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July 22, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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Boy’s parents
deny abduction Ludhiana, July 21 The case became murkier following claims and counter-claims of both parties over the age of the missing couple and the manner in which the parents of the suspect, Gurjinder Singh, were arrested. A Gurmeet Inder Singh, a PSEB employee posted at Jalandhar, and his wife Charanjit Kaur were arrested last night for “conspiring” the abduction of Rupinder Kaur, daughter of Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhatti, a former SP(Traffic), Ludhiana, and currently posted with the Investigation Department, Lok Pal, Punjab. They were presented before the Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr Jasbir Singh, amid high drama at the district courts complex this afternoon. The police escorted them and prevented mediapersons from interviewing them. The couple broke down before the judge and said they were being falsely implicated to pressure their son and
He gave a twist to the case by claiming that he had no idea where the duo was but had been informed by the girl over the phone that they had got married. He claimed that both of them were major. While being frisked away by the police, Charanjit Kaur said her son was 23 years old and the girl was 18. They had been arrested from the house of Mr Bhatti where they had gone last evening to extend their cooperation. She maintained that they neither had prior information about the plans nor had they any idea about their whereabouts. However, Mr R.K. Bakshi, DSP, Sarabha Nagar, said the police had arrested them from Jalandhar after a raid as they had conspired with their son. He said the couple should present themselves before a court if they were major. He denied that the police was harassing them. The police had on Friday registered a case of abduction against the suspect.
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Coop society staff dupe farmers Ludhiana, July 21 These employees pocketed Rs 11.76 lakh. The authorities are still trying to figure out who took how much. Meanwhile, the farmers are shocked at the notices issued to them for repaying loans. The society was formed in 1978 and had been showing profits till four years ago. The genesis of the scandal lies in the appointment of Mr Tarlochan Singh as the secretary of the society. He allegedly accepted money from farmers, entered the amount in their pass books, but did not enter the same in the official account books. Their are signed entries in the farmers’ pass books confirming that the loans have been repaid. Mr Hoshiar Singh, Mr Gurdev Singh, Mr Rajinder Singh, Mr Sukhdev Singh, Mr Darshan Singh and Mr Gurdev Singh, some of the affected farmers, said they had been bringing irregularities to the notice of the authorities concerned for the past many years, but the Cooperative Department did not pay heed to it. The management and employees connived to pocket the money of the society, they alleged. They alleged that the senior officials of the department, besides some inspectors, were in the know of the scandal, but they did not bring it to the notice of their seniors. An officer was suspended some years ago, but others got together and got him reinstated clearing the way for the scam, they said. At least 100 members had received recovery notices a few days ago. They have decided to submit a memorandum to the higher authorities to defer the notices, besides demanding a high-level inquiry into the matter. They said the guilty officials included Inspector Harchand Singh, Inspector Narinder Kumar, Secretary Tarlochan Singh, besides President of the society Bhupinder Singh. Mr Varinder Singh, who worked as a peon with the society, said the officials were fudging accounts and extorting money from the farmers on one pretext or the other. “This had been going on for a long time and I had submitted affidavits to the authorities, but nothing came out of it. I had even brought the matter to the notice of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and sitting Akali MLA and former minister Jagdish Singh Garcha, but nothing was done,” he said. |
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Save challan or ‘jaan’, choice is yours Ludhiana, July 21 They are all in hospitals only because no cop or the fear of a challan deterred them from being ‘dare devils’, who travelled at high speed without adequate precautions in terms of wearing a seat belt. They are not alone, there are hundreds of others like them who are convalescing in various city hospitals after getting involved in road accidents. In most of these cases, their fellow travellers, wearing seat belts, escaped unscathed. Mr Surinder Singh, his wife and two children had left for Chandigarh around 9 am. At 9: 30 am their Honda City car smashed into a truck that had taken a sudden turn towards Bhaini Sahib. His son, Samsher, was in the driving seat and his daughter, Prabh, was sitting along side. His wife, Kamal, and he himself were occupying the rear seats. All, except Mr Surinder Singh, were wearing seat belt. The three escaped without a scratch, while a broken collar bone has immobilised Mr Surinder Singh for at least six weeks. Research in western countries has shown that many of the fatal road accidents would have been non-fatal, had those involved in the accidents were wearing seat belts. The study says “Failure to buckle up contributes to more casualities than any other single traffic safety-related behaviour”. The study further says, “If every state in the USA made using seat belt compulsory, it would save 1,900 lives, prevent 49,000 injuries and save Americans $3 billion in health care, taxes and
According to the Western India Automobile Association, “The modern three-point automotive seat belt was the brainchild of Swedish aircraft engineer Nils Ivar Bohlin, who, spent early years of his career designing aircraft ejector seats. His invention — a three-point combination lap and diagonal belt positioned across the pelvis and rib cage — has saved thousands of lives since its introduction in 1959”. Mr Avinash Bansal, his daughter, Parul, and wife had a miraculous escape today morning when their Maruti car hit a Punjab Roadway bus head on at Bharat Nagar Chowk. The car went into a spin and turned turtle. All of them would have been thrown out of the car, but for the seat belts they were wearing. When Punjabi singer Gurdas Mann was admitted to the General Hospital, Sector 32, two years ago following a road accident, he went on record to say that his Pajero had been smashed, but his life was saved only because he was wearing a seat belt. His driver killed in the accident. Mr Abdul, a city resident, was also involved in a road accident on the GT Road near Karnal. He saw his co-passenger, Ranjit, meeting his death after flying out of the Tata 207, simply because he was not wearing a seat belt. Mr Abdul got saved because he remained entrapped in the seat because of the seat belt. It has become almost fashionable in Ludhiana for women not to wear a seat belt and when they are questioned by the traffic police personnel, they say they have been advised by their doctor not to wear seat belt because they are on a family way. When women do this, they do not realise that they are putting their lives at risk. Most people have a choice: feign wearing a seat belt on seeing a cop and let go of the belt later to save a challan or to save their ‘jaan’ (life). |
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Sordid tale of lust, deceit Ludhiana, July 21 While she had to surrender to the desires of her husband’s brother, in the hope of a happy life with her husband in Canada, little did she realise that she would be deserted by her husband. Today she is with her parents in Malak village. Gurmeet Kaur, the desolate woman, after returning from Canada has lodged a complaint of rape against the NRI. She has also complained against her husband and her in-laws for conspiring against her. Gurmeet Kaur was married to Jasbir Singh of Sadarpura village in Jagraon on February 13, 1998. Her husband wanted to migrate to Canada. For the purpose, her in-laws demanded Rs 2 lakh from her to pay to a travel agent. When she failed to get the money, they decided to get her married to her husband’s brother. She was forced into marrying her brother-in-law, Chamkaur Singh. She left the country on the promise from her husband that he would join her in Canada soon. Her repeated complaints to her husband against her brother-in-law bore no fruit. Finally, she was sent back to India. Back home, her in-laws and her husband refused to accept her and left her at her parents’ house in Malak village. The Sidhwan Bet police has registered a case against seven persons, including her husband and brother-in-law, under Sections 498-A, 376, 506 and 120-B, IPC. |
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Performing
feats of faith Ludhiana, July 21 They are devotees of Mariamma also known as Sheetla Mata. Madrasis, as they call themselves, yesterday took out a procession in honour of the deity from Daresi Grounds. Several devotees had pierced their cheeks with iron rods. They neither feel pain nor do they develop wounds after removing the rods. They fast for a few days before the great day. One man had hooks in his back. Shankar (45), pulled a Maruti car tied with a rope and looped to the hooks.
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Final round for voter cards from July 27 Ludhiana, July 21 Mr S.R. Kaler, Deputy Director, Local Bodies and Presiding Officer for the constituency, said the corrections in the existing voter identity cards would also be carried out during this period. The cards would be made according to the voters’ list of 2003. Mr Kaler appealed the voters to get their photo identity cards prepared during this final round as in future, these cards would be used as official identification documents. Following are the dates and areas where the voters would be photographed during this period. July 27— Booth No. 1,2 at Guru Nanak Stadium, Booth No. 3,4 at Shastri Hall, Booth No. 5,6 at Arya College for Women, Booth No. 7 at Arya Higher Secondary School, Civil Lines, Booth No. 8,11,12 and 13 at GGN Khalsa College for Boys, Booth No. 9,10 at Malwa Khalsa College for Women, Booth No. 14,15 at Ludhiana High School Green Park, Booth No. 16 to 19 at Arya College for Boys, Booth No. 20 to 23 at Ludhiana Public High School, Booth No. 24,25 at Government High School, Gobind Nagar, Booth No. 26 to 28 at Kundan Vidya Mandir, Rajpura Road, Booth No. 29,30 at Bhartiya Mandir School, Udham Singh Nagar, and Booth No. 31,32 at Government Senior Model School, PAU. Booth No. 33 to 37 at Hollick Rasit Senior Secondary School Kitchlu Nagar, Booth No. 38,39 at Co-Education High School, Gobind Nagar, Booth No. 40 to 43 at Government High School, Haibowal Khurd, Booth No. 44,45 at MC Veterinary Hospital, Haibowal Khurd, Booth No. 46 to 49 at Jeevan Jyoti Public School, Rishi Nagar, Booth No. 50 to 52 at Shivalikwala Doon School, Rishi Nagar, Booth No. 53 to 56 at Government High School, Gobind Nagar, Booth No. 57 to 60 at Government Girls High School, Dhoos Mohalla, near ESI Hospital, Booth No. 61 to 64 at Malwa High School, Model Gram, Lajpat Nagar, Booth No. 65 to 69 at CFC School, Gurdev Nagar, Booth No. 70 to 74 at New High School Sarabha Nagar, and Booth No. 75, 76 at Employment Exchange, South Model Gram, near Railway Station. July 28 — Booth No. 78,79 at Malwa Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Model Gram, Booth No. 80 at the office of the Joint Chief Controller for Import and Export, Shakti Nagar, Booth No. 81 to 85 at Government High School, Jawahar Nagar, Booth No. 86,87 at Government High School (primary section), Jawahar Nagar, Booth No. 88 to 91 Government Girls High School, Jawahar Camp, Booth No. 92 to 94 at Nauharia Mal Jain School, Ferozepore Road, Booth No. 95,96 at Amar Public School, Shyam Nagar, Gali No. 6, Booth No. 97,98 at Sri Ram Bhawan Dharamshala, Shyam Nagar, Booth No. 99 to 101 at Government High School, Manjit Nagar, near Engine Shed. Booth No. 102,103 at Co- Education School, Railway Quarters, Jagraon Bridge, Booth No. 104,105 at the Community Centre of Sacred Heart Convent School, Booth No. 106,107 at Sacred Heart Commissionary Centre, Sham nagar, Booth No. 107 to 111 at Vikas Dharamshala, Abdulahpur Basti, Booth No. 112 to 115 at Sri Ganesh Middle School, Kamla Nagar, Booth No. 116-117 at Government Primary School, Vishkarma Nagar, Booth No. 118-119 at Guru Nanak Co-Education Bhatha Bhagat High School. Booth No. 120-121 at Guru Ravi Das Dharamshala, Abdulahpur Basti, Booth No. 122-123 at Mahanvir Model School, Abdulahpur Basti, Booth No. 124-125 at Sacred Heart Convent School, Sarabha Nagar, Booth No. 126,127, 129, 133 at R. S. Model School, near Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Booth No. 128, 132 at Joint Chief Controller’s office, Shastri Nagar, Booth No. 130, 131 at BCM Arya Model School, Booth No. 134, 135 at the office of the Joint Controller, Import and Export, Booth No. 136 to 138 at Nishkam Vidya Mandir, Ambedkar Nagar, Booth No. 139 to 141 at Vijay Convent School, Ambedkar Nagar, Booth No. 142 to 145 at Gujar Khan High School, Model Town. Booth No. 146 to 149 at Guru Singh Sabha High School, Model Town, Booth No. 150 to 153 at Junior Model Middle School, Model Town, Booth No. 154 to 157 at Dashmesh High School, Gill Road, Booth No. 158 to 161 at Atam Public School, Atam Nagar, and Booth No. 162 to 165 at Guru Arjan Dev Model School,
Sewakpura. |
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Epidemic
threat in Dugri Ludhiana, July 21 Residents said the park was
developed by PUDA and handed over to the local Municipal Corporation
about two years ago, adding that it was not being properly maintained
by the authorities concerned. They said the park had turned into a
grazing ground for stray cattle. Moreover, mosquitoes were breeding on
the accumulated water. The area residents claimed that no employee of
the Health Department or the Municipal Corporation had visited the
locality despite their repeated complaints in this regard. “People
have started contracting malaria, but nobody bothers. No one has come
to spray insecticides as yet,” said a resident. He said the local
residents had protested a number of times against the area being
ignored, but they only got assurances in return. He alleged that the
municipal authorities had been turning a deaf ear to their
complaints. The residents fear that as the monsoon progresses, the
streets would again be inundated and the accumulated water could
overflow into their houses. Mr Amarjit Singh, a resident of the area,
said they were living amidst filth and diseases. He said: “What to
talk about the parks, the streets remain under sewage or rain water
for several days. Besides mosquitoes, germs and bacteria are
flourishing in this area and there is a fear of outbreak of an
epidemic.”
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Rain floods city areas Ludhiana, July 21 Accumulation of rainwater was reported from several localities, both in the old city areas and posh colonies. Main roads and streets in areas like Salem Tabri, Noorwala Road, Shivpuri, Hargobind Nagar, Kidwai Nagar, Industrial Estate, Gill Road, Pakhowal Road, Sarabha Nagar, Feroze Gandhi Market, New Kundan Puri, parts of Haibowal remained flooded with water for quite some time. In many localities, roads damaged due to digging by telecom companies for laying cables added to the woes of the people as the depressions were filled up by water and posed danger to pedestrians, cyclists and two-wheeler drivers. Municipal corporation authorities, however, claimed that the sewer lines and the stormwater drainage system in the city were functioning to their full capacity because the entire sewerage network, storm sewer lines and road gullies were thoroughly cleaned before the start of rainy season. The superintending Engineer (O and M) of the MC, Mr Subhash Dua, said the city areas had 1275 km length of sewer lines for disposal of waste water while approximately 70 km long storm water disposal lines had also been laid, exclusively for drainage of rainwater. Substantial parts of the old city, including Old G.T. Road, Chaura Bazar, Nizam Road, Saban Bazar, Ghas Mandi, Lakkar Bazar as also CTI Chowk, Gill Road, Basant Park to Partap Chowk, Mall Road and Sarabha Nagar to Ferozepore Road had the facility for stormwater drainage and usually the accumulated rainwater was drained out almost as soon as the rain stopped. Occasionally, when the rainfall was heavy and more than the capacity of the storm water sewer, the time taken for discharge of accumulated water was obviously more. |
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Autorickshaw
passengers a harassed lot Ludhiana, July 21 But it is an altogether different story when it comes to paying for the service for a short trip, say between Damoria Bridge and Arya College or between CMC Hospital and Samrala Chowk. Scenes of heated arguments between autorickshaw drivers and commuters have become very common on city roads. In fact, commuters in the city are being held to ransom by unscrupulous autorickshaw drivers who, in the absence of any authorised fare structure, charge passengers according to their fancy. As rate list of fare between various points on a particular route is not displayed anywhere, autorickshaw drivers are having a field day as there is virtually no authority to check their malpractices. According to a man, who has been a regular commuter between Bhadaur House and the Civil Lines for the past two months or so, he normally pays Rs 3 per trip, but he comes across an autorickshaw driver now and then who insists on charging one rupee extra. When he tells the driver that the normal rate is Rs 3, the driver more often than not gets angry and start using abusive language. Most of the passengers generally give into his unjust demand. Such unscrupulous drivers are virtually holding commuters to ransom,” he says. Commuters on the local ‘adda’-Focal Point route are also facing the problem of overcharging by autorickshaw drivers. While fare between Samrala Chowk and local ‘adda’ is normally Rs 3, some drivers are charging up to Rs 5 from commuters. Whenever any commuter objects to overcharging by drivers, they try to pressurise passengers by raising their voice and exhibiting bad temper. Mr Kuldeep Singh Katani, president of the autorickshaw drivers’ union, Clock Tower, when asked about overcharging by autorickshaw drivers, said drivers of autorickshaws leaving from the stand did not overcharge commuters. Only those drivers, who were not affiliated with the stand and whom he termed as ‘outsiders’, indulged in overcharging, he said. He said it was beyond their means and capacity to stop ‘outsiders’ from plying on the route. According to a commuter, all autorickshaws plying on different routes in the city should be numbered stand-wise and the fare structure for journey between various points should be displayed on the vehicle itself. Such a step would go a long way in ensuring a smooth, hassle-free commuting for city residents, he opined. |
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Action
against councillor’s husband sought Ludhiana, July 21 At a meeting of the association convened by Mr Pargat Singh Grewal, secretary general of the Council of Diploma Engineers, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, here today, engineers condemned the alleged inaction on part of the MC to charge Mr Raj Mehra, a clerk in the MC and husband of the councillor, with assaulting Mr Kulwant Singh, SDE, on duty. Speakers, at the meeting, including Mr Joginder Singh Sandhu, and Mr Daljit Singh, president and vice-president, respectively, of the Municipal Engineers Association, Punjab, demanded that the accused be placed under suspension and made to face police action. Mr Pargat Singh Grewal said engineers in government departments and local bodies would resort to agitation if the authorities failed to accept their demand.
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Employees
to join stir on July 23 Amloh, July 21 The meeting was addressed by Mr Shiv Dutt (district chairman), Mr Hari Chand (district chief), Mr Som Nath (tehsil secretary), Mr Ram Paul, Mr Surjit Singh, Mr Norang Singh, Mr Harnek Singh, Mr Amar Singh and Mr Gurmeet Singh. The union leaders spoke against the policy of privatisation of boards and corporations. They said the government was bent upon reducing the strength of lower-rung government employees, whereas the number of administrative posts had been raised to accommodate kin of high-ups. Salaries and perks of MLAs and ministers had been increased, but the government had no money to meet the demands of lower-rung employees, they said. |
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Cheque
given to jawan’s widow Ludhiana, July 21 A cheque for Rs 2 lakh was presented to Ms Nirmala Devi, by Brig Sunil Dhawan, Station Commander, Ludhiana. On November 3, 1999, at about 5.45 pm, a suicide squad of militants entered the cantonment and opened heavy firing, killing the PRO and Subedar Sharma alongwith four jawans. |
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5 Dalits injured in attack Ludhiana, July 21 |
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Dalits
stage dharna Ludhiana, July 21 Mr Kashmiri Lal, spokesperson of the Dalits said the police had rounded up only the Dalit youths and taken no action against the Jats. They submitted a memorandum to Mr Narinderpal Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, in this regard.
TNS
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Man booked for suicide bid Ludhiana, July 21 The complainant had alleged that while he, along with a police party was on duty at the main market in Jamalpur, he saw the driver made an attempt on his own life. The police has the registration number of the three-wheeler but no arrest has been made so far. Beaten up:
The Sadar police yesterday registered a case under Sections 341, 323, 148 and 149 of the IPC on the statement of Mr. Hem Raj, a resident of Mohalla Isher Nagar, against Jagjit Singh, alias Pappu, Hena and about eight other unknown persons accompanying them, residents of the same locality. The complainant had alleged that the accused locked him in a room on the night of July 18 and beat him up. The incident allegedly took place in the same locality. No arrest has been made so far. The Salem Tabri police yesterday registered a case under Sections 323, 341, 506 and 34 of the IPC on the statement of Mr Gian Singh, a resident of Guru Har Rai Nagar, against Nanak Singh, Daljeet Singh and Mohan Singh, all brothers living in the same locality. The complainant had alleged that the accused stopped him on the road, beat him up and also threatened him on Saturday night. No arrest has been made so far. The Koom Kalan police, on the statement of Mr Sukhwinder Rai , a resident of Jeewan Pur village, registered a case under Sections 323, 341 and 506 of the IPC yesterday against Harjinder Pal Singh, alias Shinda, a resident of the same village. The complainant had alleged that the accused had intercepted him on Saturday night in the village when he was going home, beaten him up and injured him. No arrest has been made so far. Rash driving:
Eve-teaser held:
Held
for quarrelling:
Jagraon Body found:
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Industry rues lack
of infrastructure Ludhiana, July 21 According to Mr Jagat Singh, president of the Ludhiana Motor Parts Manufacturers Association the government does not seem to have any policy for the industry. He said, “Highest rates of steel items, erratic power supply, high power tariff, lowest quality of infrastructure, discouraging policies of the state government, unnecessary burden of different laws and repeated inspections by department officials are only some of the factors that are making the industry in Punjab very uncompetitive”. Mr Charan Singh Kohli, general secretary of the association, said under these circumstances it was difficult for the industry to compete in the era of WTO regime. Mr Jagat and Mr Kohli maintained that while the industry in general was facing serious crisis, the auto-part industry was the worst hit. They said for improving the quality and ensuring that the local industry stayed in competition, it was essential that the industry got world-class exposure. |
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