further diverting funds from her quota to other wards for personal benefits.

Mr Harpal Singh Kohli, vice-president of the district unit of the SAD(B) and a former member of the telephone advisory committee has said that the councillor had diverted Rs 9 lakh from her quota to ward No 34 in 1997-98, Rs 10 lakh to ward No 43, Rs 5 lakh to ward No 27 and Rs 3 lakh to ward No 34 in the year 1998-99, again another Rs 9 lakh to ward No 34 in 1999-2000.

Against an annual allocation of Rs 90 lakh for development in each city ward, the councillor in Ward No 40, Mr Kohli alleged, had spent a total sum of Rs 1.47 crore during her five-year term.

As a result the sanitation level in almost all the localities of the ward was pathetic, half a dozen parks in LIG Colony had virtually become garbage pits and several other parks in Phase I and II in Urban Estate were neglected. Due to poor follow up, several sites, earmarked for schools, dispensary and community centre by PUDA remained on paper.

However, refuting the charges, the area councillor Ms Harpreet Singh termed these as ‘politically motivated’. She claimed that she had always been striving for strengthening the party and development of the area, which she represented.

Ms Harpreet Kaur, who had won the civic poll in 1997 with a highest margin of 3112 votes among all other city councillors, remarked that most of the localities in the ward having remained under administrative control of PUDA till early last year, had proved to be the main stumbling block in the way of major development works. “Despite all odds, we maintained pressure on PUDA for undertaking development works in Phase I and II.” Among other development works, she added, were repair and renovation of the cremation ground and approach road at a cost of Rs 30 lakh, widening of outer bypass in Urban Estate to 200 feet and maintaining of several parks in the locality.

Crorepati dream catches on
Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 13
They dream of crores that are assured but never guaranteed. Yet they play and go on playing, trying to believe their destiny with liberal optimism. This is a common scene at an on line lottery machine, of the Playwin Infravest Pvt Ltd, where people belonging to all age groups try their luck. The concept seems to have become so popular that hundreds of people queue up to get their pay slip inserted into the machine.

Like in other parts of the country, the 'playwin' game is proving to be a phenomenal success here. Although there has not been a lucky crorepati so far, yet the local agents of the Playwin Infravest Pvt Ltd, promoted by the Essel Group, the owners of the Zee television, are upbeat over the promising business prospects the new concept has offered. And it is increasing everyday.

It is a simple procedure. Anybody can pick up a pay slip and cross six numbers of his choice. The slip is inserted into a machine. It comes out instantly after the numbers are scanned and the lottery ticket is prepared instantly and they also get registered. The six numbers are handed over to the customer, while simultaneously these get saved in the master server which is connected to the local machines through satellite.

The lucky six numbers are taken out every Friday and it is shown live on the television. Any person, whose six numbers match with the final numbers taken out at the draw, gets Rs 2 crore, while there are certain prizes for the matching of certain numbers. So far there has not been anyone, whose all six numbers matched. The Playwin Infravest had relaxed the rule and announced last Friday that even if five numbers, match a person would get Rs Two crore.

Mr Amit Kumar, a computer engineer has been playing it almost daily. He said, on an average he purchases five tickets daily. It is not just the dream to become a crorepati overnight, but also the thrilling experience which makes the 'playwin' more attractive. "It is a fun with a probability of becoming a crorepati and that too in most transparent manner", he said, while pointing out that unlike the paper lotteries there seems to be little scope of manipulations.

Amit has so far managed to win Rs 50 as two of his numbers matched with the final numbers drawn.

Savvy, a post graduate student of Punjab Agricultural University, also feels excited over playing the game. "The excitement is greater when some of your numbers get matched with the final number and you manage a few bucks", she said.

Baisakhi celebrated
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 13
Processions, kirtan, speeches, poetry recitation and games marked the Baisakhi celebrations in several schools of the city today.

Thousands of students of Bhartiya Vidya Mandir took out a procession from the school this morning to celebrate Vikrami Samvat-2059 and Baisakhi. The students in their school uniform with saffron ribbons on their wrists waved at the passersby. Many of them carried placards showing the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, farmers harvesting and verses and quotations. Children broke into bhangra and gidha all along the route.

At Spring Dale Public School, students took part in kirtan. Senior section girls recited a shabad ‘So satguru dhan dhan hai’. Navneet Kaur, Gurpreet Kaur and Anirudh delivered speeches on the importance of the festival. Nitin and Pritpal of Class VII recited poem, while Rucha Arora and Simranjit spoke on ‘Baisakhi da mela’. Besides, a cultural programme ‘Rangeela Punjab’ was also presented in which students performed gidha and bhangra. Ms Avinash Kaur Walia, Principal, spoke on the occasion.

Students of Everest Public Senior Secondary School, Moti Nagar, participated in potato race, frog race and sack race, besides taking part in a cultural performance. Tiny tots recited poems and presented skits. Ms Asha Sharma, Principal, distributed sweets among the students.

Vasant Valley School, Pakhowal Road, was tastefully decorated with earthen pots and stacks of wheat straw placed around. Kids dressed in traditional dresses danced to the tunes of various Punjabi folk songs. Ms Bindiya and Ms Shivani Chaudhary, organisers of the event, said celebrations were arranged to make the kids understand the importance of the festival.

Similarly, the staff of Love Dale Montessori, Sarabha Nagar, organised celebrations in the school. Students performed skits, dance and music items and recited poems. Students were also awarded by the Principal, Ms Pritima Behl.

Mr Tejwant Singh, secretary of the club, said their aim was to collect proceeds for the eye department in Krishna Charitable Hospital. They received Rs 18 lakh from the Rotary International to buy equipment for the eye department. They had already purchased equipment worth Rs 20 lakh.

Devotees take holy dip

Baisakhi was celebrated with religious fervour both in and around the city here today.

Various gurdwaras and temples were thronged by devotees since early morning. At Alamgir, people took holy bath in the gurdwara sarovar. Devotees also took holy dip in canals and rivers, including the Sutlej. Mini Baisakhi melas were held on the banks of the Sutlej and at several places around the city.

Langars were served at gurdwaras, temples and on the roads by shopkeepers’ associations and other social welfare bodies. A number of cultural programmes were also organised by various clubs and organisations to mark the occasion.

IHRO wants varsity VC sacked
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 13
The International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO) expressed its concern over the inaction of the Punjab Government as it has failed to remove the Vice-Chancellor of the Punjabi University as there were very clear directions of the Supreme Court of India, which are binding and enforceable in law, to fire a person such as Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, who is grossly involved in the sexual harassment of women students of his university.

The IHRO, in a meeting here on Friday, also showed its concern over the horrible events in Gujarat and the shameful conduct of the BJP state government, which had allowed the carnage of the innocent Muslims for days, and demanded the sacking of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his failure to check the madness and barbarity of the majority community.

The IHRO meet, presided over by its chairperson D.S. Gill, however, praised the role of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson Justice J. S. Verma, who is also the architect of the historical judgement of the Supreme Court on sexual harassment, said IHRO secretary-general Mohinder Singh Grewal in a statement.

The meeting of the IHRO Women’s Wing (WW) activists was specially convened to check the menace of sexual harassment and child abuse, particularly in the universities, colleges and schools, according to WW chairperson, Dr Kanwaljit Kaur Bal, and its secretary, Ms Inderjit Kaur.

Retired principals Mrs Kuldip Kaur, Mrs Manjit Kaur Sodhia, Mrs Abinash Kaur Khurana, Mrs Harinder Kaur Dhillon and Mrs Neelam Kapur were appointed women’s wing counsellors to take steps to ensure implementation of the directions issued by the Supreme Court for sexual harassment of working women and to start awareness campaign in this regard as a preventive measure right from the universities, colleges and educational institutions in the state.

While Mrs Lal Raj Kaur Dhillon, Mrs Kanwaljit Mohni Marwaha, Mrs M. Kartar Singh and Mrs Jaspreet Kaur Gill have been taken as coordinators who will ensure the protection of women’s rights and take up the cases with appropriate forums, including women’s national and state commissions.

Principal Paramjit Kaur of the BCM School, Shashtri Nagar, Ludhiana, has arranged a talk in her school hall on “women’s rights and responsibilities” on April 15 at 11 am to give a start to the IHRO women’s wing’s awareness campaign, according to IHRO WW Counsellor Ms Manjit Kaur Sodhia and coordinator Ms K. Mohni Marwaha of the Model Town Zone.

TUs mobilise for strike
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 13
The Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has given a fervent call to the trade unions and other labour organisations to make the nationwide strike in financial institutions on April 16, a success so that the government could be forced to put a stop to its present policies of privatisation of public sector undertakings, curtailment of employment opportunities, reduction in interest rates on provident fund and anti-worker amendments in labour laws.

In a press note, the BMS, general secretary, Punjab, Mr Kartar Singh Rathor, expressed confidence that both the private and public sector employees would respond to the strike call.

The district unit of the BMS also held a meeting to chalk out a strategy for the coming strike and to mobilise its ranks for the agitation. Several activists of the BMS, including Mr Vir Abhimanyu, Mr Khelar Chand Gupta, Mr Lovely Pal Disawar, Mr Pritpal Singh, Mr Kewal Krishan Marwaha, Mr Jagdish Dutt Sharma, Mr Sat Pal Saini, Mr Diwan Singh and Mr Nageshwar Singh, focussed on wrong economic policies of the government and urged the working classes to prepare for a decisive battle.

The struggle committee of PSEB employees has organised a rally at the Sunder Nagar division in preparation for the April 16 strike.

According to Mr Kasturi Lal, President, PSEB Employees Federation (AITUC), trade union activists criticised the policies of the Union Government, with special reference to ‘anti-people’ union Budget, pro-employer amendments in labour laws, mass privatisation of PSUs at the instance of the IMF, WTO and the World Bank, enactment of POTA and pursual of communal policies. Prominent among those who addressed the rally were Mr Roshan Lal, circle vice-president, Mr Inderjit Sharma, circle president, Mr Kewal Singh, circle president, Mr Ramesh Kumar, circle secretary, Mr Walaiti Khan, circle secretary, Mr Pawan Kumar, circle vice-president and Mr Jagir Singh, divisional president.

The district unit of Class IV Government Employees and Workers Union has announced its support to the strike.

Chaotic Old GT Road
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, April 13
The encroachments on both sides of the roads by rehri and phariwalas and the misuse of footpaths on both sides of the Old GT Road between Clock Tower and Railway Station by shopkeepers to display their goods, has been creating traffic problems but now the ongoing work for the Rs 34-crore Elevated Road project on this busy stretch has turned out be a nightmare for not only the vehicular traffic but even for the two wheeler drivers and pedestrians alike.

Although the construction company had no other choice, but cordoning off almost half the width of the road in the centre by the construction company, coupled with the unmanaged flow of traffic, including slow-moving manually-driven vehicles and abundance of three-wheelers, has almost brought the entire traffic movement to a halt, with the frequent traffic jams and serpentine queues of vehicles on both sides of the road becoming a routine rather than an exception.

Largely due to poor planning and almost nil enforcement, both by the Municipal Corporation and the City Traffic Police, the entire area between Clock Tower and Jagraon Bridge has become out of bounds for all kinds of vehicles. The worst sufferers are the railway passengers from the old city localities, who have no other alternative than to approach the Railway Station from this section of the road.

Not that the MC administration had not foreseen the situation and drew up plans along with remedial steps but nothing was put into practice to save the city residents from the chaos and mess on this section of the road. Senior MC officials had visited the site along the Railway Station and several measures, including dismantling the footpaths on both sides of the road, removal of all temporary and permanent encroachments and imposing restrictions on slow-moving vehicles and three-wheelers, were suggested to bring some semblance of order in the traffic movement, which, however, had not been implemented so far.

A senior MC official commented that a meeting to coordinate efforts in this direction between civic body and traffic police officials was convened during last month since enforcement of restriction and traffic regulations was largely the responsibility of the traffic police. ‘‘Even if we try to take up the task of enforcement, we simply do not have the adequate manpower. Moreover, the police personnel provided to MC are insufficient for routine civic policing like providing security cover to ‘tehbazari’ and building branch teams.’’

Chinese Vaastu’s Chi — water and air
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 13
“Feng Shui is a part of Vaastu Shastra, which originated in India. It has returned to India in its new avatar Chinese Vaastu, says Krutika Sharma, President, International Society of ChineseVaastu. She is here to conduct a three-day seminar on Vaastu at Nehru Sidhant Kendra.

Krutika says unlike Vaastu that works on the basis of directions, Feng Shui works on the concept of corners. It never advises anyone to break any part of the house like Vaastu experts do. She says,” Even if the house is constructed according to Vaastu, but the placement of objects is not correct, no happiness can come. But the correct placement of objects in a house not correct according to Vaastu can remove negative energies. Feng Shui believes in Chi, the positive energy. Water is equivalent to wealth. When Chi enters it is looking for water. It can leave through the leaking taps.”

All things that clutter the house should be cleared. Air is Chi too which should circulate. Mirrors should not be placed in the bathrooms over toilets, in the bedrooms. Use of mirrors can create friction between the partners. If fridge and cooking gas are placed opposite each other, it can cause stomach disorders, the mental condition of housewife may also become unstable. The work that was to be accomplished, may not take off.

According to Krutika, “Every home has different problems depending on age of the members. The removal of old , unused things, cleanliness is important. Generally people build a store in the backyard to keep junk. But according to Feng Shui, this place is for fame and money. To remove negative energy some potted plants should be placed there. Avoid bonsai as these stunt the growth of the children. The sharp-edged things like knives and cacti are not good for relationships.”

“Tortoise, crystal balls , laughing Buddha, dragon headed tortoise, crystal lamps and crystal trees at right places bring positive energy,” she added.

Woman alleges cheating
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 13
A resident of the Ajeet Nagar locality has accused officials of the Ludhiana chapter of the United Church of North India Association (UCNITA) of cheating her by way of denying her a plot for which she had made them the full payment. She alleged that the plot was allotted to some other influential person.

In a complaint to the Punjab Human Rights Commission, she stated that she had been ‘induced to pay Rs 4,000’ for the allotment of the plot in the Brown road area by UCNITA officials. She reportedly paid the sum and she was issued a letter mentioning that she had been allotted the plot of 50 sq yards. However, to her surprise she found that the UCNITA was not the owner of the plot by virtue of a judgement of the Allahabad High Court. Despite that, the UCNITA officials allotted the plot to some of their favourite persons.

She said the matter had been reported to the police several times. According to the complaint, the DSP concerned summoned her to the police station several times for recording the statement, but none of the accused was ever summoned or questioned by the police. She said the accused were using their clout and managing to give slip to the law. Despite the fact that the matter was brought to the notice of senior officers no action was initiated till now and as a last resort she had to approach the commission.

First meeting of the Punjab Sahit Akademi
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 13
The first meeting of the newly elected Punjab Sahit Akademi was held at Punjabi Bhavan, today in which it was decided that a movement to create awareness about the Punjabi language would be started soon.

Mr Surjit Patar, newly-elected president, while addressing the mediapersons said that the Punjabi Chetna Lehar had been started on the occasion of Baisakhi.

He said that as per a Unesco survey many languages of the world were dying and were facing the dangers of being obsolete. He said that it was due to the English language that the other languages were facing a threat of fading away.

Mr Patar said that the intellectuals were not against the English language but its promotion should not be done at the cost of other languages. He said that even the respective governments pay attention to the need of creating awareness about the Punjabi language.

He said that a newsletter ‘Punjabi Chetna Lehar’ would be launched soon and would help in getting this language due respect. The office-bearers of the akademi appealed to the Punjabis to donate Re 1 each for the development of the language. They also appealed that the residents should donate some money at the time of special occasions in their house for the sake of Punjabi.

The general secretary, Mr Ravinder Bhattal, also highlighted the need for the promotion of the language. Those present on the occasion were Mr S.P. Singh, Vice Chancellor of the Guru Nanak Dev University and Mr Kulwant Jagraon, a noted writer.

Man murdered over land dispute
Our Correspondents

Mandi Gobindgarh, April 13
Iqbal Singh (32), alias Ghuggi, resident of Lohar Majra village, 4 km from here, was killed after being attacked with sharp-edged weapons by four persons in the fields. The body was sent to the deceased’s home, the cause behind the murder was land dispute. The father of the deceased Dayal Singh had also died under mysterious circumstances sometime back.

According to Mr Parwinder Singh, brother-in-law of the deceased, Iqbal Singh had gone to the fields on Thursday evening to bring fodder for the cattle. In the meantime Iqbal’s uncle Amarjit Singh alongwith his three sons Sukhdev Singh, Hardev Singh and Satnam Singh armed with sticks and sharp-edged weapons attacked and killed Iqbal Singh on the spot. The post-mortem was conducted on Friday at Civil Hospital, Mandi Gobindgarh.

The cause of murder, as stated by Parwinder Singh to the police was the land dispute. Out of 70 acre piece of land 20 acre land was transferred in the name of Iqbal Singh by his grandfather, which was actually in possession of Amarjit Singh, uncle of the deceased. Amarjit Singh feared that Iqbal Singh would get the possession of the land from him which led to the murder.

The police has registered a case under Section 302/34, IPC, against the four alleged accused persons but no arrest has been made so far.

Ahmedgarh
Skull of missing 2-yr-old found: Ten days after disappearance of a two-year-old girl the police and parents could locate only a part of her skull and a small bone which would be of no use for doctors to perform post-mortem which is required to be done under Section 174, under which Payal police has registered a report.

According to the information received from the office of the DSP, Payal, Mr Amarjit Singh, the family of Bikkar Singh, a Dalit and a resident of Sihora village, was engaged in crop reaping job at the fields of Mr Lakhbir Singh of the same village. Bikkar’s wife carried her two-year-old daughter, Jaspreet, with her to work. In the afternoon, she fed the baby and put her to sleep near the crop. When she went to see the child after some time, she found her missing.

The parents began searching for the child. Their search, however, ended on Friday when someone informed the Payal police that remains of a child were scattered in one of the fields. The police could find a shirt besides a part of skull and a small bone. Parents suspect that the child was attacked by a wild cat. The police has started the hunt for the animal.

Ludhiana
Body found: The charred body of an unidentified youth was found near the Old Jail falling under the Division number two police station here yesterday. The head and other parts of the body had been charred beyond recognition. The police has sent the body for an autopsy and is suspecting it to be the handiwork of a tantrik who might have subjected the youth to torture before killing him.

Case registered: An unidentified person drove away with a second-hand scooter on the pretext of having a “test drive” here on Thursday.

According to report Mr Sukhwinder Singh, an auto-dealer on the Gill Road and a resident of Shimla Puri, had purchased a scooter on April 7 for Rs 12,500 for selling it further. On Thursday, a youth came to his shop and expressed the desire to buy the scooter and asked if he could ‘try’ the vehicle. When the youth did not return with the vehicle, Mr Singh informed the police and case of fraud was registered against the unknown youth.

Assaulted: The Salem Tabri police has registered a case of alleged beating on the statement of Ms Racchpal Kaur, a resident of Bharti Colony, against Manjit Singh, Maya Rani, Palo, Janko, Deep Singh, Parveen Kaur and Sonu. The complainant had alleged on Thursday that the accused forced their way into her house and beat her up.

The Division Number 5 police has registered a case of alleged assault on the statement of Mr Navneet Saggar, a resident of Sant Nagar, against Rajesh Kharbanda, a resident of Rajguru Nagar and Jaswinder Singh, a resident of Sarabha Nagar. According to the complainant, the accused forced their way into his clinic on Thursday and indulged in beating and threatening him. An investigation is on but no arrest has been made so far.

Frauds alleged: The Shimla Puri police has registered a case of alleged fraud on the statement of Mr Malkit Singh, a resident of Sangowal village, against Mehar Singh, a resident of Daba village. The complainant had alleged that he had purchased a 600 yard plot from the accused who later tried to take possession of the plot after razing the boundary wall. When he resisted his attempts, the accused also threatened him of dire consequences.

The Basti Jodhewal police has registered a case of alleged fraud on the statement of Mr Anwar Ali, a resident of Kakka village, against Surinder, Hans Raj, Mangat Ram and Monu. According to the complainant, the accused tried to take possession of his plot with the help of forged documents. The police is the case.

On the directions of the SSP, the Haibowal police has also registered a case of alleged fraud on the statement of Mr Jaspreet Singh, a resident of Pakhowal Road, against Arun Gupta and Vishal Gupta, both residents of Durga Puri. The complainant had alleged that he had bought a plot from the accused who were neither getting the plot registered in his name nor returning his money. Mr Shankar Dass, SHO, Haibowal, is investigating the case.

Dowry harassment: The Basti Jodhewal police has registered a case of alleged harassment for more dowry on the statement of Ms Kiran, a resident of Maya Puri, against her husband Vijay Kumar, mother-in-law Prema, father-in-law Varinder Pal and some other members of her in-laws’ family. The complainant had alleged that the accused were harassing her mentally and physically and pestering her to bring more dowry.

Theft: A cloth merchant lost Rs 70,000 in a theft incident at Akal Market near Chaura Bazaar on Friday.

According to the victim, Anil Kumar Gupta, he along with his son had gone to the market to buy clothes for his shop and had kept Rs 70,000 in a bag. They had kept the bag on a side while striking a deal with a shopkeeper when some unknown persons took away the bag and he came to know about it only after a while.