 |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Five hurt in brawl
Ludhiana, April 2 In the morning, a group of armed persons, allegedly led by former Sarpanch of the village, Ajit Singh, attacked some houses of the area occupied by members of the minority community. The armed men allegedly threatened the members of minority community to vacate the houses at once. When they refused to follow the orders, they were allegedly beaten up, along with their womenfolk. Those, who were injured in the incident included Bashir, Salim, Salma, Haseena and Tajul. The armed men also allegedly set ablaze the houses of Bashir and Salim. The police reached the spot and controlled the situation. According to police sources, five acres of land was in the possession of the persons of minority community and the alleged accused were trying to forcibly occupy it. The police said that a case in this regard was pending in the court also. It said it had registered cases against many persons. Members of minority community alleged that the former sarpanch was threatening them of dire consequences if they failed to vacate the land. They said that they had complained at the Meharban police picket also but to no avail. They alleged that had the police taken their complaint seriously, this situation could have been averted. |
|
FCI rice found unfit for human
consumption
Ludhiana, April 2 These observations have been made in a report by the regional consultative committee of the corporation. According to Mr Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal, member of the state executive committee of the BJP and one of the members of the consultative committee, a team comprising himself, Mr Balbir Chand Kapila, chairman of the disciplinary committee, and Mr Shakti Kumar Sharma, vice-president of the state unit of the party, conducted a surprise check at the Doraha depot in response to numerous complaints received by them. According to the report, during checking in the presence of Mr Jang Singh Meena, Assistant Manager, and some other members of the staff, the Assistant Manager Quality Control, Mr J.C. Gupta, was found absent. The stock of rice with the depot was found discoloured, damaged and apparently unfit for human consumption. The team collected nine samples of the rice stock which were sent to Chandigarh for testing in the laboratory along with the inquiry report. The members of the committee further noted that inferior and sub-standard quality of bags were being used in the depot for storage of rice which was causing damage to the grain and loss to the FCI. They have emphasised that the entire stock at the depot should be thoroughly checked before it was transported out for sale and those responsible for lapses should be sternly dealt with. Mr Grewal further maintained that inquiries made by them had revealed that the District Manager of the FCI, Mr Ashwani Gupta, even though being aware of the malfunctioning of the depot, had failed to take remedial measures. Copies of the inquiry report have also been sent to the Union Minister for Food, Mr Sharad Yadav, the Secretary, FCI (Headquarters), and the Zonal Manager (North), FCI, in New Delhi. |
|
2 held for supplying opium to students
Ludhiana, April 2 The police has seized 75 grams of opium and Rs 2,000 in fake currency from their possession. Their black Indica car, on which ‘Press’ stickers were displayed prominently, were also impounded. The accused tried to get away by showing ‘Press’ identity cards and permission for using black film and hooter as suggestion of their “VIP status.” However, they failed to befool the cops. Bhupinder and Manpreet were drug addicts and they allegedly became part of the narcotic trade as they were unable to buy the drug from their pocket money. Bhupinder is the son of a bank manager while Manpreet’s father is a farmer. Inspector Anil Joshi, SHO, Division No. 5 police station, told Ludhiana Tribune that SSP Narinderpal Singh had received a tip-off about their activities and planned a trap. The youths were eventually nabbed near the Rose Garden. Inspector Joshi said the youths had prepared small pouches of opium which they supplied to college students. The drug was smuggled here from Shahbad Markanda near Ambala. They have been booked under Sections 18, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and section 489 of the IPC. |
|
Show-cause notices to Congress
dissidents
Ludhiana, April 2 More and more leaders of the Congress and the Youth Congress here are coming round to accept the candidature of Mr Manish Tiwari and the initial dissidence was on the wane, said All-India Congress Committee Secretary Iqbal Singh. The AICC Secretary, who was in the city today, met different sections of the party workers and stressed the need to stand by the party leadership’s choice. Talking to Ludhiana Tribune on telephone, Mr Iqbal Singh refused to specifically say if any disciplinary action would be taken against dissidents. He said he would submit his report to the AICC General Secretary, Ms Mohsina Kidwai, who was in charge of Punjab affairs, and it would be upto the party high command to take a final decision. Meanwhile, the party functionaries owing allegiance to Mr Ghalib also convened a meeting at Kumra Palace here to voice their resentment against denial of party ticket to the sitting member of the Lok Sabha. They claimed that he had done a tremendous development work in the constituency during his two terms. Chairman of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust Ashok Singh Garcha, Senior Deputy Mayor Prem Mittal and over 12 councillors, who attended the meeting, however, maintained that they were not dissidents and their action was aimed at conveying their resentment against an unjust decision of the party leadership. Mr Ghalib, who was reportedly called to Delhi by senior party leaders was not present at the meeting. Meanwhile, Mr Tiwari would formally launch his election campaign from Neelon on Chandigarh Road tomorrow morning. According to Mr Pawan Diwan, senior vice-president of the Punjab Youth Congress, Mr Tiwari, on his way from Chandigarh to Ludhiana, would be received at Neelon Bridge by the party workers. The City Mayor Mr Nahar Singh Gill has also come out strongly in support of Mr Tiwari. |
|
Man throws acid on brother
Ludhiana, March 2 The accused, Lal Bahadur, a migrant labourer, threw acid on his brother while he was sleeping. The acid also fell on Sanjay, a friend of the victim who was sleeping by him. Before absconding, the accused beat up his wife mercilessly. She is also admitted to the Civil Hospital. Police sources said the victim had called on his brother yesterday and decided to stay in his house. The accused was suspecting illicit relations between his wife Shakuntla and his brother for the past some time. He had quarrelled with his wife over the issue. A case has been registered under Section 307 of the IPC against Lal Bahadur on a statement of his wife. |
|
SSP asked not to blackmail
docs
Ludhiana, April 2 In a letter written to the SSP, Dr Gursharan Singh president, Dr Dinesh Trehan, vice-president and Dr B.S. Shah, secretary of IMA on behalf of the association, said that they were disturbed over the continued harassment of Dr S.S. Arora and Dr (Mrs) Satinder Arora of Preet Nursing Home at the hands of some unscrupulous elements. The letter said that one Ms Dhanwant Kaur was admitted to Preet Nursing Home on March 1, 2004. She delivered twins, a male weighing 1.2 kg and a female weighing 2.5 kg. The male baby expired on March 7. The female child and mother Dhanwant Kaur were discharged in a satisfactory condition on March 10, claimed the members. Dr Gursharan further said that Dhanwant Kaur’s husband Sukhwant Singh called Dr S.S. Arora on telephone on March 17. Using abusive language, he threatened Dr S.S. Arora saying that if he did not give him Rs 1 lakh in lieu of his son’s death, he would defame the doctor by giving news in media. On March 27, Sukhdev Singh along with three other persons, assaulted and threatened Dr S.S. Arora and drove all his patients away, alleged the doctors in the letter. The IMA members further alleged that after the assault incident some journalists called up Dr S.S. Arora and asked him either to compromise with Mr Sukhdev Singh or to face dire consequences. |
Encroachers progress as pedestrians
wobble
Ludhiana, April 2 The long stretch of G.T. Road between Jagraon Bridge and Mata Rani Chowk has become a virtual paradise for roadside vendors due to the ongoing elevated road project. From Jagraon bridge to Clock Tower, the narrow footpath on the right has been occupied by vendors of sleazy magazines, bead string sellers and cobblers. From the railway station, the footpath till the Raikhy Cinema chowk is full of shoe-sellers and sellers of electronic gadgets. Shopkeepers of Kamla Nehru Market are not only occupying the wide verandah, but also three to four feet of the road. Scooterits cyclists park their vehicles, clogging this stretch. Between Raikhy Cinema Chowk and Clock Tower the footpaths have been occupied by sellers of readymade garments, watches, cigarettes, socks and so on. In front of the Guru Tegh Bahadur Market, lottery sellers have put up big tables. The rest of the area has been occupied by changers of soiled money, cigarette and tea vendors, in addition to rehris selling papaya and mango shake. A large number of scooters and cycles are parked in haphazard manner. Between Clock Tower and Mata Rani Chowk shopkeepers selling cycles and readymade garments have encroached upon the road. The road leading to the demolished Lakkar Bridge has been occupied by sellers of ‘datun’, rings, purses, bead strings and so on. The periphery around he historic Clock Tower has been completely occupied by a host of squatters selling chappals, newspapers and fruit etc. Rest of the space has been occupied by parked autos. However, an auto-stand exists close by. All these roadside squatters were chased away by the police when Mr L.K. Advani passed through the city on his rath yatra. But they were soon back. Roadside sellers in the adjoining Chaura Bazar, who had been pushed back some time ago, have again moved forward. With their return the busy bazar has again narrowed down. Extensions by shopkeepers and presence of rehris and autos has narrowed the Katchery Road. A good part of the green belt running paralled to the boundary wall of Government College for Women near the Durga Mata Mandir has also been encroached upon by sellers of flowers and beggars alike. |
|
MiG crash victims remembered
Mullanpur Dakha, April 2 The house of Mr Purshottam Singh Bholla, a tractor mechanic in Mullanpur Dakha, which had suffered the maximum loss in the incident, bears a ‘For Sale’ board. But at the same time Bholla realises that there are no takers for the house as nobody has approached him till date for the deal. He had shifted from this house months ago. He is living in his workshop with his youngest son, who survived the crash. Surinder Kaur, a tenant, said that seven persons, living in different portions of this house, had died in her presence. ‘‘I am so scared after the incident that I can’t go alone in the backyard to switch on the light at nights. Even my children make fun of me but I cannot help it,’’ she said. When a Tribune team visited the area today, Bholla had already observed the first death anniversary of his family members a month ago. ‘‘When we recall the MIG crash, it sends a shiver down our spine. We fear even the sight of an aircraft,’’ said Rajinder Kaur, a resident of the area. Mr Avtar Singh, a resident, said that a team of district administration had visited the area to evaluate the damage but no money had been given. ‘‘I went to Air Force Station in Halwara also where I was told that the compensation was to be released by the Western Command headquarters. ’’ |
|
Pak team to visit city today
Ludhiana, April 2 Prominent members of the delegation include Pakistan National Assembly members Rai Aziz Ullah Khan and Wahid Asghar, Sahiwal district, Nazim Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan, deputy Nazim Muhammad Yaar, Malik Jalaudin and Rana Aftab. Mr Gurcharan Singh and Mr Nirmal Jaura, chairman and general secretary of the outfit, respectively, said the 30-member delegation was in the country to participate in the Indo- Pak Friendship Forum. It will visit various parts of the country during their 10-day stay. They will reach the city after participating in a function of the forum at Jalandhar on April 3. They said the delegation would be accorded a reception at the Shingar Theatre where the delegation members will be honoured. They would later interact with the people besides functionaries of various organisations. The visitors will also meet the Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Mr K.S. Aulakh. Mr Gurcharan Singh said the foundation, in association with the Rotary Club, would give the visitors a grand reception at the theatre. It is pertinent to mention that the forefathers of Rai Aziz Ullah Khan were the Nawabs of Raikot and were blessed with the Ganga Sagar (a metal pitcher) by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The delegation will also visit Raikot. |
|
Bank official
electrocuted
Khanna, April 2 Ms Champa Devi wife of the victim, said her husband was installing a tent on the roof of the house as it was the birthday of their child. Suddenly, the tent flew up due to strong wind and touched high-voltage electric cables. Rattan Lal got an electric shock and died on the spot. |
Hole in gurdwara kitty
alleged
Ludhiana, April 2 The complainant had stated that the accused, who was president of the Guru Nanak Darbar gurdwara located in the area, had misappropriated gurdwara funds totalling Rs 8,14,000. Girl abducted The complainant had stated that the accused had kidnapped her sister Sheeba from Sangowal on the night of March 30. Sheeba, who lived in Chaheru village had come to stay with her for a few days, added the complainant. Cases of assault The complainant had alleged that the accused had beaten him up in front of the vend on Wednesday night. No arrest has been made so far. The Focal Point police on Thursday registered a case under Sections 341,506 and 149 of the IPC on a complaint of Mr Raj Kumar, Manager, Rockman Cycle Industry, against Ram Dular, Jagdish Choudhery, Pritam, Ashwani, Radhe Shyam and Jia lal. The complainant had alleged that the accused accousted his factory workers near Jeewan nagar on Thursday evening and threatened them. The Civil Lines police registered a case under Sections 353,186 and 323 of the IPC on a statement of Constable Balwinder Singh posted at Police Lines, against Swaranjit Singh, at present lodged in the Central Jail. The constable had stated that he had taken the accused to the courts on Thursday in connection with a hearing. The accused beat him up in the 'bakshikhana' at the courts. Three held for theft |
|
Man
murdered
Ludhiana, April 2 At around 2 am last night, some miscreants entered the house of Paramjit Kaur and attacked her tenant Ram Chander with sharp-edged weapons. He was sleeping with his two friends. He succumbed to his injuries on the spot. Ram Chander's friends, Rohit and Kirpal, woke up only to find out that the assailants had bolted their room from outside. A case has been registered. |
|
|
Crackdown on bootleggers
continues Ludhiana, April 2 The Model Town police arrested a woman Munni Bai, a resident of Ambedkar Nagar, and seized 20 boxes of illicit liquor. She has been booked under the Excise Act. The Haibowal police arrested Ram Biler, a resident of, a migrant from Bihar, with nine bottles of illicit liquor on Thursday. The division number 6 police arrested Gurpal Singh, a resident of Kassi Kalan village and recovered eight bottles of illicit liquor form his possession. The shimlapuri police arrested five persons and booked them separately under the Excise Act. Those arrested have been identified as Tarlok Singh, a resident of Basant Nagar ( nine bottles of illicit liquor), Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Dashmesh Nagar (nine bottles of illicit liquor), Raj Narayan, a resident of Dana Mandi on the Gill Road, (nine bottles of 8 PM whisky), Varinder Singh, a resident of Vishnu chowk at Jodhewal ( nine bottles of illicit liquor) and Ranjit Singh, a resident of Dashmesh Nagar ( nine bottles of illicit liquor). The Sadar police arrested two persons and booked them separately under the Excise Act. The arrested persons have been identified as Tulsi Dhar
Chaurasia, a migrant from UP living in Dugri village (10 bottles of illicit liquor), and Shinder Pal, a resident of Guru Gobind Singh Nagar ( eight bottles of illicit liquor), said the police on Friday.
|
|
Poppy husk seized, 2 held
Ludhiana, April 2 According to a press note here by Mr Harcharan Singh Bhullar, SSP, Jagraon, the Dehlon police, following a tip off, held a naka in Seelo Kalan, with Mr Jatinder Singh Khaira DSP, Dakha, and intercepted a truck in which the two accused were travelling and seized 25 bags containing 10 quintals of poppy husk. The police has registered a case under Sections 15, 25, 29A, 61, 85 of the NDPS Act and impounded the truck. Giving information, Mr Bhullar said during the interrogation. It was revealed that the accused would bring narcotics from Madhya Pardesh and sell these in towns of Panjab. The registration of the truck is in the name of Chaudhary Mohamad Prishad of Gaulan district, Saharanpur. |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | National Capital | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
