 |
|
| Friday,
August 9, 2002, Chandigarh, India
|
|
||||
|
Former CRPF officer shot dead Ludhiana, August 8 According to sources, Jaswinder Singh had a dispute with a neighbour, Ajit Singh, over a passage to his farm and the two had entered into an agreement recently. But since Ajit Singh was unhappy over the agreement, he, accompanied by six others, arrived at Bhullar’s farm today and shot him at point blank range twice. While the first fire hit him in the arm, the second pierced his chest. Mr Baljinder Bilu, an aide of Jaswinder Singh, said five people in a Maruti car and two others on a scooter came to Jaswinder Singh’s farm at around 7.30 am and called him from behind, while Bhullar was going to his farm. “As soon as Jaswinder Singh turned, the assailants fired at point blank range from a .12 bore rifle, first injuring him in the arm and the second shot killed him”, he said. The victim was rushed to the CMC, where the doctors pronounced him “brought dead”. The police has registered a case under Section 307 of the IPC against seven persons in the Ludhiana Sadar police station. The seven named in the FIR are — Ajit Singh, Jagmail Singh, Jaspal Singh, Ajmer Singh, Nacchattar Singh, Gurdip Singh and Manjinder Singh. Surprisingly, one of the accused Jaspal Singh had been admitted to the local Civil Hospital two days ago with electric burn injuries but had escaped from the hospital and joined others in carrying out the assault. A nurse at the hospital, Ms Nargis, told the police that she had found the man missing, when she came to the hospital at 7.30 a.m. and he returned at around 8.30 am. Jaspal Singh has been arrested by the police from the Civil Hospital. No other arrest has been made so far. |
|
GRP gears up for
Independence Day Ludhiana, August 8 He was in the city today to supervise the security
arrangements. "Special attention was reserved for trains with a large number of unreserved compartments and the ones originating from Rajasthan, Jammu and Ambala,
”he said. He was accompanied by senior officers of the department. “Surprise checks and increased vigil on incoming trains are also on. Special emphasis will also be laid on physical checking of passengers and luggage and a dog squad has also been pressed into service. Trains are an easy target for terrorists as the crowds offer anonymity in executing an operation,” Mr Jain pointed out. Admitting that precautionary equipment like closed circuit televisions (CCTVs) and baggage scanners were not available with the force, Mr Jain cited resource constraints for the delay in their installation at railway stations.
he, however, added that the force was performing its job to the best of its ability. Interestingly, to detect explosives and other material, there are just four dog squads in the state, one each at Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Patiala. He said the area of the jurisdiction of the force was 2, 082 km of railway track, out of which 1, 002 km was under the ‘provincial railway’ and 1, 080 km under ‘other railway’. Security to the railway track of ‘ provincial railway ’ was provided by the GRP and other railways by the district police as per the Punjab Government Railway Security Scheme, 1999. The ADGP added that out of 1, 002 km railway track, 682-km provincial railway track was night operative and was covered by 184 track patrolling parties of GRP on foot. Earlier, five companies of the fifth Commando Battalion were attached for night track patrolling, which had been withdrawn from July 28 and sent to Jammu and Kashmir for election duty. There were 98 mail and express trains and 168 passenger trains. Mail and express trains were escorted by 71 GRP escort
parties. As many as 39 bridges fell under the jurisdiction of the GRP, Punjab, out of which 24 bridges were guarded by the PAP, 11 by the district police while four bridges are unguarded, he added. There were 1674 railway gates , out of which 702 were manned and 972 unmanned. During the past few months, railway accidents had increased, which was due to the unmanned gates.“ The matter had been taken up with the Commissioners and the Deputy Commissioners for constructing speed breakers and pasting
fluorescent tape on them, besides making announcements for public awareness," said
Mr Jain. During the past two months, crime against persons and property had decreased as compared to the corresponding period. Recoveries under local and special law had also increased. |
|
Doc pays
for forceps left in abdomen 7 years ago Ahmedgarh, August 8 The old man, Mehar Singh, had approached this SMO in 1995 for receiving inguinal-hernia treatment. The doctor, who also had a private hospital in Sudhar, had demanded Rs 3,000 as expenses, to which, the then sarpanch of Chhapar, Mr Zora Singh, had been a witness. The old man had paid Rs 2,000 in advance. The doctor, however, had conducted the operation for imaginary intestinal obstruction. The operation for correcting inguinal-hernia had been performed by another doctor of the hospital after two weeks of it. The pains had remained even after two operations, following which, the patient had been taken to the local Kundan Lal Hospital, where a surgeon named Dr R.P. Singla had detected the
forceps in the abdomen. By the time it had been removed, the forceps had rusted. Most vernacular dailies had, then, made it an issue and an editorial in this regard had also been published in one of these newspapers. The doctor had, then, filed lawsuits against several persons — Ms Jarnail Kaur (a staff nurse), Dr R.P. Singla, journalists Ravinder Puri, Surinder Tayal, Kuku Dhaliwal, Sukhdev Patwari, Baljinder Singh and the Editor of ‘Nawan Zamana’. An inquiry officer, Dr Som Nath Mittal, had found the doctor guilty, on the basis of which, the doctor’s services had been suspended. The seven-year-long legal battle has, now, won Mr Mehar Singh Rs 40,000, though he had sought Rs 5 lakh as compensation. |
|
Man held for killing parents, brother Mandi Gobindgarh, August 8 His other accomplices had also been identified, said Mr B. Chander Shekhar, SSP, Fatehgarh Sahib, in a press conference, here today. According to the SSP, Harcharan Singh confessed of hiring Ramesh Kumar ‘ Mehshi’, a migrant labourer from Bihar, to carry out the killings for Rs 50,000. On the fateful night, when Shamsher Singh (65), his wife Surinder Kaur (62), and younger son Devinder Singh were sleeping on the terrace of their house, Harcharan Singh let Ramesh Kumar and his two accomplices in the house. While his father and brother were killed by Ramesh Kumar and his accomplices ,Harcharan Singh allegedly killed his mother himself. Thereafter, the assassins left the house without taking either cash or jewellery from the house. However, Harcharan Singh told his sister Kamaljit Kaur, who also lived in the
neighbourhood, that the family had been attacked by robbers and he somehow managed to escape. She, along with some other neighbours, found the three victims lying in a pool of blood. On a statement of Kamaljit Kaur, the local police registered a case under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC. All three had been killed with sharp-edged weapons, the police said. |
|
Istri Sabha demands action against police Ludhiana, August 8 Addressing the rally, Ms Amarjeet Kaur, vice-president, National Federation of Indian Women and National Secretary All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), said that an assault to women by male police personnel was in violation of human and women rights and was a cognizable offence. She called upon women to stand united at the time of crisis as they were doing now. She praised the women employees of the DMCH for being courageous, brave and consistent. Ms Amarjeet said when many women were coming forward to support the DMCH women employees, there were certain elements who wanted to suppress their rights and warned them against coming to the forefront for demanding their rights. "But the struggle of brave women of DMCH has proved that this will not be allowed," stressed Ms Amarjeet. Ms Mohinder Sambar, general secretary, Punjab Istri Sabha, said that the assault on women in the DMCH by the male police officials had evoked strong resentment throughout the state. Such acts, she said, would be fought back unitedly by all sections of society. She demanded immediate release of all women employees and arrest of police personnel responsible for this criminal assault. She was critical of the way the police threatened, abused, intimidated and beat women in the police station. Ms Sambar said that a high-level probe into the whole issue was required and the guilty should be strictly punished. Among others who addressed and participated in the procession were Ms Jeet Kumari, secretary, Ms Barjinder Kaur, organising secretary, and Ms Avtar Kaur, an advocate. |
|
Indoor admissions start in DMCH Ludhiana, August 8 Besides that, operations were conducted today in the operation theatres and all the laboratories, radio diagnostic services covering ultrasound, CT Scan, microbiology, pathology had become fully operational. The dialysis unit had also become functional and till afternoon, patients were constantly turning up for the dialysis. Senior doctors, residents and other para-medical staff was available round-the-clock in the hospital. A significant increase was also noticed in the number of employees who reported for the duty. According to the hospital record, 648 medical and para-medical employees had joined duties. About 210 patients visited the OPDs out of which 144 were new patients. All the administrative offices including the accounts office, the central record office and the main office observed the full working hours. |
|
Rain god showers joy Ludhiana, August 8 Rain was expected in the morning, but till afternoon, the sky was as vague as ever. Sometimes cloudless, sometimes slightly cloudy, but never cloudy enough to promise rain. It was only around 3 pm, when dense clouds descended on the horizon. The rain was a great relief for everyone. Even the pavement dwellers, who spend their time in the open, did not mind getting drenched in the rain, along with their belongings. It was nothing less than a celebration everywhere. While it may not make much difference to the farming community in the countryside now, as their crops had already suffered irreparable losses, yet they celebrated the rain, as they felt that still there was hope. |
|
Store refutes charges Ludhiana, August 8 Mr Balwant Rai and Mr Bhupinder Singh, representing the department store and Tourism Net Travel Agency, respectively, said the scheme offered to customers was open to any investigation. Two persons of the city had alleged that the holiday scheme had hidden costs that were not disclosed to benefiting customers. Mr Balwant Rai and Mr Bhupinder Singh said customers were satisfied with the arrangements in Mussoorie and the beneficiaries had been put up in suits and not ordinary rooms as alleged. No one had any complaint there. They said the attitude of the beneficiaries had changed on return. The store-owner also presented bills for food that included much more than just ‘dal’ and ‘roti’ as alleged. Mr Balwant Rai said the holiday scheme was on every purchase of over Rs 1,000 and open to everyone. |
|
Sahyog holds first seminar Ludhiana, August 8 The NGO held its first seminar yesterday evening in the Nehru Sidhant Kendra. Mr Tarun Salwan, general secretary, said the primary aim of the seminar was to familiarise members and others of the chief aims of the organisation. “Sahyog is focussing on Healthcare and education,” he said. Dr Ramesh, Eye Surgeon, of Mansuran Eye Bank, while addressing the members said he was happy to receive 10 forms from members pledging their eyes. He expressed hope that more members would come forward to pledge their eyes. He said, “From August 25 to September 8, a nationwide eye donation programme will be organised. To make the public aware of the noble cause of eye donation, mass media will be used. Seminars, visits to all districts by teams of doctors is also on the agenda. Mansuran Eye Bank would be renamed as ‘Punarjyot Bank of Punjab’. This ‘eye bank’ would form the nucleus of the eye banks in the districts. He said, “In Punjab, there has been a vast change in the mentality of people regarding ‘eye donation’. These days a lot of people contact us for donation of eyes”. “We will rope in film stars and other important personalities from different walks of life to talk to public about this noble cause. We plan to put up boards in the villages thanking them for providing eye donors with the names of eye donors inscribed on it as a constant reminder that those who donate their eyes live after life, too. We are really happy that patients from distant places like Bihar and Sikkim are coming for eye transplantation to Mansuran,” he said. Mr Tarun Salwan said they were providing scholarships to 15 students, besides giving financial help to a patient suffering from blood cancer. Blood donation camps for thalassaemic children would also be organised. The City Mayor, Mr Nahar Singh Gill, lauded the efforts of the organisation and hoped their zeal and enthusiasm would see them through their projects. Mr Kulwant Jagraon, a columnist, and Mr Amarjit Kumar, Principal of a school, also praised the organisation. |
|
Draw of lots for flats on August 13 Ludhiana, August 8 Disclosing this, Mr Raminder Singh, Administrator of LIT, said that the three storeyed flats were being offered at Rs 7.85 lakh for a ground floor flat, while those on the first and second floors were priced at Rs 7.65 lakh and Rs 7.45 lakh, respectively. Built in a plot area of 260 square yards, each flat had a covered area of 1250 square feet with one drawing room, one dining room, lobby, kitchen, two bed rooms, toilet, store, car parking and lawn. The first and second floor flats had terraces in place of lawn. LIT, at the same time, was making another offer of MIG and LIG flats numbering 14 and 24, respectively, in posh locality of Model Town Extension (Part II) under a self-financing scheme. The MIG flats, having the same plot area and built-up area like those in Rishi Balmiki Nagar, had a tentative price of Rs 8.28 lakh for ground floor, Rs 8.20 lakh for first floor and Rs 8.10 lakh for second floor flats. The LIG flats, having a built-up area of 499 sq feet were being offered at a tentative price of Rs 2.16 lakh. The applications for these flats, would be received with earnest money from August 15 to September 15. |
|
Probe demanded Ludhiana, August 8 A delegation of the sabha recently called on the minister and submitted a memorandum listing various other demands of the sabha which included the construction of an Ambedkar Bhavan in Ludhiana. The sabha also demanded that the flats to be allotted under the Valmiki-Ambedkar Housing Scheme should be given to Valmikis on priority basis. The delegation also alleged that officials of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes Finance Corporation were not advancing loans to the Valmiki youths and that the Valmiki students in colleges were not being given the sanctioned stipends and books. The delegation also urged the minister to impress upon the government that there was a need to enact a stringent law to deal with those who try to denigrate Lord Valmiki by any means. The delegation comprised Mr Babu Ram Nahar, Mr Nek Kumar, Mr Joginder Pal, Mr Chaman Lal Bhatti, Master Raj Kumar, Mr Jai Pal and Mr Rakesh Ghai. |
|
Orientation
programmes Ludhiana, August 8 Ms Harjit Kaur Malhi, district programme officer, Integerated Child Development Scheme, Ludhiana, and Ms Malkiat Kaur Dhillon, wife of Samrala MLA, were the chief guests at Chehlan and Uttalla villages, respectively. Mr Ranvir Singh, in charge of Ludhiana unit, explained in detail about causes of malnutrition up to 6 months in children. Importance of complementary feeding from 6 months of age along with breast feeding and home-made instant infant foods from roasted cereals and pulses was explained. Ms Saranbir Kaur Gill, Child Development Project Officer , Samrala, told about six services provided to children from the department. |
|
Yatra flagged off Doraha, August 8 The yatra is being coordinated by Mr Subhash Bhaskar who is an active member of the Children’s Welfare Association, Chandigarh, and is out to spread a social message to warn people against the dreaded diseases like AIDS and thalassaemia. |
|
AC sales register major increase Ludhiana, August 8 A random survey conducted by this reporter among different dealers revealed that the mood among them was upbeat with the drought conditions having hardly hit them. “It has never been like that before”, said Mr Bharat Kumar Mittal, a local airconditioner dealer . He maintained that all leading brands were in good demand probably for the excessive heat during this period and lack of rains. Mr Mittal said although it was difficult to attribute the increase in the sales to a particular factor, however, it appears that it is mainly the weather which has pushed up the sales. Concurs Mr Vikram Ahuja, another dealer, “usually, rather always, this period is supposed to be too lean to register any increase, but this year’s has been quite good”. Earlier the companies would announce major discounts on airconditioners during this period to push up the sales and to cover up the incomplete targets. However, they have not announced any such scheme so far as the sales are going on smoothly. The dealers, however, were not unanimous that it is because of the weather alone that the sales registered sharp increase. “Weather may be one of the factors, but it is the purchasing power of the people coupled with the financing schemes offered by various dealers and companies which has pushed up the sales to an unexpected level, particularly for the current season”, an official of a leading company observed. Against the overall slump across the world, the airconditioner sector has been doing good business with sales of all brands maintaining a steady increase. Moreover, according to the market sources, the target consumer for the airconditioner market continues to be among the urban upper middle and affluent class, who have not been directly hit by the drought conditions in the state. Besides, the increase in purchasing power of the middle classes in urban areas on account of various financing schemes has also pushed up the airconditioner sales. Moreover the price range for the airconditioners which varies between Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 is not considered to be beyond reach of the middle classes. And various finance schemes has made the task more easy. With festival season approaching the airconditioner dealers and also those dealing in refrigerators are quite hopeful that the sales would go up further at that time. Besides, the companies are likely to offer discounts to the consumers promising all cheer for the AC dealers. |
|
Internet
banking Ludhiana, August 8 He spoke about corporate banking and retail banking. He said the bank would open more branches in Punjab with internet, tele-banking and ATM facilities. |
 |
| 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 | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
