The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

DGP: avoid overdisplay of security cover
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 9
Under the new code of functioning, the Punjab Director-General of Police, Mr A.A. Siddiqui, has directed senior officers to make their security arrangements less pompous and a quiet affair. The DGP said the unnecessary display of security cover by officers, particularly in the field, led to public resentment and should be avoided.

The officers have also been directed not to consume liquor along with their security men because such a behaviour loses control over the juniors, taking stock of the incidents in which drunken policemen have blatantly misused their authority. Mr Siddiqui called upon the officers to be role models for their work force. The DGP gave these directions during his first interaction with the top Punjab Police officials in the field as well as at the Headquarters here today. He sought the view of the ADGPs, IGPs, DIGs, and SSPs in chalking out the future course of police working.

Laying emphasis on the personal conduct of officers, the DGP directed the officials to observe punctuality and reorient themselves to make themselves available to the public at all times. He also asked them to wear proper uniforms, at least on special occasions to establish their identity. He advised them against taking salutes from the ceremonial guards while they were in civilian clothes as it amounted to an aberration of the law. The officers posted at the Headquarters would be required to wear their I-cards while in office.

The DGP told the officers that a special campaign would be started to apprehend 7,000 odd proclaimed offenders (POs). Under the plan, Zonal IGs have been directed to constitute special squads in each district and the progress would be reviewed after every three months. This, the DGP, said would be one of the parameters to judge the ability of the SSPs in the districts.

The DGP pointed out that higher the number of complaints with the Punjab Human Rights Commission and greater the number of cases in the high court, weaker the control of the SSP in his district. He directed the DIGs and SSPs to improve the system of working so as to reduce the number of complaints against police officers. This would be yet another parameter to check the effectiveness of their control. The DIGs and IGs would monitor proper handling of the summons and warrants issued by the courts and ensure they were returned in time to ensure better conviction rate. .

As regards checking the incidence of stolen vehicles, he directed the ADGP, Computer and Wireless to set up a data base, where all entries from where the vehicle had been stolen and recovered should be made. Emphasis was laid on training courses for policemen. He said no officer would be exempted from training programmes and out-of-turn promotions, would also be done only in really deserving cases. They would be made as per vacancy and on merit.

The DGP directed the officers to deal sternly with organised gangs indulging in trafficking of humans, particularly the women, besides paying attention to economic offences. While advocating free registration of cases, he cautioned them against registration of cases in property disputes and dowry harassment.

Mr Siddiqui advised the officers to organise ``good policing competitions’’ at the range level to promote professionalism and efficiency in police working.

The other issues which came up for discussion included modernisation of police force, housing for police families, separation of investigation and law and order staff.

Embezzlement of PF detected
Lalit Mohan

Ropar, August 9
With the inquiry into the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) scam in the Ropar Thermal Plant nearing completion, embezzlement has been detected in the EPF accounts of contract labourers serving in the Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant of the PSEB in Bathinda.

The scam came to light when certain contract labourers serving in the Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant allegedly wrote applications to the EPF authorities for withdrawal of amount from their accounts. The applications of the labourers were rejected with the note that no money had been deposited in their accounts.

Mr R.K. Tiwari, member of the three-member subcommittee formed by the Contract Labour Advisory Board of Punjab to look into the regularisation of contract labourers serving in the Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant, told The Tribune here on Thursday alleging a violation of the EPF Act was committed by the labour contractor in connivance with some officials. Mr Tiwari was also president of the Contract Labour Union of the PSEB.

He alleged that the contractor did work in the coal handling plant of the Lehra Mohabbat from 2001-2002. In this period 82 workers were on his muster-roll. He deducted 12 per cent employees’ share from the salaries of the workers but never deposited it with the EPF authorities. Similarly another firm Gill contractors did maintenance work in the Lehra thermal plant keeping 70 workers on rolls. In this case also the amount was deducted from the salaries of the labourers but not deposited with the EPF authorities.

Besides the Pawar contractors and the Sodhi Erectors are other two contractors of the Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant against whom the action was already being taken for embezzling EPF amounts of the workers.

Most of the contractors working in the Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant were charging from 10 to 25 per cent extra than the minimum wages of the labourers employed by them. Out of the said 10 to 25 per cent charged by the contractor, they had to pay 12 per cent employer’s share in the EPF accounts of workers 8.33 per cent bonus, 10 per cent on casual leaves and 2.5 per cent Income Tax. How can the contractor taking just 10 to 25 extra than the minimum wages pay about 33 per cent as EPF or incentive to the workers?”, he asked.

Mr Tiwari also alleged that the members of the Subcommittee on Contract Labour asked the Lehra Mohabbat authorities to submit to them the work orders and the muster rolls of the contract labourers employed in the plant since 1998. However, the officials expressed inability to do so. The reluctance of the officials of the Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant to make available the records pertaining to the contract labourers indicated their connivance with the contractors guilty of EPF scam, he alleged.

Chief Engineer Lehra Mohabbat Thermal Plant Satish Bansal said isolated cases of EPF embezzlement might have occurred in the past. However, since he took over in the recent past a proper method was being adopted to stop such cases. Now the employer’s share was being deducted from the bills of the workers and deposited by the plant authorities themselves.

On the allegation that the record was not being provided Mr Bansal said the plant authorities were bound to abide by the decisions taken by the subcommittee on contract labour.

MC loses crores due to non-payment of water bills
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 9
More than 20,000 residents have not been paying water supply bills worth crores. Commercial establishment owners, industrialists and residential premises measuring over one kanal were not responding to the Municipal Corporation’s drive to install water and sewerage meters in such units. Annual revenue of more than Rs one crore becomes due from these units.

The Municipal Corporation authorities have been persuading owners of such units to pay according to the Punjab Government notification issued in May, which says that owners of such units would install new meters themselves and pay at the rate of Rs 2 a kilolitre for water and another Rs two per kilolitre for sewerage facility. But so far none of the owners of such units has installed meters. All such units were still paying monthly water and sewerage charges at the old rate of Rs 100 and Rs 20, causing loss to the civic body.

According to civic body estimates 50000 units have been identified which were liable to pay water and sewerage charges in accordance with the hiked rate specified in the notification, which came into effect after its issuance. The civic body sources said that water consumption of hotels, industrial units and commercial institutions was more than the charges they were paying or could lead to an annual loss of more than Rs 1 crore.

“No one has shown interest to the instructions according to which the consumers falling in these categories have to pay according to new rates after installation of meters. We have even been printing it on their monthly bills that they should install meters, but to no avail,” maintained Mr A.S. Dhaliwal, Executive Engineer of the Sewerage and Water Supply wing of the civic body.

On the other hand, over 20,000 residents of 12 residential colonies were not paying water and sewerage bills for over two decades, leading to an accumulated annual loss of rupees two crore to the civic body. The localities which have been identified and where most of residents were not paying bills included Bhargo Camp, Kishanpura, Gandhi Camp, Santokhpura, Ram Nagar, Lama Pind, Dhannowali, Kaki Pind, Danishmandan, Abadpura, Basti Baba Khel, Tilak Nagar, and Dashmesh Nagar. Total loss to the civic body from these localities on account of non-payment of charges was around Rs 2 crore a year. In most of cases, residents have not been paying bills since the installation of connections, mostly two decades ago, said sources.

Mr Dhaliwal said the civic body had organised several camps in these localities to persuade residents to pay dues but the results were not encouraging. “There were only two three localities where 25 per cent of residents have started paying the bills,” said Mr Dhaliwal.

Orders to release Munir issued
Our Correspondent

Abohar, August 9
Orders for releasing Munir (13) were received by the District Collector, Mr Ram Avtar Raghuvanshi, at Sriganganagar, 40 km from here, last evening. A police party from Kesarisinghpur has been asked to get Munir released from Borstal jail, Bikaner, to take him to Rajasthan House, New Delhi, for completing formalities to ensure that the boy is handed over to the Pakistan Embassy for sending him back to his home through Wagah border on Tuesday.

Munir was arrested by the Kesarisinghpur police as he illegally entered Indian territory on June 26. Son of a Kulfi seller, Munir had been sent by his mother from Watu village in Bahawalpur district of Punjab province to borrow Rs 500 from his maternal uncle at Mochipur village near the international border, but the illiterate boy lost his way and reached India.

Since then, as and when he was produced before the police or judicial officials in Ganganagar district, Munir had been requesting them to send him back to his home. His case was first taken up by the local media. Later a social activist, Ms Kavita Srivastava took up the matter with a human rights organisation. She filed a writ petition in the Jaipur High Court seeking his release.

Activists of the human rights organisation had met Mr Praveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Home, Mr Arun Singh, Joint Secretary, Foreign Ministry, and Mr Aziz Ahmad, High Commissioner of Pakistan in New Delhi.

Gun-making factory unearthed
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, August 9
The police here unearthed a factory making country-made revolvers in Hanumangarh (Rajasthan) on Friday evening and arrested six persons running the factory. Six revolvers and four cartridges were also recovered.

Mr Swarandeep Singh, DSP today disclosed that due to increased surveillance for Independence Day a police party led by SHO, Khui Khera, 12 km from here was on patrol near Shajrana village in the morning on Friday. The police spotted Beeru, a resident of Maura village, Police Station, Karanpur, in Sriganganagar district moving in suspicious conditions. A countrymade .12 bore unlicensed revolver was recovered from him on search.

Beeru allegedly admitted that he had brought the revolver from Hanumangarh. On his tip-off the police party raided a premises in Ward No. 25, Tibbi Road, Hanumangarh and arrested Rakesh Kumar, Dalip Kumar, Allah Baksh, Kalu Singh and Gulab Singh all manufacturing unlicensed revolvers. They revealed that they had hidden some of the revolvers in villages of Fazilka and Abohar.

Thereafter the police raided three different places and seized three .12 bore and three .38 bore revolvers and four cartridges. The accused reportedly confessed that they had carrying out the revolver making work for the past 20 years.

The accused reportedly used to sell revolvers at a throwaway price of Rs 700 or Rs 800 per piece. The revolvers were used in committing dacoities and other crimes.

Change in Punjab Cong leadership ruled out
Our Correspondent

Amritsar, August 9
Ms Mohsina Kidwai, general secretary, All-India Congress Committee and in charge Punjab affairs ruled out change of state leadership over differences between state Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, here today.

Ms Kidwai was here in connection with the anniversary celebrations of “Quit India Movement” today. A rally, ‘Kranti Yatra March’, was flagged off on the occasion which culminated at Jallianwala Bagh. Also present on the occasion was Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President H.S. Hanspal, Prof Darbari Lal, Minister for Education, Mr Sardool Singh, Minister for Excise and Taxation and others.

MC denies job to widow
Gurvinder Kaur

Patiala, August 9
Three years after news reports detailed the tragedy which befell Sunita Devi when her husband was stomped to death by a bull and one year after the Punjab Human Rights Commission recommended that she be considered for employment by the Municipal Corporation, the widow has received a rude shock.

The Corporation has, three years after the incident, come to the conclusion after taking legal opinion that it had not been established that Sunita's husband Daya Shankar had died as a result of fighting between two bulls and hence she could not be given employment on compassionate grounds in the corporation.

The death of Daya Shankar , who had been killed when a bull allegedly stomped over his chest had shaken the city with the media carrying photographs of the site of the incident . Though fighting between bulls is a common occurrence in the inner city areas, never had it resulted in such an outcome. Daya Shankar was taken to the Rajindra Hospital where he was declared dead and a post-mortem examination had revealed that he had died due to injuries to vital organs and bleeding.

His widow Sunita Devi and two minor daughters now aged six and four were given Rs 10,000 by the District Red Cross organisation. Thereafter Sunita Devi had appealed to the Punjab State Human Rights Commission that she be given employment on compassionate grounds in the Municipal Corporation as her husband's death had been caused due to negligence on the part of the corporation. She had also applied to the Municipal Corporation for employment pleading that she had no source of income.

Meanwhile about a year ago the Human Rights Commission recommended that she be considered for appointment on compassionate grounds in the corporation. Ever since this the Corporation had been asking for time from the commission to consider the appeal filed by the widow.

A few days back Sunita Devi received a communication from the Corporation saying that since it could not be established that her husband had died as a result of an attack by a bull she could not be considered for employment with the corporation. Adding that the applicant is not covered under the instructions of the government in such cases the letter also cites categories of persons eligible for compassionate appointment. The Municipal Commissioner Mr Sanjay Singh, said that legal opinion had been sought in this case by his predecessor. When asked how the corporation had now come to the conclusion that the death of the labourer was not due to a bull fight in spite of the facts pointing to the contrary, he said media reports, FIR or the post-mortem report do not establish anything. He said the negligence of the corporation could also not be proved in the case as such an incident could happen elsewhere also.

Mr Sanjay Singh said moreover there was no provision under the compassionate ground norm to grant Sunita Devi employment in the Corporation. He said the policy had been framed in pursuance of a Supreme Court order and as per the instructions government employment on compassionate grounds could be given to a dependent member of the family of a person who had been killed or suffers 100 per cent physical disability in a terrorist action or by security forces. He said besides this dependent members of a family of an employee who died in harness, disabled en-servicemen or dependent member of the family of a defence personnel who was either killed in service or had been physically disabled.

Thanda matlab ganda, says forum
Tribune Reporters

Phagwara, August 9
Activists of the All-India Anti-Corruption Forum, led by its president, Mr Gurdip Kang, held a demonstration against Coca Cola and Pepsi companies and smashed bottles of these two brands of beverages in protest against the alleged presence of pesticides and insecticides in these soft drinks and 10 other brands, according to the findings of an NGO.

Mr Kang sought today a nationwide ban on these soft drinks. Banners proclaiming “Ye dil maange no more” and “Thanda matlab ganda”, were displayed by the protesters who vowed to continue their drive against these drinks.

ROPAR: Adding a new dimension to the ongoing cola controversy, a Nangal-based NGO, Arpan, has filed a complaint against the MPs with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

60,000 saplings planted
Our Correspondent

Faridkot, August 9
Under its one-day drive, the district administration, in collaboration with gram panchayats, non-government organisations, district departments, students of schools besides members of senior citizen clubs, disabled children of Umang and Ujala institutions of the District Red Cross Society and members of the hospital welfare section, planted over 60,000 saplings of different varieties in the district today.

The Deputy Commissioner told mediapersons that all participants would make elaborate arrangements on their own to ensure the maintenance of the plants and their growth. Senior district officers, including Mr Ajmer Singh, ADC, Development, and Mr Priyank Bharti, SDM, Jaitu, had been deployed as nodal officers to look after the entire process in their respective areas.

500 saplings planted
Our Correspondent

Jalalabad, August 9
Due to haphazard cutting of trees, the ever-increasing carbon dioxide level in the earth’s atmosphere might cause havoc with the climate, said Mr C.L. Mahajan, Senior Regional Manager, Punjab National Bank, Ferozepore.

He was addressing students of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Jalalabad, today on the eve of ‘Vanmahotsava’ organised by the local branch of the bank.

As many as 500 saplings were planted on the school premises on this occasion.

COURTS

Proceedings of case against Dhumal stayed
Our Correspondent

Ropar, August 9
Proceedings of the defamation case filed against former Chief Minister of Himachal Prem Kumar Dhumal in a court here have been stayed by the Supreme Court. Mr Dhumal’s lawyer gave this information in the court of CJM Ropar today. He, however, couldn’t produce the copy of the Supreme Court orders pending which the CJM Ropar fixed the next date for September 13.

Defamation case against Mr Dhumal was filed by a former member of PPSC Bal Bhushan a resident of Morinda. Mr Bal Bhushan in his complaint had alleged that Dr Dhumal made defamatory statements against Capt. Amarinder Singh that were reported in Hind Samachar. He had demanded that criminal proceedings should be initiated against Mr Dhumal following which the Ropar court summoned Mr Dhumal in the case.

Narottam Dhillon’s judicial remand extended
Our Correspondent

Ropar, August 9
The Judicial remand of Narottam Singh Dhillon, a cousin of Mr Sukhbir Badal and three Wimpy employees, including Yash Dhawan, R.K. Gupta and Suresh Kulsheshtha was extended by the Special Judge, Ropar, till August 21.

The employees of the Wimpy’s International were booked and arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on the charges of helping Hardeep Singh, former OSD, to Mr Prakash Singh Badal, launder Mr Badal’s black money.

The next date of hearing in the case of Harjinder Singh and Rajinder Singh, two other employees of Wimpy’s International released on bail has been fixed on October 6.

ADMINISTRATION

Building rules violated, probe sought
Our Correspondent

Jalandhar, August 9
Members of the Guru Kirpa Housing Board Colony Association has urged the state government to order a vigilance probe into the role of local Municipal Corporation officials and promoters of Chadha Builders in the alleged composition fee scam running into lakhs of rupees.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, the president of the association, Mr Kulwant Rai, alleged that Chadha Builders had constructed residential flats near Doaba Hospital in violation of the building bye-laws of the local Municipal Corporation.

“Though the promoters are allowed to construct four storeys by the corporation authorities, the former had constructed six floors in violation of the rules. The additional flats constructed on these two floors were later sold to customers without revealing anything about the legal status of the building,” he alleged.

The promoters had not even deposited the requisite composition fee with the civic body, he alleged.

The corporation officials concerned never paid heed to their complaints in this regard, he said.

MC to seek 3.5 cr loan from Hudco
Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 9
The local municipal council authorities have chalked out a plan to spend Rs 3.5 crore on various development works to provide basic amenities to the residents of the town. These amenities include sewerage lines, disposal of storm water, drinking water and sanitation facilities.

After honouring 55 sarpanches of the villages of the Sangrur Assembly constituency at a function here today, Mr Arvind Khanna, local Congress MLA, said the president of the municipal council here was preparing a proposal to get a loan of Rs 3.5 crore from Hudco for spending on development works in the town. He said the proposal would be submitted soon to the authorities concerned and all efforts would be made to get Rs 3.5 crore from Hudco as early as possible.

Shopkeepers assault Municipal Town Planner
Our Correspondent

Jalandhar, August 9
The Municipal Town Planner (MTP) and two other municipal corporation officials were allegedly assaulted by some shopkeepers, owing allegiance to a Congress minister, to prevent them from sealing an illegal shopping complex at the Modian mohalla, here today.

The officials, led by the MTP, Mr S.S. Bhatia, reached the Modian mohalla to stop work on the shopping complex, being constructed in the violation of building bylaws.

As soon as the officials started the process of sealing the complex, as per the provisions of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, a group of 10 persons reached the spot and asked them to leave. The officials and the shopkeepers and their supporters had an altercation over the issue. While the Assistant Town Planner Tejpreet Singh and Building Inspector Baldev Bajaj managed to escape, along with other officials, the shopkeepers caught hold of Mr Bhatia and assaulted him.

Mr Bhatia, who received injuries, was later admitted to local Civil Hospital, where his condition was said to be stable. Talking to this correspondent, Mr Bhatia said on the one hand the Local Bodies Department was issuing chargesheets against MC employees for not initiating action against building bylaws violators, on the other MC officials were being victimised by violators for taking action against them.

“How can we perform our duties when our lives are at risk? The government should outline a clear-cut policy about illegal buildings,” he said, adding that he had already submitted details about the incident to the Commissioner, Ms Sarojini Gautam Sharda. He, however, refused to identify the attackers. A case has been registered but no arrests have been made so far. The Commissioner was not available for comments.

Book depot manager jailed for corruption
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 9
Amrinder Singh, a Punjab Police constable posted in the Police Lines here, was today caught red-handed while he was accepting bribe of Rs 5000 from Mr Ashwani Kumar, a video parlour owner of this city for helping him in a complaint against him to the police Mangat Rai Goyal, district manager, Book Depot of the Punjab State Education Board, who was caught red-handed while accepting bribe in 1993 was sentenced to jail for one year and fined Rs 1000 as special judge, Jaspal Singh today.

The Vigilance Bureau, SSP here said that constable, Amrinder Singh raided a video parlour of Mr Ashwani Kumar and seized 25 CDs. The constable threatened Mr Ashwani Kumar that he would file a complaint against him for keeping duplicate CDs and blue films if he did not give him (constable) Rs 15,000 as bribe.

After a few days, a deal was struck between Mr Ashwani Kumar and Amrinder Singh and Amrinder Singh agreed to take Rs 6500 as a bribe. Out of Rs 6500, Rs 5000 was to be paid him today while the remaining Rs 1500 was to be paid after the return of 25 CDs seized by the accused.

The SSP said that when Amrinder Singh was accepting bribe of Rs 5000 from Mr Ashwani Kumar through his agent identified as Rakesh Kumar, a Vigilance Bureau team led by DSP, Baljeet Kumar caught them. Bribe money of Rs 5000 was recovered from the pocket of Amrinder Singh. It was found that Amrinder Singh had built a house on 242 square yard plot in the city recently.

He said that Mangat Rai Goyal, who was convicted today in a corruption case registered against him, was caught while he was accepting bribe of Rs 1000 from Mr Param Jit Singh for making a recommendation for issuing him a licence for selling books.

Charge sheet filed against Vinod Sharma
Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 9
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau today filed a chargesheet against former Chief Warden (Zoos) Dr Vinod Sharma and three others in a case pertaining to the purchase of meat for Chhatbir Zoological Park and as recycling of tickets.

The Vigilance Bureau besides filing the chargesheet against Dr Sharma, has also chargesheeted then Deputy Director Gurpal Singh, Inspector Sukhdev Singh and former ticket booking clerk Rajinder Kumar. The chargesheet was filed in a local court here which had served notice to the defence for August 28.

Dr Sharma and others are accused of allowing contract for the supply of meat for the Chhatbir Zoo animals to a Saharanpur firm which charged the zoo far in excess of the then prevalent price.

Aided schoolteachers stage dharna
Our Correspondent

Jalandhar, August 9
Members of the Punjab State Aided School Teachers and Other Employees Union today held dharna in front of the residence of Punjab Revenue Minister Amarjit Singh Samra to protest against the failure of the state government to accept their long-pending demands.

They raised anti-government slogans and alleged that the state government had failed to pay pensions of teachers for the past more than six months. They further said that the decision to ban fresh recruitment in government-aided schools was highly deplorable.

The protest continued for an hour. The minister was not at his residence. A memorandum of demands was, however, handed over to the staff of the minister.

Ropar: Teachers of the aided schools today blocked traffic near the old bus stand for half an hour to protest against the Punjab government. The leaders of the teachers union addressing the rally alleged that the policies of the Punjab government were anti employee.

President of the union Amarjit Singh Kang said the government was reconsidering the pension scheme being continued for the teachers of the aided schools.

The government should pay revised pensions to the teachers of the aided schools, he said. In all other states, but Punjab, the governments were giving 100 per cent grant in aid for the pension of teachers of aided schools.

The teachers of the aided schools pay difference between the government teachers and teachers of the aided schools was increasing.

Government discriminating against SGPC-run institutes: Calcutta
Our Correspondent

Amritsar, August 9
Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, honorary Chief Secretary, SGPC, today said that the attitude of the Congress government towards SGPC-run state institutes was discriminatory.

In a statement here today, Mr Calcutta said the Congress government had a one-point agenda to unleash a vilification and harassment campaign against the SGPC-run institutes, including medical, dental, nursing, engineering and arts colleges.

He said while the government was giving huge grants to its own colleges, it was asking institutes run by Sikh bodies to reduce their fees. He said these institutes were not profit making enterprises and if the government proposes a cut in their fees, it should give additional grants to fulfil deficits.

Mr Calcutta said if the government was unable to meet these demands, it should withdraw the proposed cut in college fees.