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70-year-old millionaire lives in penury Ludhiana, April 10 His plight is such that he is seen in the mini secretariat almost everyday meeting one official or the other but is not given the required document. In spite of various applications and documents, copies of which are safeguarded by him in his bag, the officials have failed to satisfy him. “The land actually belongs to me but I cannot prove this unless I have a copy of ‘farad’. My mother-in-law, who died some years ago,
had given the land to my wife. I had been moving from pillar to post to get a copy of it from the patwari concerned but even after four years of struggle I have not been able
to get the same,” said Mr Bhajan Singh. Claiming that the copy of revenue record in his possession was part of a major scam in the Revenue Department, Mr Bhajan Singh said if it was probed, names of many employees would figure in. “Every time I ask for a copy, I am either given old records or officials ask me to come again. Now finally when I have been given a copy, it shows the revenue records of 1998, which shows the ownership of my mother-in-law and not that of my wife,” he said. Many years ago, when Mr Bhajan Singh asked for a “farad” for his agricultural land in Dhandra village, he was asked to grease the palm of a revenue officer. But he could not pay the money due to financial constraints. Consequently, even after many years, the man is without the document despite various orders
by officials. In an affidavit furnished to officials concerned, a copy of which is with Ludhiana Tribune also, Mr Bhajan Singh has claimed that as per the revenue records while Intakaal No. 219 of agricultural land in Dhandra village was in the name of Jaswant Kaur, Angrez Kaur, Naginder Kaur, Ram Singh and Chhinder Kaur, the owners of the land in a copy of “farad” given to him were different. In the affidavit he
had claimed that according to the “farad” the owners of the land were Ram Singh and Gurvinder Singh. Some revenue officials, on the condition of anonymity, said there was no mention of his possession in the revenue records and whenever they provided him with a copy, he refused to take it stating that it was a fudged document and not the original one. Mr Bhajan Singh, who had also received injuries during a clash at Dhandra over the same piece of land killing two and injuring many, claimed that he was a victim in the clash even as he was lawfully standing on the piece of land and saying nothing provocative to the other group. The police had registered a case against his opponents under Sections 302, 307, 148, 149 and 506, IPC. |
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Mystery over
disappearance of 3 factory labourers Ludhiana, April 10 The labour contractor has in a complaint to the SSP, Ludhiana, claimed that the factory management had kept the three labourers — Manoj, Sanjay and Rama Shankar — in illegal confinement and forced them to work as bonded labourers. However, the factory management in its version to the police has refuted the allegations and said that the labourers had left the factory after they were caught stealing some machine tools and raw material yesterday. Labour contractor Lal Babu Yadav, who came with a group of labourers to the SSP office here this afternoon, claimed to Ludhiana Tribune that the factory management had been ill-treating the three labourers for some time, due to which they had decided to leave the job. However, he alleged that the factory management did not allow them to leave and instead kept them in confinement as bonded labourers. He claimed that the labourers were beaten up mercilessly adding that no labourer in the factory had seen the three since yesterday. He has urged the SSP to take action against the factory management and trace the three labourers. Interestingly, the Ludhiana police is unlikely to take action on the complaint, as the factory falls under the Doraha police station of Khanna district. The complaint is likely to be forwarded for necessary action to the Khanna police only. However, the factory management has a different tale to tell. Mr R.B. Chouhan, Manager, claimed that the complaint was fabricated. He counter-alleged that the three labourers had committed theft of some tools and raw material in the factory and were caught and reprimanded. “We did not go to the police as the other factory labourers intervened and requested us to pardon the three.” He claimed that the labourers had tendered a written apology for their conduct and confessed to their crime
Mr Chouhan said the management decided not to pursue the matter with the police. If the police was called in all the cases, labourers would stop working all together. However, the written apology and confession of the labourers were a proof of his claims, he said. He also claimed that the labourers had left their work on their own yesterday. “Some other labourers of our factory had informed that the three were seen yesterday in Doraha on bicycles and were saying that they would work in some factory near Kohara village,” he said. “We have informed the Doraha police about the incident,” he said adding that just a handful of people claiming to working for the benefits of the labourer community were trying to grind their own axe in the issue. |
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Galib to toe party line Ludhiana, April 10 Mr Galib was authorised by his supporters here today to take the final decision about the course of action to be taken. He said, he was ready to go along Mr Tiwari but had not been approached by him so far. Today’s meeting was attended among others by senior Deputy Mayor, Mr Prem Mittal, and Improvement Trust Chairman, Mr Ashok Singh Garcha. Mr Galib said he was waiting for Mr Tiwari. “Whichever way he feels that I would be of help to him, I will always be available”, Mr Galib said, adding that he had never deviated from the party line and had only lobbied for getting the party ticket from Ludhiana, which was well within the party discipline. The former MP said, he would be meeting the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President, Mr H.S. Hanspal, during his Ludhiana visit scheduled for tomorrow. He expressed his gratitude to the party workers and supporters who have stood by him. At the same time, he pointed out, “As long as you are part of a party you have to
Meanwhile, Mr Tiwari was accorded a warm reception at Jagraon, the home constituency of Mr Galib. He was accompanied by Mr Galib’s arch rival and former minister, Mr Darshan Singh Brar, Mr Paramjit Singh Sibia and the District Congress Committee Ludhiana (rural) president, Mr Harmohinder Singh. Mr Brar seemed to had done a lot of spadework to make sure that the influence of Mr Galib does not come in the way of Mr Tiwari’s campaign. Immediately after arriving at Jagraon, Mr Tiwari went to the Gurdwara Nanaksar to pay his obeisance. Then he went to various villages, including Kaunke Kallan, Mallah and Rasulpur. He addressed a rally in the Jagraon Grain Market. Mr Tiwari thanked the people for showing so much love and regard to him. He said it was the recognition of the Congress ideology and policies which the people were supporting. He sought the party workers support. |
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IHRO plea to welcome Sultana Begum Ludhiana, April 10 The IHRO said the step taken by Sultana Begum, would, if responded in right perspective, usher an era of goodwill, peace and harmony among communities living in this part of the world. IHRO Chairperson D.S. Gill, Secretary-General Mohinder Singh Grewal and Administration Secretary Avtar Singh Gill, in a statement issued here today, called upon Hindu and the Sikh community leadership alike to show interest in this cause of humanity and receive the “Mughal Bahu” at Amritsar and help her atone at Darbar Sahib. The IHRO, in its core-group meeting held here yesterday, resolved to also urge Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti to do the needful when she, after the atonement, appears at Akal Takht, in order to undo the “historical bitterness”, which had been created and shaped by individuals and the pages of history. Lawyer activists of the human rights NGO have also asked the Punjab Government to extend all help and make proper arrangement for her security and to see that “some” vested interests may not create any hurdles in this cause of humanity. They added that the righteous initiative of praying for forgiveness at Harmandar Sahib taken by Sultana Begum and her granddaughter Roshan Ara, now residing in Kolkata, will encourage Nehru-Gandhi Bahu, Sonia Gandhi, to atone for the sins committed by her ancestors for the storming of the Golden Temple and the destruction of Akal Takht in an Army operation, “Blue Star”, in the recent past. Sultana Begum and her granddaughter have, in a section of the media, also expressed their eagerness to pay a visit to Sheesh Gunj Gurdwara in Delhi where Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded in 1675 by their forefathers, they said. |
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SSP’s transfer:
SAD (A) for reviewing decision Ludhiana, April 10 In this case, we fail to understand the logic of the transfer of Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Surinder Pal Singh, from Ropar. Media reports suggest that he has been transferred on the basis of a protest lodged by the Shiromani Akali Dal. The grounds suggested are flimsy and as such amount to interference in a matter which is subjudice. My party has pieced together the following facts: SSP Surinder Pal Singh is the investigating officer of FIR No. 15, dated 24-6-2003, registered against former CM Parkash Singh Badal and his family in a case involving disproportionate assets to known sources of income to the tune of Rs 4,300 crore. Mr Badal and his son are out on bail in the case. Charges are to be fixed against them on April 24. No specific complaints involving the SSP have been made in the media regarding the role of the officer in any election-related matter by either the media or the SAD. To the best of our knowledge, no complaint of any kind has been made out by the candidate of the said party, Sukhdev Singh Libra, against the police officer in question. In this scenario, we believe that transferring a police officer would tantamount to obstructing a criminal investigation. It would have a serious bearing on the case and would also send diametrical messages to the new incumbent. The new person taking the post would tend to be pro- Badal as this incident has sent a message that even if one does one’s duty without fear, one can be transferred on the basis of a motivated complaint, he pointed out. The SAD (A) strongly feels that it is a miscarriage of justice and the EC should review its orders without delay. |
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City potters face
uncertain future Ludhiana, April 10 With the result that the potters, who were under pressure every summer to meet the demand for these traditional “matkas”, are now devoting most of their efforts to the making of other clay products such as piggy banks for children, a variety of traditional and modern flower pots and a host of medium and small-sized earthen pots which are used mainly in religious rites. The most common of these the traditional “gharra” (pitcher) sells throughout the year. Among the host of people who buy these pitchers are frustrated women and residents of various city localities who demonstrate their protest against the scarcity of water by breaking these pitchers on the road after slogan-shouting. Though city’s potters are very much in business, they are not a happy lot. Their work has lost its former dignity. And their children are no more interested in pursuing the profession of their forefathers anymore. The day may not be far when it would be hard to find a potter around. Jani Ram, 70, who has literally toiled with the soil ever since he gained childhood, laments about the absence of employment avenues for his educated sons. While his two elder sons have left the city to settle in Haryana, his other two sons are still searching for a permanent job. One of them is an arts graduate, while the other has passed plus two. They have done some computer courses as well. But old Jani is thankful to God that apart from having academic qualifications, his sons are gifted with a variety of artisan work. Jani Ram, who heads one of the six families of potters living in Qilla Mohalla, said he was making piggy banks as children were ready buyers. The item sells fairly well at small fairs held outside religious places throughout the year. Prem Chand, 42, who was working on a manual potter’s wheel in his house, said that it was becoming increasingly difficult to carry on the ancestral pot-making business. Prices of clay, which arrives mainly from Sahnewal, were going up steadily. The hard work involved in the job is not remunerative enough to justify the labour. The clay has to be powdered by beating. Then it has to be sieved to remove pebbles and minute stones before it is soaked with water and kneaded to make a fine consistent paste. Once the pots are moulded and dried carefully, these have to be baked. Prem Chand, who is educated up to the fifth standard only, has married his daughter, the eldest of his three children. His two sons are studying in sixth and eighth standard. He says that because of the diminishing business and increasing costs, he does not want his sons to carry on with the family business anymore. The city has only about 25 potters’ families. In addition to the six families settled in Qilla Mohalla, some families are producing earthen pottery in Haibowal, some on the Dugri road while others are doing the same along the Dhuri lines and near Shingar Cinema. The one-time famous potters of Ghumar Mandi, after whom the area had been named, are no longer engaged in making the earthen wares. With the rise of Ghumar Mandi as a commercial hub of the city, these potters have sold their prime-location property at exorbitant rates and opted for selling earthen ware made elsewhere in and around the city. |
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Colours can change fortunes,
says tarot card reader Ludhiana, April 10 Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, she said colours played a vital role in our lives and could bring positive results. Ms Poonam, who was wearing a maroon suit, said one should wear accessories of these particular colours. She said there was stress in everybody’s life and if people meditated, they could cope with stress. “People have misconceptions about meditation. One can sit or lie down in comfortable clothes. Let any thoughts come to the mind. Light a candle and put on soothing music. One should learn to concentrate on one’s
breathing. This helps in tackling stress,” she said. Ms Poonam said she had intuitive powers and from the age of 10 she got interested in tarot cards as they revealed everything. She then studied tarot cards and once her fame spread, people came flocking to her. With tarot cards, she could tell problems people were going to face. She then learnt how to ward of the evil eye effect. She said even skepticals, who never believed in the evil eye effect started believing in it, when close to ruination, after her cures, their fortunes turned. “I use Reiki, stones, original rudraksha, which I source from Nepal and Indonesia. Many film stars and politicians, besides hundreds of other people, come with problems related to profession, relationships, health and finance,” she said. “I am doing more or less the job of a psychiatrist. After talking to a person, I make the person shuffle and later pull out tarot cards. These cards reveal the nature of the problems and then I find solutions. Sometimes counselling helps, while at other times powerful rudraksha beads are needed and for some problems, semiprecious stones are required. We have some ‘yantras’ and healing devices that also help cure many illnesses.” |
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The ‘king of fruits’ is here Dieticians advise consumption of bright coloured fruits and vegetables, as they provide more energy. Mangoes are a comfort food. Apart from being delicious and rich in vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants, mangoes contain an enzyme with stomach soothing properties similar to papain found in papayas. These comforting enzymes act as a digestive aid and can be held partially responsible for the feeling of content that we experience after we eat mangoes. Yes, it is quite natural to crave for mangoes! But, diabetics and patients with renal disorder should stay away from these since they have high sugar and potassium contents. Mangoes have plenty of fibre, which is an important part of a balanced diet. Research has shown that dietary fiber has a protective effect against degenerative diseases, especially with regards to the heart; helps prevent certain types of cancer, as well as lowers blood cholesterol levels. An average-sized mango can contain up to 40 per cent of daily fiber requirement. For people who do physical work, mangoes are a good way to replenish the loss of potassium. Rich in antioxidants, potassium and fiber, mango is the perfect fruit. “Totapari” has been named after the red and yellow colour, which reminisces of parrot’s beak, while “Safeda” has a whitish tinge on its inside. Obviously when they are fresh entrants, the prices are high, which come down as the summer advances. A teenager, Sugandha, says: “The very sight of mangoes makes my mouth water. I know I should not eat too many of these as I get pimples, but I cannot resist eating them. For my love for mangoes, I do not mind jogging an extra mile, but mangoes I must have.” Mangos are an excellent source of Vitamins A and C, as well as a good source of potassium and contain beta carotene. Mangos are high in fiber, but low in calories (approximately 110 per average sized mango), fat (1 gram) and sodium. Mangos are a good staple for your daily diet so go ahead and enjoy them this season. |
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PHRC directive to
Ludhiana SSP Ludhiana, April 10 The complainant had alleged that her landlord was forcibly trying to evict her from the premises she had rented about 20 years ago. She also claimed that she had been paying regular rent to the landlords and now they had started harassing her. The commission has fixed May 4 as the next date for hearing. In a signed order, the chairperson of the commission, Justice N.C. Jain, observed that the “commission has gone through the allegations contained in the complaint and the commission is of the view that a prima facie case for violation of human rights is made out”. The complainant has submitted that the SSP, Ludhiana, did order on the complaint that the SHO should report the matter to him within 5 days and that a period of 17 days has lapsed but nothing has been done so far. Justice Jain observed, “In view thereof it has been thought appropriate by the commission to ask for a report from the SSP, Ludhiana, who would look into the matter personally”. It ordered that the complainant would be heard by the SSP himself as the matter was urgent. The SSP, it said, would proceed with the inquiry at a fast speed and give his report to the commission at the earliest before the next date of hearing which is fixed on May 4. |
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Pavement business flourishes as summers approach Ludhiana, April 10 Bhiku, who has come to city from Rajasthan, says that people from his state come in hordes and spread out in different parts of city to sell their produce. The money earned helps them sustain their families. Due to higher temperature, tyres get punctured. Hence more people are sitting at strategic places to help the passersby. They have small mobile units which they carry to and fro. "Nimbu pani" is supposed to be the best coolant . A large number of people get engaged in selling lemon and soda. Thirsty travellers slake their thirst drinking this traditional drink. The milkshake sellers are to be seen selling mango shakes and papaya shakes . The other favourite drink
"jal jeera" also does brisk business. These people have aesthetic sense. The earthen pitchers filled with
"jal jeera" are wrapped in red cloth which is decorated with mint leaves and lemons. ‘Chatti lassi’ sellers have too made their presence felt this year. The rural folk have discovered that city people crave for this kind of lassi. So a few entrepreneurs get drums of lassi in three wheelers from nearby villages. They serve lassi in plastic bags. One litre of lassi costs only Rs 3 and in no time the drums are empty. Cut-fruit offers business opportunities to many a people. They display sliced melons, papayas on slabs of ice. Similarly one can ice candy men around. And those selling ice balls dripping with ‘sharbats’ tempt both the children and
adults. Those who do not count calories can eat ‘kulfis’. Who would not be tempted by cucumber and tomato salad? Many a people sell salads in their moveable carts and there are many takers, especially during lunch time. In spite of heat, the people have to roam on the streets as summers offers more opportunities to people to start their enterprise than winters. |
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Bharatya Yog Sansthan to hold free camps Ludhiana, April 10 They said, thousands of people across the country were getting benefitted from these camps which were organised every morning. Here the people were offered yogic remedies also. |
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Tohra’s death
condoled Khanna, April 10 According to the press note the meeting was held under the presidentship of Balwinder Singh Purewal, President, Youth Akali Dal, Canada. The speakers at the meeting said it was the duty of every Sikh, especially of Akali worker, to run on the track of honesty established by Jathedar Tohra. |
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Pensioners flay delay in notification Ludhiana, April 10 Mr Yash Paul Ghai, additional general secretary, Punjab Government Pensioners Association, said today that despite the Cabinet decision, the notification was not issued. |
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Man alleges fraud by brothers Ludhiana, April 10 The police has registered a case under Sections 468,471 and 120 of the IPC against the brothers — Suresh Khanna and Dinesh Khanna. Boy dies in mishap:
The complainant had stated that the accused had hit his son Kamaljit Singh outside Sekhewal village on Thursday night killing him on the spot. No arrest has been made so far. Fraud alleged:
The complainants had stated that they had deposited Rs 34,000 with the accused for taking delivery of a new motorcycle. But the accused neither delivered the motorcycle to them nor returned their money. Theft in factory:
The Focal Point police on Friday registered a case of theft under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC on a statement of Mr Munish Goel, who lives in Sarabha Nagar and owns a factory in Phase-VII of Focal Point. Mr Goel has stated that some miscreants, armed with swords and pistols, held the factory watchman captive at pistol point and ransacked the factory premises for about three hours. Some workers living in the factory were also terrorised. The thieves took away a large quantities of nickel and copper along with some other factory goods worth about Rs 4 lakh. Injured: Hooch seized:
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Woman alleges
assault by in-laws Khanna, April 10 According to the victim she was married to Anil Kumar. After marriage her in -laws started asking for more dowry. She left her in-laws house and started living with her parents at Amloh. On January 4, her-in-laws and parents reached on a compromise and she went to her in-laws house. On April 9 her husband, father-in-law, mother-in-law and two sisters-in-law beat her up. She managed to escape and reached the Civil Hospital where she is under treatment. A case has been registered at the city police station. Opium seized:
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Ludhiana, April 10
Some families feel mangoes can make you forget the discomfort of summer. One such family is that of Nagpals of Sarabha Nagar. For them hands and mouths are to be messed up eating mangoes. Mango juice, mango souffle, mango shake, “kulfi” and ice-cream have to be devoured every day in one form or the other. Young members are especially delighted and say: “With mangoes in market, now drinking milk will not be a problem as both in the mornings and evenings, we will have mango shakes. Yummy they are!”