The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Was Talhan violence pre-planned?
Naveen S. Garewal
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 7
Was the violence at Talhan pre-planned? Did the Dalits of the village, who had been feeling aggrieved since their social boycott announced by the Jat Sikhs since January 20 this year, deliberately enter into a confrontation out of frustration when they failed to get their grievance redressed by the district administration? At least the preliminary investigation of the magisterial enquiry ordered by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh suggests so.

Barely days before the outbreak of violence, the Dalit Action Committee, Talhan, held two meetings under the leadership of Mr. Chanan Ram Paul, President, on May 22 and then again on May 27. While the memorandum after the first meeting was mild in nature and demanded action against people indicted for social boycott of Dalits by the National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Commission and legal action based on FIR registered on February 7, 2003 under the SC /ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The second memorandum threatened to launch direct action.

“Till now our struggle has been peaceful, but if the Punjab government does not understand our peaceful overtures, we will resort to direct action for which preparations are being made”, the second memorandum threatened.

Had the memorandum been taken seriously, the matter could have been defused. The memorandum pointed out that the boycott of the Dalits was done after a “written decision by the Jats, with announcement in the local Gurdwara and by a proclamation with the beat of drum by the village chowkidar”.

The memorandum claimed that the social boycott was substantiated by two independent agencies. On the basis of an investigation and a subsequent report by Additional Director, Social Welfare Department, Punjab, Mr. Santokh Singh, Punjab’s Social Security Minister made a public statement that “documentary evidence of social boycott was established”. Secondly, a team from the National Commission for SC /ST conducted an on the spot enquiry on February 5 and ordered that “Kewal Singh and Bhupinder Singh be externed from the village for six months”.

The Dalit Action Committee at its meeting demanded that the commissions directive be obeyed and legal action under Sections 295A, IPC, and Sections 3, 9, 10 and 14 of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, be initiated against those named in the FIR dated February 7, 2003. The action committee also made it clear that it was seeking a share in the management of Samadh of Baba Nihal Singh that received an annual offering of about Rs 5 crore.

After the meeting on May 27, the Dalit Action Committee announced that it would continue its chain hunger strike at Dr. Ambedkar Chowk till May 30, but if the district administration still failed to check its “partisan and communal” attitude, direct action would be taken for which preparations were being done.

The Commission for SC/ ST had even issued notices to the state Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police and the Home Secretary to appear before the Commission in New Delhi on May 28 for the state government’s failure to implement the commission’s orders. The matter was therefore in the knowhow of the state Social Welfare Minister, the district administration, the state Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary and the DGP. Yet, they all chose not to take any preventive measures. The state intelligence inputs about Dalits preparing to launch a violent agitation were also ignored.

SAD chief apprehends arrest
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 7
A former Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today said to hide its failure on all fronts and to divert peoples’ attention from violence in Talhan and Jalandhar in the past two days, the state government headed by Capt Amarinder Singh might arrest him (Badal) soon.

“I have got definite information from my sources among officers that the government is going to arrest me and my family members shortly”, said Mr Badal speaking to media persons at the residence of former minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, where a small function was organised to announce the merger of the All-India Kirti Samaj Party (AIKSP) with the Shiromani Akali Dal ( SAD).

The government was in a mood to enact a big drama to deflect peoples’ attention from the prevailing situation in the Jalandhar area. “And as part of the drama, my arrest was on the agenda of the government. Capt Amarinder Singh was also upset over the recent Akali unity”, he added.

“The government failed to collect any proof against me in its rule of nearly one and half year. All senior police officers, who were given the task to find evidence to fix me have told the government that they have found nothing against me”, said Mr Badal.

“However, the government has told these police officers that it wanted nothing less than my arrest”, he said. The former Chief Minister said that one police officer had been recently posted in Muktsar district with a clear instructions that he should show his capability against “ our family”.

Seeking the resignation of Capt Amarinder Singh, the former Chief Minister today accused the Chief Minister of “abdicating his constitutional obligation to guarantee basic security of life and property to the people of Punjab”. Owning moral responsibility for his utter failure to give effective governance, the Chief Minister should step down immediately, he said.

“I would bring the concern of my party and of people of the state over growing lawlessness in the state to the notice of the state Governor as also of the Union Home Ministry”, he said. Mr Badal held the Chief Minister squarely responsible for the total breakdown of law and order in Jalandhar district. “It is amazing that the Chief Minister has no time to attend the matters of governance. The explosive situation in the state following the incidents of Talhan is the direct consequence of the policy of drift and utter negligence on the part of the Chief Minister”, Mr Badal said.

He said that the Talhan issue had been brewing for some time. It had even been commented upon by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Tribes which had directed the Chief Secretary, the DGP as also the Home Secretary to take timely steps to diffuse the situation. “But the government sat tight over its constitutional responsibility and allowed things go out of hand in a dangerous direction”, said Mr Badal.

But things have suddenly got out of hand. Making a very strong observation against the ruling party’s criteria to appoint officers at important places in the state, Mr Badal said that “ those officers were posted on important places who give assurance to the government that they would book any number of Akali leaders or their close relations in criminal and other cases”.

And that is why the law and order situation was deteriorating in the state. Officers at strategically important posts had been posted not on the basis of merit, competence but their “ commitment” against Akali leaders and workers, he further added.

Badal’s exoneration dents Sikh clergy’s standing
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 7
Credibility of Sikh clergy has touched the lowest after absolving Mr Parkash Singh Badal, president Shiromani Akali Dal of all charges, even as representatives of various Sikh bodies have asked the high priests to make amends before the Sikh Sangat for violating the age-old ‘maryada’ (Sikh traditions).

The authority of the high priests already stood diluted as the SGPC did not bother to implement the directives of Akal Takht in the recent past. The latest case referred by Akal Takht to the SGPC was about Ms Surinder Kaur Badal, wife of Mr Badal, who had attended a congregation of Ashutosh Maharaj. However the SGPC failed to give any reply on this significant matter so far as there was apprehension that such an action could open a Pandora’s Box due to the involvement of ‘VIPs’. Despite the clear directives that the sub committee, constituted by Akal Takht, would submit its report on the activities of Ashutosh within a month nothing came out of even after a lapse of four months. The SGPC has also not constituted any committee to resolve the controversy of Dasam Granth which led to unsavoury situation when Sikh clergy of Takht Patna Sahib declared Mr Mohinder Singh Romana, president of the Gurdwara Management Committee (Patna Sahib) tankhaiya for using unpleasant words against the holy book (Dasam Granth).

Earlier, the then SGPC chief, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, while addressing the congregation from Akal Takht on the occasion of “Bandi Chhor Divas” (Divali) had criticised the functioning of the high priests in the presence of Jathedar Akal Takht. However, Sikh clergy could not muster courage to take action against him. Later Mr Talwandi was found honouring a Canada based excommunicated Sikh who had come here with Mr Ujjal Dosanj, the then premier of British Columbia, the Sikh clergy maintained studied silence, despite the fact that a number of complaints were received by Akal Takht secretariat in this regard.

The reason for the denigration of Jathedars is: Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar Akal Takht and Giani Bhagwan Singh, Head Granthi Akal Takht are on extension and could be removed any time by the SGPC — the appointing authority of the Sikh clerics. Giani Tarlochan Singh, acting Jathedar Takht Kesgarh Sahib is yet to be regularised while Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh, an SGPC member was appointed Jathedar Damdama Sahib for political reasons.

Though the Sikh clergy had categorically stated that no meeting of Akal Takht could be held in absence of head granthi of the Golden Temple as per Sikh maryada, yet they continued to hold meetings where important decisions were taken.

The SGPC has not framed any rules and regulations for the appointment and removal of Jathedars as directed by Jathedar Vedanti on March 29, 2000 — a day after his installation as Jathedar Akal Takht. The SGPC has not bothered to constitute ‘Sikh Itihas Board’ to scrutinise the Sikh history in wake of large scale distortions. Earlier, the SGPC had stopped the sale of its own publication, “Gurbilas Patshahi 6”, edited by Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti.

The Sikh high priests also faced humiliation when the SGPC did not make arrangements for video conferencing with Canada based Sikh Scholar Mr Gurbax Singh Kalaafghana, when SGPC chief opposed such move publicly, Jathedar Akal Takht had to revoke his own decision. The Jathedar faced similar situation yesterday (June 6) when Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, SGPC chief honoured Bhai Ishar Singh, son of Sant Bhindranwale by ignoring Jathedar Vedanti.

The personal assistant of Jathedar Vedanti, Mr Prithipal Singh Sandhu, was shown the door by the SGPC. Mr Amarjit Singh, in charge Akal Takht secretariat who was sent by Jathedar Vedanti to deliver a letter to Mr Gurcharn Singh Tohra was sacked by Mr Badungar even without taking Jathedar Akal Takht into confidence. Despite reminders, Akal Takht secretariat could not be computerised.

The Akal Takht secretariat did not reply even a single letter written by Prof Manjit Singh who was sacked as Jathedar Kesgarh Sahib by the SGPC as such an action on the part of Sikh clergy would have annoyed the SGPC chief.

The Sikh clergy faced the wrath of ‘sangat’ when ‘mild tankhah’ was given to Baba Dhanwant Singh, chief of Vishav Noor Ruhani Charitable Sanstha who was accused of raping a girl at his dera.

Interestingly, those (especially leaders of Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal and AISSF led by Mr Harminder Singh Gill) have been praising Jathedar Vedanti for exonerating Mr Badal who used to dub him (Jathedar Vedanti) as ‘Sarkari Jathedar’ till recently the SHSAD and the AISSF (Gill) would consider Bhai Ranjit Singh as ‘real Jathedar’. These organisations had taken a stand to re-install Bhai Ranjit Singh as ‘Jathedar Akal Takht’ till recently.

Summon Thakar Singh at Akal Takht: Dal Khalsa
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 7
The Dal Khalsa today urged the Sikh clergy to summon Baba Thakar Singh, acting chief of Damdami Taksal, at Akal Takht for spreading disinformation that Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was still alive.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib and Mr Kanwarpal Singh, vice-president and chief spokesman of Dal Khalsa, respectively, said Baba Thakar Singh must clarify before Akal Takht as to why he had ‘misled’ the Sikh Panth for about two decades that Bhindranwale was alive. “If Baba Thakar Singh still believes that Bhindranwale is alive then he must give concrete evidence before Akal Takht”, Dal Khalsa leaders said. Similar explanation should be sought from other leaders, including Dr Jagjit Singh Chauhan, Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode, a former jathedar of Akal Takht, who had been telling the community that Bhindranwale had escaped unscathed in Operation Blue Star.

Meanwhile, Dal Khalsa asked Jathedar Akal Takht to tender public apology before the Sikh sangat for exonerating Mr Parkash Singh Badal, president Shiromani Akali Dal. Dal Khalsa leaders alleged that the Sikh high priests had violated the age-old Sikh traditions at the behest of the SGPC. Dal Khalsa leaders announced that a mass movement would be launched on the pattern of Gurdwara Reform Movement for the appointment of jathedars who would not succumb to political pressure. They alleged that the decision of the Sikh high priests, had hurt the sentiments of Sikhs.

MD seeks report on calls to Pak
Our Correspondent

Abohar, June 7
The Office of the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of BSNL today reportedly asked for a detailed report on the ISD calls made from Balluana village, near Abohar to Dubai and other areas in Saudi Arabia. The Union Government is concerned over the apprehensions that the calls might have been transferred using two-line system to Pakistan in violation of the ban.

The state government has also started a probe in the matter following the publication of news reports. Mr Munish Chawla, SP (D), today visited the local telephone exchange and sought authenticated information about the suspicious phone connections that were reportedly used for making the ISD calls last year.

Though no information was available officially, yet it is reliably learnt that the BSNL officers were trying to hold an electrician-cum-wireman besides a lineman as responsible for the alleged scam that concerns the activities of smugglers or anti-national elements.

A senior BSNL officer had reportedly disagreed with the contention that Class III employees had indulged in foul play in this case. Fingers were being pointed on at least two engineers as it would have been virtually impossible to get ISD calls expedited to Arab countries without metering the same that too when the suspicious rural exchange number did not even have the STD facility. Sources indicated that all such calls had perhaps been made in the third week of November last and that too on three days only. Sleuths of the intelligence agencies reportedly visited Dhaani Thakur Singh near Balluana village, 10 kms from here, on the National Highway Number 10, to establish the identity of the residents in whose names the four telephone connections had been issued. But none of them could be located, it is said.

Sources said not only the junior employees but some officers too enjoyed long stay at the telephone exchange here in violation of the service rules. Some had reportedly even amassed immovable property here after their posting to the Abohar division. It appeared that they had settled here as permanent residents. Some of them had been transferred but reportedly managed to get “prime posts” again here.

It had come to the notice of the investigation team that a junior employee of the local exchange was running a cable TV network here in the name of his family members. Some others were also involved in business after duty hours. There had been reports of theft in the godowns of the Telecommunication Department in the past. The latest controversy of ISD calls has added a new dimension to the ongoing bungling. Moreover, it was a secret so far whether the ISD calls had been billed or not.

Interestingly, the DoT had once banned the use of two-line system by the PCO owners. The department had sanctioned scores of STD and local call PCOs here in the past but a majority of these were being used at changed locations without obtaining permission from the department.

The DoT officials at the district headquarters and here had faced allegations of unfairness in the allotment of such PCOs but no action was taken against them. The present scam needs to be scanned from this angle also.

PTDC lacks funds to pay VRS dues
Our Correspondent

Ropar, June 7
The Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) floated by the PTDC has run into problems with the corporation failing to generate funds for paying the dues of the employees and the government refusing to help the corporation in the matter.

After the PTDC floated the VRS scheme, all its 350 employees opted for it. However, the PTDC accepted the applications of just 19 employees posted at the head office of the corporation. Even the dues of these 19 employees have not been paid by it.

Ms Vini Mahajan, Director, Disinvestment, while talking to this correspondent at Soan bridge today admitted that the PTDC did not have funds for paying the VRS dues to the employees. The government had also declined to pay the VRS dues to the employees of the PTDC but for the 19 employees whose applications had been accepted till date.

Due to this, the Directorate of Disinvestment, had decided to link the VRS of the PTDC employees with the disinvestment of the corporation. Any party now bidding for the PTDC would be told that it would have to pay the VRS dues to the employees. Ms Mahajan, however, added that this would not affect the disinvestment process of the PTDC

However, sources said the VRS offered to the PTDC employees was based on a similar scheme floated by the Punjab Government for its employees. As per the rules of the said scheme, if the corporation failed to pronounce a decision on the VRS applications of the employees for three months, these would automatically be deemed to be accepted. Till date, more than two months had passed since the employees applied for the VRS, but no decision had been pronounced by the PTDC on the matter.

When asked about the disinvestment status of Punjab Alkalis and Chemical Ltd, (PACL), Ms Mahajan said the high power bills of the company had made the project unviable. Initially, many companies had given expression of interest for the company. However, after going through the power bills of the company, almost all of them backed out of the bid.

The PACL management was now contemplating ideas for reducing the power bills of the company. The disinvestment process of the company would be carried out after making the unit financially viable, she said.

Ms Mahajan was here to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Soan bridge.

NRI husband, wife make diverse claims
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 7
Just weeks after the President of the Lok Bhalai Party, Mr B.S. Ramoowalia, presented “aggrieved wives of NRI husbands” at the Chandigarh Press Club, new insights into the phenomenon are now surfacing.

Mr Kulwant Singh Chahal, husband of Ravinder Kaur, contacted TNS recently from Toronto, giving his side of the story negating most of the allegations levelled by his former wife.

He maintained that he got married to Ravinder Kaur in 1983, but after divorce, she willingly handed over the custody of her two sons to him in 1996 through a signed document. She had stated: “since she was financially dependent on her parents, her husband would be better placed to look after the children and would impart them quality education.”

Mr Kulwant Singh also claimed that the court in Toronto followed all formalities of informing the other party about the divorce proceedings. Since she failed to respond, the case was finally decided ex-party in 1988. “She was not ignorant of her divorce, as proclaimed by her, as she had signed the postal registry carrying the papers,” he said.

Mr Mandeep Singh Chahal, elder son of Mr Kulwant Singh, supports the version of his father. A declaration signed under oath by Mandeep and faxed to The Tribune says, “My mother Ravinder Kaur willingly sent me and my brother to Toronto with our father and had even come to see us off at the New Delhi airport.”

Further, he and his younger brother were not staying with their father under duress or any kind of compulsion, but were happy with the living arrangements.

This is not an isolated case. Even, the in-laws of Virpal Kaur (Gunti Kalan village in Bathinda district), who was also presented as a victim by Mr Ramoowalia, had challenged her tale of woes. They had held a press conference recently claiming that they were being harassed at the instance of Mr Ramoowalia, who was allegedly “blackmailing” them.

Mr Kulwant Singh’s younger brother, Jaswant Singh, while showing certain documents and pictures to TNS expressed serious doubts over the “general conduct and behaviour” of Ravinder Kaur.

Mr Jaswant Singh said that his brother, a taxi driver in Toronto, had left for Canada as a political refugee in 1986, when his elder son was two-year-old. The problems between the two started soon after marriage. Soon after he left, she had picked up a job of a government school teacher at Hathur, 25 km from Jagraon, and had started living separately, he claimed.

Mr Kulwant Singh kept paying her a monthly expenditure of Rs 2,000 for the children. However, she misused law by getting a false case registered against her in-laws under the Dowry Act.

However, Ravinder Kaur, a JBT teacher in Government Primary School, Bhumipura, while brushing aside most of the allegations, stuck to her previous stand of allegedly being harassed by her husband and in-laws for dowry.

She also maintained that she got to know of her divorce in 1993 when she filed a case against her husband and few other members of her in-laws family. Finally, he took away her kids and other family members leaving her to fend for herself. She now wanted to be with her children, she told The Tribune.

COMMUNITY

42 trucks of wheat leave for Rajasthan
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, June 7
About 25 per cent of the wheat produced is rotting in godowns and has become unfit for human consumption due to the "indifference” of the Union Government, observed Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Agriculture and Panchayat Development Minister while talking to mediapersons here today.

Ms Bhattal had come here to flag off 42 trucks containing 5,000 quintals of wheat for the drought-hit people of Rajasthan under a Punjab Agro Foodgrain Corporation aid programme.

She charged the Centre with making an “unrationalised” public distribution system wherein the government was importing sugar from Pakistan even as huge stocks of sugar were lying in various mills of Punjab. Due to this, the sugar mills were not getting payment from the Central pool and in turn it was becoming difficult for the mills to clear the outstanding dues of farmers who had sold their sugarcane to the mills long ago. The Agriculture Minister said the Punjab Government would ask the Union Government to ensure proper distribution of the buffer stocks.

On the alleged discrimination in reservation in Panchayats, Ms Bhattal denied the charges and said the reservation had been done under the Panchayati Raj Act in Punjab for the first time on a rotation basis.

Regarding the unity between the Badal and Tohra factions, she described it as an “unholy alliance of opportunists” which would not make any difference to the present regime or the Congress.

Admitting scarcity of irrigation water which was likely to hamper the sowing process, Ms Bhattal claimed that the water supply in canals would be ensured within three days.

Replying to a question regarding honouring of family members of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale at Akal Takht yesterday, Ms Bhattal said it was an internal issue of the Sikh politics.

She said the results of diversification of crops in Punjab had been encouraging and five multinational companies had proposed to contribute towards this venture.

Later, addressing a large gathering in the local grain market, Ms Bhattal said it had been the tradition of Punjab to offer food and water to the hungry and thirsty and today they wre providing foodgrains to the drought hit Rajasthan.

She said the government would construct public latrines for women in all villages having a population of more than 2000. Small-scale industries would be set up in community centres in villages for granting vocational training to women.

Heatwave claims 2 lives
Our Correspondent

Bathinda, June 7
Intense heatwave sweeping the area claimed two lives in past 24 hours in the district.

Kuldeep Singh (65) of local Tehlian Wala mohalla died at bust stand of Rampura Phul town 32 km from here last night. He was coming from Patiala by bus after attending a function there.

Residents of Rampura Phul who came to the bus stand in the morning came to know of the death of Kuldeep. They informed the police. The police found a piece of paper with the deceased, which said that he belonged to Bathinda, but his full address was not given.

The police authorities of Rampura Phul asked the Sahara Jan Seva an NGO of the city to find family members of the deceased. After making efforts for four hours, the Sahara found that he was a resident of local Tehlian Wala Mohalla. The family members brought the body of deceased to the city.

Another person died at the local Railway station today due to heat. The deceased about 45 could not be identified. The postmortem examinations of the deceased was held at Civil Hospital after which the police handed over the body to the Sahara after necessary formalities. The NGO cremated the body, as nobody claimed it.

Taps go dry in many city localities
Our Correspondent

Faridkot, June 7
Acute shortage of drinking water during the past many days has made life miserable for thousands of residents of this town. The affected areas are Balbir Basti, Bhan Singh Colony, Narain Nagar, Adarsh Nagar Old Cantonment Road, Mohalla Baba Farid and adjoining areas and Uchhi Street repeated representations to the Public Health Department have been but in vain.

Harmit Kaur, a resident of Bhan Singh Colony, said they had been getting tap water for half an hour for the past one month. she said cracks had appeared in a pipeline opposite Aara Market but no efforts had been taken to repair these.

Mandip Kaur, a resident of Balbir Basti, complained that only residents in low-lying area were getting drinking water. Bindu Bala of Baba Farid area, said she had to fetch water from other areas. She regretted that the telephone of the Public Health Department was not in working order and the residents could not register their complaint Similar views were expressed by Hari Singh Sekhon of Narain Nagar, S.S. Brar of Adarsh Nagar and Satpal Chopra of Clock Tower Street.

Mr Ravinder Singh Bugra president, Lok Jagran Manch, Faridkot, said the previous SAD-BJP government had allocated a grant of Rs 5 crore for augmentation of drinking water supply, but the situation had only deteriorated.

He said if no immediate measures were taken to resolve the matter, the manch would be compelled to launch a stir.

When contacted Mr D.K. Mehta SDO Public Health Department (Urban), said the problem had arisen due to cracks in one of the two-storage tanks. The situation was likely to return to normal within a day or two.

Water supply disrupted in Sirhind
Our Correspondent

Fatehgarh Sahib, June 7
The supply of drinking water by the Municipal Council, Sirhind, to residents of the town has been disrupted as the main tubewell, the prime source catering to the needs of the town, has been out of order for the past three days.

The council employee posted at the tubewell site said it would take at least 10 more days to restore the supply. The erratic power supply has added to the woes of the residents, despite the claims of the local minister that the town, which is the district headquarters, would be converted into a model town as the government has sanctioned Rs 39 crore for its development.

The residents of the town alleged that the council had failed to provide basic amenities like drinking water to them. They said though two more water pumps had been proposed by outgoing councilors, till date no tenders had been floated for the setting up of these pumps.

There are only two water pumps to cater to the needs of the town. The town needs at least four pumps to supply drinking water. A majority of the residents depend upon council water supply and they don’t have their own arrangements. They have been paying water charges to the council as per the increased rates. There is only one hand pump in the main bazaar of Sirhind and the residents of this area and those who visit the bazaar take water from this pump.

Early in the morning, women, children and others form a long queue to fetch water from the hand pump.

The residents alleged that the previous Deputy Commissioner, Mr Vikas Partap, had directed council officials to purchase a new water motor, so that it could be kept as back-up and installed when the motor went out of order. However, council officials did not pay heed to his directions.

To provide drinking water to commuters, some social workers, led by Mr Rakesh Mitter, have started a permanent chhabeel.

Mr R.N.Sharma, president Citizens Welfare Council, Sirhind, have demanded that the water supply should be streamlined and immediate alternative arrangements should be made so that the common people could get sufficient drinking water.

No council official was available for comment as they commute daily from their home towns. Mr S.K.Ahluwalia, Deputy Commissioner, said he had issued strict instructions for the early commissioning of two more water tubewells in the town and for the immediate relief he has directed the Council authorities make best possible arrangements for drinking water.

Power consumption all-time high
Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 7
Consumption of power in Punjab has gone up this summer all time high of 1,130 lakh units forcing to the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) to request the Ministry of Power to increase its share in the unallocated energy pool whose distribution is at the discretion of the Centre.

Board Systems Operation Chief Engineer Padamjit Singh disclosed that the Board had recorded a consumption of 1,130 lakh units yesterday as compared to a consumption of around 1,000 lakh units during same time last year. He said the intense heat wave conditions coupled with early start of distribution of eight hour regular power supply for tubewells in the State to facilitate transplantation of paddy.

The Board Chief Engineer said the Ministry of Power had allocated it 128 mega watt of power from the unallocated pool which came to 16 per cent of the power available in the pool. He said now the Board had requested the Ministry to allocate it 240 mega watts of power which came to around 30 per cent of the energy available in the pool. He said power if allocated from this pool suited the State because it was available at a mixed price including both cheap and expensive power while purchase from some other agency would mean buying power at very high rates.

Meanwhile sources disclosed that the Bathinda thermal plant tripped yesterday following some problem in the grid. They said however the plant was made functional within a few hours. Presently all the 12 thermal plants are running at optimum level in the State with 461 lakh units being generated from the thermal plants, 189 lakh units from PSEB hydro projects, 175 lakh units from BBMB, 293 lakh units were being purchased and 30 lakh units were being received under a banking scheme with hills States.

18 illegal structures demolished
Our Correspondent

Bathinda, June 7
As many as 18 dwellings and structures on the Dhobiana road and in Jhujar Singh Nagar were demolished today by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) as part of its anti-encroachment drive.

The dwellings on the Dhobiana road were demolished as these were built on land where a road was to be constructed. Although the owners of the houses claimed that they had been staying there for more than 15 years, the authorities said the land belonged to PUDA.

It is learnt the owners had approached the court when notices for vacating the land were issued to them some years ago. However, the Supreme Court last year gave a verdict in favour of PUDA. Subsequently it issued a week’s notice to the residents to vacate the land.

The residents had hoped that politicians would come to their rescue. It may be mentioned that various anti-encroachment drives launched in the city by PUDA or the municipal authorities on a number of occasions have failed because of intervention by political persons.

The notices were issued to 17 dwellings and five of these were demolished today. The authorities said the rest would also be demolished.

Some residents of Jhujar Singh Nagar had encroached upon the Phase-III scheme of the Urban Estate of PUDA. Owners of these dwellings, which had entrances from Jhujar Singh Nagar, had extended the buildings 15 to 17 feet towards the Phase-III, thus encroaching upon the PUDA land.

The owners of the houses pleaded with the PUDA authorities to give them more time so that they could abolish the structures themselves, but in vain. One of the dwellings belonged to a retired Army Colonel, while another was of a police official posted in Mansa district.

Sources said the anti-encroachment drive was undertaken at a time when the local MLA was not in city. The authorities denied that there was any link between the two.

Mr Anil Bhola, president of the city Congress, considered close to the MLA, was present when the buildings were being demolished. He denied he was there to “interfere” in the working of officials.

The authorities had come prepared, fearing opposition. Punjab Police personnel were present in strength. A Duty Magistrate was also present. About two years ago, many police personnel, including a DSP and employees and officials of PUDA, were injured when residents of Dhobiana Basti hurled stones on them during an anti-encroachment drive.

45 cases settled in Lok Adalat
Our Correspondent

Fatehgarh Sahib, June 7
With the view to settle overdue cases of defaulters of various cooperative institutions, second district-level co-operative Lok Adalat was organised at local district administrative complex here today.

Mr Mahinder Pal, District and Sessions Judge, Fatehgarh Sahib, inaugurated the Lok Adalat. He settled 45 out of 76 cases involving an amount of Rs 6.59 lakh of PADB (Punjab Agricultural Development Bank, cooperative societies, Housefed, and cooperative banks. Thus a relief of Rs.4.97 lakh was given to the members of various cooperative institutions. Mr G.S. Gill and Mrs Neelam Arora Judicial Magistrates, also assisted the District & Session Judge.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Mahinder Pal said that by organising a Lok Adalat the cooperative department had provided a platform to its defaulting members to settle their cases without incurring any cost for their legal recourse.

Mr Harminder Singh Dhindsa, Deputy Registrar, Cooperatives, appealed cooperative members not to misuse the cooperative loans and refund the loan installments in time so that it could be extended to other people and the wave could be strengthened.

Mr S.K.Batish, Deputy Registrar, Cooperatives, Mr S.R.Bhagat, Assistant Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Fatehgarh Sahib, were also present on the occasion.

Judicial court in Jalalabad likely
Our Correspondent

Jalalabad, June 7
With the appointment of Mr Kuldeep Pal Singh as Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division) here by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the stage seems to have been set for the start of judicial courts here.

Sources in the local Bar Council confirmed that the copy of the order regarding this had reached the Sessions Judge, Ferozepore. Reliable sources confirmed that all civil and criminal judicial work pertaining to the Jalalabad area, at present attached with the Fazilka judicial courts, would be transferred here. The transfer of the judicial work of certain villages of the Guruharsahai block adjoining to this town is also being worked out.

The town was made a subdivision in 1995 and as per the rules of the high court it should have a separate judicial court, but due to lack of the requisite infrastructure, the court could not be established.

Woman conceives after tubectomy
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 7
Even as the dust is yet to settle down on a number of tubectomy deaths in various government hospitals of this district, a woman who underwent tubectomy in civil hospital here last year has conceived.

Ms Sunita, wife of a migrant labourer, decided to limit the size of her family when she found it difficult to meet its expenses. Her family of six has four children. After consulting her husband, Mr Bhanwar Lal, a mason from Rajasthan, she went to Civil Hospital for the operation that was conducted in its Post Partum (PP) Unit on November 9, 2002. Her husband had to spend about Rs 400 on her operation and give her days of care.

She came in for a rude shock when a doctor told her that she was eight months pregnant after an ultrasound test on June 1. She had to consult this private doctor as a stone in her body had been troubling her.

Mr Bhanwar Lal was, now, worried about raising money required for safe delivery in a good hospital. The couple had to suffer stress due to the carelessness of those who had performed the tubectomy. He said the Civil Hospital authorities should give him a suitable compensation to look after his baby, due in a month. He has now, been taking care of his wife, for which he has had to quit his work.

Dr S.L. Thukral, Medical Officer Post Partum (PP) Unit of Civil Hospital, when contacted, said close to 3 per cent tubectomy operations failed, which was not unusual. A woman cold conceive after undergoing tubectomy due to spontaneous recanalisation. He said, in such cases, the delivery was done free of cost.

He also said Ms Sunita could claim a suitable compensation from the authorities concerned after filing a civil suit. Dr S.K. Goyal, Civil Surgeon, could not be contacted.

Buffalo’s electrocution leads to clash
Pawan Kumar

Amritsar, June 7
The death of a buffalo by electrocution recently has led to a clash, with about 30 or 40 men allegedly attacking the house of Prem and Promilla, at the Baba Deep Singh colony in Nangli village with sticks late last night. The mob reportedly threw bricks and stones at the house. However, no one was injured.

The police, allegedly conniving with Gurmej Singh, a resident of the area and owner of the electrocuted buffalo, took Prem and his wife Promilla in custody.

Promilla alleged that the buffalo which was tied to a telephone pole was electrocuted when an electricity wire from their house mounted on the pole was activated. Mr Gurmej Singh holds the family responsible for the death of his buffalo.

A compromise was reached in the presence of the panchayat and police officials at the chowki. It was decided that Prem should pay Rs 4,000 to Mr Gurmej Singh.

Promilla alleged that last night Gurmej Singh along with 30 or 40 persons attacked her house and indulged in verbal abuse and threw bricks and stones at her house and the police took Prem in its custody. She alleged that though mohalla residents, including the sarpanch, had given a written complaint at the Fatehgarh police chowki, no action had been taken.

However, Mr Gurmej Singh has refuted all charges levelled against him.

Notices issued to 7 ice-cream factories
Our Correspondent

Ferozepore, June 7
The District Health Authorities have issued notices to seven soda water and ice-cream factories and production there has been stopped due to the failure of the water samples of these factories. According to Dr R.L. Taneja, DHO, in the month of May, 75 water samples were taken from various places in the district. He said that till date the report of 35 water samples had been received out of which 10 had failed. The water samples of hand pump installed by the Public Health authorities in Civil Surgeon’s office also failed.

Dr Taneja told that the water sample of Surindera Ice Factory Khuian Sarwar, Puja Soda Water Factory Abohar, Mahabir Ice Factory Fazilka, Iqbal Ice Factory Fazilka, Bhiwani Ice Factory Jalalabad, Gill Ice Factory Talwandi Bhai and Janta Soda Water Factory Mudki had failed as and production in these factories had been stopped till the time water quality was improved. He further told that the water samples of hand pumps installed in Leprosy Colony Ferozepore and another in Chak Danewala village has also failed.

Dr Taneja told that the 93 food samples have also been collected till date in the year 2003, out of which five had failed. He said that under a special drive initiated for the prevention of water-borne diseases, 30 water samples have been taken from public places in the district and health awareness campaign has been launched in villages and towns. He told that overripe fruits and vegetables were being destroyed in all towns.

CRIME

Muslim leader’s body found

Mansa, June 7
The body of Sikander Mirza, secretary, District Muslim Welfare Council, Mansa, has been recovered by the police from a field in Rully village of the district. Sikander Mirza was missing since April 15, 2003. His wife Sehnaz Begam had been running from pillar to post to trace her husband.

A report in this regard was also published in The Tribune on May 24 under the heading “Missing man’s wife approaches CM”, after which an FIR was registered on May 29 in the Budhlada police station against Darshan Singh Achanak and Kheta Singh Phulluwala Dod. During investigations, it was found that Sikander Mirza was allegedly murdered by Darshan Singh Achanak, Kheta Singh Phulluwala Dod and others on April 15 following a dispute over a piece of land owned by the Wakf Board. His body was wrapped in a piece of cloth and taken to Rully village in a jeep where it was buried under sand. The police recovered the body in the presence of a magistrate. While Darshan Singh Achanak was arrested yesterday, the police is on a lookout for other accused in the case. OC

3 revenue officials held for graft

Moga, June 7
Punjab Vigilance officials today arrested one revenue official and an undertraining revenue official and a person under charges of corruption.

The three were allegedly caught when accepting bribe of Rs 1200, Vigilance Bureau sources said.

Vigilance officials raided the office of Patwaris this afternoon on a complaint lodged by Hari Singh of Buttarkalan in Moga district.

Hari Singh had alleged that the revenue Patwari Darshan Singh demanded Rs 1600 for sanctioning of mutation and matter was settled for Rs 1200.

When the complainant handed over the alleged bribe money of Rs 1200 to the Patwari Darshan Singh he immediately handed over it to the Patwari undertraining Baljit Singh.

Under training Patwari after counting handed over it to third person Gurvinder Singh sitting there.

The Vigilance Bureau raided and arrested all three and also recovered the bribe money. PTI

Woman charged with killing father, held
Our Correspondent

Ropar, June 7
The Chamkaur Sahib police has claimed to have solved a murder case with the arrest of three persons, including the daughter of Meva Singh of Talapur village, near Chamkaur Sahib, the man killed.

The Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr G.P.S. Bhullar, in a press note issued here today, said Meva Singh had been returning home on May 25 when stopped by two scooter-borne youths near Gadramkalan village, who attacked him with a knife, Meva Singh, later, died in the PGI in Chandigarh before he could disclose the identity of the attackers.

The police was, later, tipped off that the conspiracy to kill Meva Singh had been hatched by his daughter, Manjit ‘Sonia’, and two of her paramours, Jaswinder ‘Tota’ and Gurnek Niki. Manjit Kaur, who worked in an STD PCO in Morinda, allegedly disliked her father’s objections on her relations with the two. As planned, Manjit Kaur went to her kin at Bahadurgarh on the day Meva Singh was murdered, while her paramours finished her father, according to the police.

EDUCATION

Workshop on development of open school system
Our Correspondent

Gurdaspur, June 7
A large number of teachers from all over the state participated in a one-day workshop on integrated development of open school education programme held at Panchayat Bhavan here today. Mr Khushhal Bahl, Education Minister was the chief guest and Mr K.A.P Sinha, Deputy Commissioner, presided over the function.

Other prominent educationists who addressed the workshop, included Dr Kehar Singh, Chairman, Punjab School Education Board; Dr Satish Verma, Director, distance education, GNDU, Amritsar; and Mr Avtar Singh, District Education Officer (secondary) Gurdaspur. Ms Pavittar Pal Kaur, Deputy Director, Open Schools, delivered the keynote address.

Most of the speakers criticised private educational institutions and said that these were nothing but teaching shops and the main aim was to amass wealth.

Mr Bahl said open school education system was aimed at eliminating illiteracy in the country. “The system has a special role to play in border and backward areas where the number of dropouts is very large. The system will also extend its scope to wards of economically weaker sections, particularly in the rural areas”, he said.

Mr Bahl said during the five-year rule of the SAD-BJP government in the state illiteracy, particularly among females, had increased. The state has 3 lakh children who do not go to schools and the rate of dropouts varies from 30 to 38 per cent, he added.

Mr Bahl said there was one government school in Dha sub-division in the district which had one teacher but no students. Similarly, a school in Ropar district had 10 teachers and nine students. He said the manipulation of statistics would be dealt with seriously.

Mr Bahl said in India only 7 per cent students opted for higher education. But efforts were on to raise it to 15 per cent to bring it on a par with the global level by providing proper infrastructure and quality education.

Dr Verma said the education in India, particularly distance education, had earned credits on global level and Indira Gandhi Open University had been rated as second such university in the world in this regard. He said 9 lakh students had enrolled during the current year for the various distance education programmes in India but less than 16,000 students had enrolled for such programmes in Punjab.

Rally held against college fee hike
Our Correspondent

Bathinda, June 7
A large number of students and residents of Sivian village took part in a rally held last night by the Shaheed Prithipal Singh Randhawa Manch in protest against the steep hike in the fee of the government colleges.

In a press note issued here today, Sudeep, convener of the manch, said the hike in the fee that was nearly 30 times in some courses. He said with this step, the government had introduced privatisation and commercialisation in the education sector of which a large number of deserving students would be denied access to education. He said even free education for girls had been stopped.

Mr Harpal Singh, representative, Lok Morcha, Punjab, said education should not be compared to other sector of economy and it should not be seen as a profit-making business. He said it was unfortunate that the government wanted to fill its coffers by increasing the fee of the state-run education institutes. He said that the other associations should also protest against the fee hike and other “wrong economic” policies of the government.

Mr Gurmail Singh, Sarpanch of Sivian, said they had passed a resolution urging the state government to roll back the fee hike as it would deny poor students education. Mr Amrik Singh, block president of the BKU (E), said the union would support the demand of the students seeking a rollback of the fee hike.

Meanwhile, activists of the manch said their protest rallies would be extended to other parts of the state.