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August 12, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Ex-SP’s murder: all accused in police net Ludhiana, August 11 The sources told Ludhiana Tribune that the six absconding accused were arrested by a team of the district police and were being questioned by senior police officers. The seventh accused and the alleged mastermind behind the broad day-light murder, Jaspal Singh, was arrested on the day of the murder only. The team nabbed the six accused at an undisclosed place. There have been reports that some of them had actually surrendered to the police but due to unavailability of any officer nothing could be confirmed. The accused were Ajit Singh, his four sons Jagmail Singh, Ajmair Singh, Nachhatar Singh, Gurdeep Singh and Gurjinder Singh, son of Jagmail Singh and grandson of Ajit Singh, all hailing from Jhande village falling under Ludhiana Sadar police station. Police sources said the accused during interrogation admitted their crime and said they had planned it in a hurry. Some of them said they did not give much thought to it and just went ahead with the plan. Interestingly, the police sources revealed that the day on which SP Jaswinder Singh Bhullar was shot dead, was in fact decided as a day of an agreement between the two parties. Meanwhile, an organisation known as People’s Action Front, has added a new twist to the case. Its president Hardeep Singh has claimed in a press release that the local police had picked up some women related to the accused family. They have demanded a high-level probe into the alleged police high-handedness and claimed that no woman police staff was accompanying the police team when the two women were picked up from Jhande village. Police sources denied the allegation saying that it was common to use some pressure tactics but in this case nothing of this sort was done. The organisation, however, has also claimed that there was a completely different story to the case and had appealed to the state government to conduct a high-level probe into the matter. An eyewitness in this case had told the police that Mr Bhullar had a dispute with his neighbour Ajit Singh over a passage to his farm and the two had entered upon an agreement recently but which was unacceptable to Ajit Singh for some reason. On Thursday, Ajit Singh accompanied by his four sons and a grandson challenged Mr Bhullar and shot him at point blank range before he could react. The incident took place at Mr Bhullar’s farm. Jaspal Singh, who had allegedly participated in perpetuating the crime, had escaped from his hospital bed where he was admitted for burn injuries and returned after the crime. Hospital staff had told the police about the absence of Jaspal Singh from the hospital around the time of the crime. |
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Doctors
allege harassment over PNDT Act Ludhiana, August 11 Two doctors, one from Machhiwara and another from Ludhiana, both running diagnostic centres, alleged that some officials of the Health Department conducted checks on their centres. The officials not only humiliated and harassed them but also used foul language with them. They allegedly took some money from the both doctors. A senior IMA official, based in Patiala, confirmed that they had received the complaints from the doctors that they had not only been humiliated and harassed but also fleeced of money. The IMA official alleged that the inspecting officials were harassing the diagnostic centres on frivolous grounds. In one such case, the IMA official revealed, a doctor was charged money for not keeping the copy of the PNDT Act on the table, as he had left it in his cupboard. Under the Pre Natal Diagnostic Test (PNDT) Act each diagnostic centre is supposed to keep a copy of the Act with him. Taking serious note of the issue, the IMA Punjab has taken up the matter with senior health officials at Chandigarh. The IMA official pointed out that the Act says that each inspecting team should have at least one member from some recognised non government organisation and one member from the IMA. However, the Health Department officials, for the reasons best known to them did not include any of such members. It was learnt that the senior department officials in Chandigarh have taken serious note of the issue and asked for the explanation of the officials concerned who have been accused of taking money from the diagnostic centres. The IMA official claimed that they had been assured of immediate action in the matter and that no harassment would be caused to anyone under any pretext in the future. |
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Punjab Government plans vets’ force Ludhiana, August 11 This was disclosed by Dr Ramesh Dutt Sharma, Health and Family Welfare Minister, while addressing a valedictory function of the three-day 28th national seminar on ‘Biological threats and natural disaster management — role of veterinarians’, here today. The minister said there would be a common training for veterinary and medical doctors to prepare for onslaught of natural disasters. Mr Gurvinder Singh Atwal, Parliamentary Secretary, stressed on the need to integrate the Animal Husbandry Department, the Dairy Development and Milkfed in order to avoid multiplicity of functions and for better coordination. He said in the animal husbandry sector quackery should be controlled in order to raise profits of dairy farmers and to make them such ventures commercially viable. While addressing the dairy farmers and the delegates, he exhorted them not to forget the dignity of labour and told them to change their mind set and do work with their own hands. Dr G.S. Chahal, Director, Animal Husbandry, said: “In order to make dairying viable we had to decrease production cost of milk and at the same time rate of milk available to the dairy farmers had to be increased”. Dr K.B. Singh from the PAU proposed to the Health Minister that while making health policies for the control of diseases, veterinarians too should be involved because there were many diseases, like brucellosis and tuberculosis, which could be transmitted from animals to people and vice-versa. Dr N.P. Gupta, Dr C.S. Randhawa, Dr J.S. Bhatti, all experts from the College of Veterinary Science, provided vital tips to dairy farmers. Among others who spoke were Mr Randhir Singh Rode, president, Punjab Dairy Farmers Association, and Dr Ashok Sharma, president, Punjab State Veterinary Officers Association. |
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Of foundation stones & unfulfilled promises Ludhiana, August 11 While one foundation stone had been laid in 1992, promising a modern hospital. It stands amidst a pond as a sign of an abject betrayal by the then Congress government. The second one announcing the laying of a concrete road leading to the cremation ground by the SAD-BJP government last year, is no less disappointing as the promise remains unfulfilled. Only a brick road has been constructed. These two stones aptly described the saga of the successive governments, which believed in announcing development projects for the villages only to cash in on easy votes. The first stone on the cremation ground announced the construction of a multi-facility Guru Hargobind Singh Memorial Hospital, Manji Sahib. It was laid on March 15, 1992, by the late Beant Singh, then Chief Minister. The stone also displayed the name of Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, then Excise and Taxation Minister, and Mr Lal Singh, then Health Minister. Ironically, not even a single brick has been laid by the three successive governments. The second stone was laid on December 24, 2001, for the construction of a concrete road leading to the cremation ground. Interestingly, the two stones stand abandoned near a pond of water. Villagers said there used to be an open space near this pond and in 1992 the then Congress government had laid the stone of the hospital. But the hospital never came up on the site. Then villagers constructed sheds in the area and started cremating the dead. “After nine years of laying the hospital stone, a minister came and laid another stone announcing the concrete road leading to the cremation ground. But that promise has also not been fulfilled till date. I think this land has become a platform for the ministers of various governments to compete with their rivals and take the villagers for a ride”, a disappointed villager said. He said the villagers were waiting for the hospital since years as they had to take patients to Doraha in case of an emergency. “Now we know no hospital is going to come up here. The politicians have played politics with us too.” |
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Murder case of Sant’s follower reopened Ahmedgarh, August 11 The widow of the deceased, Jasbir Singh, and mother of five children accused the two rivals of Sant Baba Darshan Singh Dhakkiwale of setting ablaze her husband Jasbir. Though the police has already arrested the two accused in the case, Jasbir’s widow is not satisfied with the progress of the case and has demanded payment of Rs 4 lakh as interim compensation and total Rs 20 lakh through the Punjab Human Rights Commission. Unable to conceal her tears, Mrs Surinder Kaur alleged that her husband, Jasbir, had a tiff with Amarjit Singh and Malkiat Singh, two opponents of Baba Darshan Singh Ghuruan, on the evening of June 7,2000. Because her family supported Baba, the two persons who quarrelled with Jasbir at canal bridge, later set him on fire at her in-laws house. Jasbir died later at the DMCH but had accused Amarjit and Malkiat of setting him on fire before his death. His statement was recorded in the presence of Mr H.S. Tiwana, Ilaqa Magistrate. The Payal police registered a case against the two accused, which according to Surinder Kaur was got cancelled “under political pressure”. She then approached the Punjab Human Rights Commission and demanded a compensation of Rs 20 lakh vide her complaint No 1847 of 2000. Though the commission’s recommendations,
After the Payal police initiated its action against the accused, the ADGP (Crime) ordered the cancellation of the FIR and branded the death of Jasbir Singh as a “suicide committed due to financial constraints, family tension, large family and strained relations with parents and in-laws.” Rivalry in Maksudra village between followers and Sant Darshan Singh Dhakiwale and his opponents was said to be the cause of the quarrel, which preceeded the death of the man. Around 24 relevant witnesses, including those of the widow of the deceased, sarpanch of the village and policemen have been made the basis of cancellation Mr P.S. Gill, AIG(Crime) had construed that had Jasbir been set on fire by someone, he could have at least told this to her wife, who was most personal to her at the hospital.” A double bench of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission comprising Justice J.S. Sekhon and Ms Maninder K. Mattewal found that statements recorded by the Punjab Police and conclusions were contradictory and ADGP (Commission)’s recommendations to hand over the case to the CBI were declined by the Home Department vide its letter No 3/1122/2000-3HR/5321, dated September 2001. On the basis of the commission’s observation and recommendation that, “After going through the entire record, the commission is of the opinion that in all fairness, the government may, either after any further investigation which may be required, direct the authorities to proceed against the accused in accordance with law by putting the challan in the court or as ADGP, PSHRC, has recommended, the matter be entrusted to the CBI for investigation. “Recommendation to entrust investigation to the CBI having been declined already, the government has proceeded against the accused after which now it is to be seen that how would the police help the aggrieved family after averting the earlier findings of their own superiors.
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New development projects on anvil Ludhiana, August 11 The Commissioner, Mr
S.K. Sharma, proclaimed that the face of the city would be changed within the next quarter as the funds were no longer a problem. For the first time in the recent past the corporation had been feeling financially comfortable, with the financial reserves running into crores of rupees. This presents an absolutely a contrasting picture when compared with the last year or even with the other three corporations of Punjab, which are still registering revenue losses. Talking to TNS here today, he said that the funds would be utilised for the overall development, including providing basic infrastructure, proper drainage system and all other amenities corporation is supposed to provide. “Earlier the projects would get delayed for the lack of funds and the corporation used to run into debts”, the Commissioner said, while adding, “but that will never be a problem now”. He admitted that there was not any change in the procedure of resource mobilisation, but said the things only needed to be streamlined. “While earlier the contractors of various developmental projects would keep on begging for the funds, but now we are ourselves asking them to furnish their bills on time after completing the work on time”, he remarked. This has an added advantage. Now the contractors are not left with any excuse for the delay in works. Earlier they would complain that they were not being provided with the funds thus the work would automatically get delayed. “With funds in abundance the contractors are asked to explain the delay in the completion of their projects and their work is monitored on day-to-day basis”, Mr Sharma said, while promising to further improve the MC functioning. Mr Sharma said this was possible only after enforcing discipline in every department. He promised that Ludhiana would soon be given a greener look with massive plantation of trees. |
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Petrol pump issue: BJP flays Cong Ludhiana, August 11 Prof Rajesh Bhandari, general secretary of the party, said the continuous furore in both Houses of the Parliament had resulted in a huge drain on the Exchequer since important business could not be transacted over a non-issue. He added that investigations in the case revealed that more than 75 per cent of the petrol stations allotted since 1983, were allotted on the basis of recommendations by the Congress. In view of the stand taken by the PM, the Congress too should ask for a probe into the past allotments, he added. |
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Rotary Club team installed Ludhiana, August 11 General Mehta was the chief guest. The following have been installed as the new office bearers of the local Rotary club: Mr R.D. Gera was elected president, Mr S.S. Chopra as president elect, Ms Meera Puri as senior vice-president, Mr K.K. Chadha as vice-president, Dr A.S. Bindra as secretary, Mr Sarbjit Singh as joint secretary, Mr B.D. Sharma as treasurer and Mr Sanjiv Aggarwal as sgt-at-arms. Mr Sanjiv Sethi has been elected the director of club service, Dr B.S. Bal as director communication projects, Mr I.S. Grewal as director special committees, Dr Akshay Vohra as director communication services, Mr D.P Puri as director vocational services and Mr A.S. Pandher as director internal services. |
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Writers
attend seminar Ludhiana, August 11 In this symposium Gurbhajan Gill was introduced by Mohinder Deep Gill, who said Gill had covered many a milestone since he started writing poetry. His entry into the world of Punjabi literature was a welcome sign. Not only he had penned many a poem but his prose collection ‘Camre Di Akkh Boldi Hai’, a collection of a series of articles, was a big success. He said Gill’s poetry showed the struggle of life which was quite evident in his book ‘Agnivarsha’. The meeting was presided over by Sahitya Akademi winner Ajaib Chitarkar. Mr Jatinder Veer Singh was the special
guest. Among others who attended the meeting were Prem Singh, Sukbash Kalakar, Nirmal Jaura, Dr Ajit Singh Sikka and Dr S. N. Sewak. |
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Sikh panel flays Akalis Ludhiana, August 11 Dr P S Ranu, national president of the federation, said it was for the first time that a CM had taken the initiative to solicit funds for the state within a few months of taking over while the Badal government did nothing during the reign and more than 600 farmers committed suicide in its regime. He also said it was a matter of shame that the Petroleum minister had chosen not to resign on the petrol pump issue. |
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Party to work for uplift of poor Ludhiana, August 11 |
Man
kills mother over property dispute Ludhiana, August 11 The incident was the tragic culmination of a month-old acrimony between the accused and his parents over some property dispute. Neighbours said they were living separately but the son used to come to the place quite often and
quarrelled with the old couple. Yesterday afternoon, he allegedly beat up the parents so much that his old mother, Surjit Kaur, succumbed to injuries in a city hospital. The police has registered a case of murder against Nardev Singh. Raids have been conducted to arrest him but he has managed to give the police a slip. Interestingly, the accused was taken to a police station immediately after he had beaten up his parents. However, the police let him off after his wife came and pleaded that some other relative was seriously ill and she needs her husband. The police has said yesterday that the woman had not died at that time and it did not seem her injuries were so grave. DSP P.S. Parmar, however, denied the allegation. He said the accused was never caught. He added that he was caught earlier and let off with a warning. According to Mahinder Singh, the accused’s father, his son was always demanding money from them. He said they were regularly threatened and beaten up.
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289.5 kg of poppy husk seized Jagraon, August 11 During interrogations, the police recovered 71 kg or more poppy husk at the instance of Chand Singh and another 71 kg at the instance of Niranjan Singh and another 71 kg of poppy husk more from the embankment of the Sutlej from Swaranjit Singh totalling to 289.5 kg of poppy husk. All accused have been booked 15-61-85 of NDPS Act. In another incident a police party raided the house of Manjit Kaur at Burj Keelaran village and seized 19 kg of poppy husk and booked her. |
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Knitwear Club felicitates Dawer Ludhiana, August 11 Speaking on the occasion, the president of the club, Mr Vinod Thapar, said that the knitwear industry had great expectations from Mr Dawer. He said, Mr Dawer was aware of the problems and difficulties being faced by the industry in the city, since he had a long association with the industry. Mr Thapar raised various issues concerning the industry and urged Mr Dawer to take them up with the government. He said, there was a long list of pending demands which needed the urgent attention of the government and hoped that Mr Dawer would be able to do the needful. Expressing his gratitude to the Knitwear Club for honouring him, Mr Dawer said, he was well aware of the problems of the industry and had already raised the issue with the Chief Minister and the Industry Minister. He also asked the Knitwear Club members to document all problems they were facing so that he could effectively pursue them with the government. Mr Dawer also announced that he would soon be arranging a meeting of the local industrialists with the Chief Minister and the minister concerned. He assured that the Congress government was serious about reviving the industry in Punjab which had been left to its own fate by the previous Akali-BJP government. He pointed out, the Chief Minister had embarked upon the foreign tour primarily with the purpose of seeking investments to set up more industries and development projects in the state. He said that Capt Amarinder Singh had a great vision for prosperous and industrially developed Punjab and Ludhiana held key to it. |
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Product
launched Ludhiana, August 11 |
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