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Killer railway crossing claims yet another life Ludhiana, April 19 Satbir Singh, alias Sukhi, a resident of Dad village on the Pakhowal road, succumbed to head injuries on the way to the DMC Hospital. Jaswinder Singh, driver of the vehicle, has been admitted to the hospital where his condition is said to be stable. The vehicle was dragged by the train to 1.5 km on the railway track. The injured were taken to the hospital by passers-by and local residents. According to sources in the victims’ family, they were headed towards Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar. They were following another vehicle which had crossed the railway track seconds before them. Relatives of the deceased said Sukhi had jumped to the rear seat of the vehicle when it was being dragged by the train. In his bid to save the driver his head got stuck up in the mangled remains of the vehicle. The driver said it was only when he was half-way across the line, he heard the loud whistle of the train and it was just near him. Railway Department sources said warning signs had been installed at the crossing. Even though people know that there was an unmanned crossing, such accidents happened, they added. Explaining the absence of barriers at the crossing, a railway official said a barrier would be constructed on the bypass road. That proposal had been finalised and as this road was quite nearby no railway barrier could be installed at the crossing in near future. They said the cost of manning each crossing was huge. Already the department had put a man on 24-hour duty at another railway crossing just at a stone’s throw distance from the accident site. Local residents say they have pleaded with the railway authorities several times that the crossing should be manned or
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11-year-old heart patient needs help Ludhiana, April 19 Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Amrik Singh said Jaswinder Singh was the eldest in the family and had three younger sisters. “We were leading a happy life with whatever little we had till the time we came to know that my son had some problem. He complained of breathlessness. Whenever he used to play, he felt easily tired. We took him to various city nursing homes and hospitals for consultation,” said Amrik Singh. The family came to know about the ailment when they consulted doctors at the Christian Medical College and Hospital a few years back. Though he had to be hospitalised at the CMCH, there was no improvement in his condition as surgery was the only solution. “He has been on medication for the past many years. But now doctors say if the boy is to survive, two surgeries have to be performed immediately at one of the reputed hospitals in Delhi. We are in dilemma about what to do. Even if I put in all my resources, I will not be able to collect that amount of money,” said the father. A resident of New Kuldeep Nagar, Street No. 3, Basti Jodhewal, Amrik Singh has approached many clubs and voluntary organisations for financial help but to no avail. “But I believe in God. He will save the life of my son. He cannot be so cruel to us,” said Amrik Singh. |
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Make industrial disputes laws flexible: experts
Ludhiana, April 19 He asserted: “It is important that we — government, management and labour — evolve a new strategy, which will serve the paramount objective of rapid economic growth and development in general and attainment of higher standards of performance in industry in particular.” He maintained that it must be accompanied by the fullest possible utilisation of equipment and elimination of wastage of all sorts. He observed that the relationship between the management and labour should be based on mutual trust and confidence. “In a country like ours, where poverty and unemployment were rampant and widespread, there was a crucial need to formulate a correct perspective and to realise that we cannot afford constant confrontation”, he pointed out. Mr Wig suggested that the industrial relations should be seen as essential component of economic development policy and not primarily as a matter of law and order. The task of creating sound and harmonious industrial relations will be simplified if conditions are created for development of strong and stable trade unions and their recognition as recognised bargaining agents, for avoiding unfair labour practices, for promotion of workers; education and settlement of industrial dispute without direct intervention of the government. Dr B.P. Dhaka, secretary general, PHDCCI, while quoting a recent PHDCCI study said the focus on industrial relations in most enterprises was limited only to dispute management and there was no mention of increasing productivity. “If we have to create harmonious relations then focus of enforcing rules has to be to increase productivity,” he said. Earlier addressing a press conference, Mr Wig said the PHDCCI had identified certain sectors like automotive components, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agriculture business, processed foods, textiles and handicraft as the future industry of Punjab.
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Cong councillors divided over Tiwari’s candidature Ludhiana, April 19 A series of meetings that PPCC president H.S. Hanspal had with ministers, the Mayor and other senior party functionaries here on Saturday, brought to the fore a sharp dissension among party leaders. The dissension is to such an extent that a minister and the DCC (Urban) chief had an angry exchange of words. Also certain councillors refused to work under the supervision of block presidents with the plea that they were elected representatives and would work for the party candidate in their respective wards. According to highly placed sources in the party here, the ‘Galib’ factor is weighing down heavily upon the party councillors and a significantly large group of councillors, led by Senior Deputy Mayor Prem Mittal, is yet to come out openly in the support of Mr Tiwari. Although, senior party leaders are claiming in public that Mr Galib has agreed to campaign for the official candidate, if the mood of his close supporters is any indication, the sitting MP is still keeping his cards close to his chest and his poll strategy is yet to be made public. Even after Mr Galib has been told by the party high command in no uncertain terms that the nomination of Mr Tiwari is final and he should extend all his support to the party candidate, Mr Galib has not taken part in any public function in connection with the election campaign. On the other side, his supporters, including the councillors, have been holding meetings to express their solidarity with their leader. Insiders claim that Galib supporters, the councillors and the Senior Deputy Mayor included, were looking towards the outgoing MP for a nod to move ahead either way. If asked by Mr Galib, they could proceed for active campaigning for the party candidate or alternatively, they could cause the damage to the prospects of the party and later blame wrong choice of candidate for the outcome. |
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Tiwari asks workers to fill in for him Kohara (Ludhiana), April 19 He admitted that he felt handicapped due to his late entry into the election arena. As the area of the constituency was very wide, he would not be in a position to personally cover the entire area in this short time. Mr Tiwari said he was making an all-out effort to make up for the delay. “Since an Assembly segment has over 700 villages, I request you to work as my ambassadors and take my message to every home”. Mr Tiwari, who did not shy away from any issue being raised by the opposition himself brought up various issues one by one and contradicted them. He told the Congress workers that unless they were themselves not clear in their minds, they would not be able to convince the voters according and “it was for this reason that I want to explain every issue myself.” Referring to his student days, he told the workers about his 20 years in the Congress and the days when he himself laid ‘daris’, carried party flags and worked hard to make every Congress function a success. He lashed out at Akali rivals for not having done their homework well while making wild allegations against his father, Dr V.N. Tiwari, who was gunned down by militants in Chandigarh in April, 1984. “When he died on April 3, 1984, how could my father have advised late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to launch Operation Blue Star in June 1984, as the Akalis claim”, he said. Similarly, he said I have lived in the state, studied in Chandigarh and worked closely with my father, who was a protagonist of Punjabi and Punjabiat. “If I am an outsider, what would you call Mr Naresh Gujral who has been fielded by the Akalis from Jalandhar, and Navjot Sidhu and Mr Vinod Khanna contesting the poll from Amritsar and Gurdaspur ?”, he questioned. He told the workers that the party high command had deputed 100 youth leaders all over the country to build up a second rung leadership. Mr Tiwari took up every issue that the Akali Dal candidate, Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, and the Lok Bhalai Party candidate, Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, had raised on their platforms and rebutted each convincingly. Later, talking to this correspondent, Mr Tiwari said he believed in clean politics and would not like to mislead his workers or voters. |
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A lacklustre campaign so far Ludhiana, April 19 While the candidates are alarmed over the indifference and apathy of voters, at the same time they assert that the campaigning will pick up in the first week of May only. A Congress leader pointed out that the leaders of national parties like the Congress, the BJP and the Communists were busy in the areas where the votes are to be polled in the first phase tomorrow. He pointed out no political party can claim having organised a big or impressive show so far. Nor has any national leader of any party visited the state so far in the current phase of campaigning. Although the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Lal Krishan Advani, did visit the state earlier, but that hardly generated any electoral heat here. The Congress, which primarily banks upon the urban middle class, is finding it difficult to get people out in rallies, although it expects them to vote for the party. However, Mr Pawan Dewan, senior vice president of the Pradesh Youth Congress, who is campaigning for the Congress candidate, Mr Manish Tiwari, claimed that the party was getting good response despite the fact that people in the rural areas were busy in harvesting. He said in the next phase of campaigning after the candidates file their nomination papers senior party leaders will visit Ludhiana parliamentary constituency. He disclosed that there was likelihood of Ms Priyanka Gandhi coming to Ludhiana to campaign for Mr Tiwari. Even the Shiromani Akali Dal candidate, Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, who is supported by the BJP also, is not getting any significant response. The crowds still allude the rallies. One of his supporters claimed that due to the harvesting in rural areas, from where party draws most of the support, the response was mild, but that does not mean people are not with SAD. He disclosed that the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani was likely to come to Ludhiana in the first week of May to address an election rally. The Lok Bhalai Party leader, Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, who created a lot of hype in the beginning is also finding it difficult to hold on with a number of people in his rallies showing a progressive decline. It seems that people feel too cold towards elections and it might also reflect during the voting leading to apprehensions that there might be a low voter turn out also. |
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MP
supports CICU chief Ludhiana, April 19 In a statement issued here today, senior BJP leader said: “In view of the ongoing industrial crisis being faced by the engineering industry due to unprecedented hike in the prices of steel it will not be proper to hold the elections to the CICU right now.” Appreciating the efforts make by the CICU executive to prevail upon the Central Government, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Steel and the Ministry of Commerce, he said it would be proper to give the current executive another chance.
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Society to back Cong candidate Khanna, April 19 Addressing, party workers, Mr Jatinder Pathak, municipal councillor, said it was the Congress government which had worked for the betterment of the nation.
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I am a philanthropist, says nominee Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 19 He was addressing a gathering of Congress workers and local leaders on the occasion of inauguration of his election office at local grain market. Making a scathing attack on his rivals Mr Khanna said both Mr Simranjit Singh Mann and Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa had been exploiting religious sentiments of innocent people of the area. While Mr Mann tried to win the support of Sikhs and Muslims in the name of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and Ali Jinah respectively, Mr Dhindsa promoted safronisation among a section of Hindus.
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Dullo to file nomination on April 21 Khanna, April 19 |
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Poll observers
coming today Ludhiana, April 19
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Cut fruits selling in spite of ban Ludhiana, April 19 The Chief Medical Officer is every other day issuing press notes claiming that rehris selling such products are being confiscated and efforts to check this menace are on. But it seems that nothing has been done practically. The rehris can be seen in all parts of the city like near Damuria Bridge, Daresi, Ghumar Mandi, ShivPuri, Basti Jodhewal, Jalandhar bypass and on the GT Road. The best part is that the sellers are not even aware that there is a ban on the sale of such products. Ramesh, a vendor who sells cut papaya near Clock Tower, said, “I do not know there was a ban on the sale of cut fruits. I am selling the fruit here for the past one month but nobody came and told me to go away. Even the people are relishing the cut cold pieces of papayas. I make it very spicy and it has a good sale here.” A hospital in Daresi receives as many as 6 or 7 cases of gastroenteritis everyday. According to the doctors, the culprit in most of the cases is cut fruit and uncovered food. |
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Shifting of water line
traffic hazard Ludhiana, April 19 According to sources in the Municipal Corporation, the water main line, underneath the national highway (Old GT Road), is coming in the way of laying piers for the Elevated Road project, which is already under way and water supply lines needed to the shifted to clear the alignment for the project. Since the work on elevated road is already held up for some time now, the corporation wanted the shifting done expeditiously. The work was entrusted to the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board and the officials concerned were asked to speedily complete the task. Mr K.C. Gupta, Executive Engineer of the board, said the work was taken in hand recently and it was a tough job. The entire work had to be carried out during night when there was no water supply. Even as the board staff performed the cutting and rejoining of water pipes when all tubewells in the area were switched off, lines were flooded and they had to be drained off. Mr Gupta maintained that almost 90 per cent work was completed and the dug up portion of the road would be repaired within next two or three days at the most. |
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Rail traffic affected as train derails Ludhiana, April 19 The train was approaching the city around 3:55 pm when it’s wagons derailed, forcing other trains to halt at the outer signal of the Ludhiana railway station, causing inconvenience to thousands of passengers. The repair work on the track started around 5:25 pm and was in progress till the filing of this report. Railway officials were reviewing the situation. They said the derailed wagons would be removed from the track soon and the traffic would be restored only after that. An inquiry has been ordered by Mr N.S. Mann, Area Traffic Manager, into the derailment. The station authorities claimed that the track would be repaired immediately. They said the inquiry committee constituted to look into the matter would ascertain the reason for derailment. The authorities said it was too early to say anything about it and only senior authorities would answer the queries of the press. Machines were requestioned to remove wagons from the accident site. The wagons involved in the accident were being examined. |
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Sisters allege fraud by father-in-law Ludhiana, April 19 The two sisters, who were married to two brothers in Ghwaddi village said when the husband of Harpal Kaur passed away their father-in-law, Mr Mann Singh, had transferred the land in the name of their children. As the husband of Surjit Kaur was not keeping good health, his father had preferred to transfer the land in the name of children. But he allegedly sold off the land to some persons in connivance with some panchayat members and some revenue officials on October 9, 2003 without even taking them in confidence. The two women have written letters to the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, and officials of the district administration to help them in this regard. They said they had no other means of income and were dependent on the land for their bread and butter. They alleged that some employees of the Revenue Department had even tampered the revenue records in the old man’s favour. They said that they had written to the Dehlon police to look into the matter and register a case of fraud against the persons who had connived to defraud them. |
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When bull chase proved costly Khanna, April 19 The injured man was identified as Baldev Singh, resident of Jagat Colony. He was taken to Civil Hospital here from where he was referred to a Patiala hospital. According to residents of the area, the bull was roaming in the area for last few days and it had injured some persons. Some residents of the area today went to the office of the local SDM, Mr Jaspal Mittal and lodged a complaint. The SDM referred the complaint to the local Animal Husbandry Office to give the report within two days. Meanwhile, some other residents approached the officiating president of the municipal council in this regard. They informed the officiating president who sent a team of fire brigade employees to the colony. The bull was finally caught after a chase. Some persons attacked the bull with sharpedged weapons. The bull died on the spot as he was already tired. Some residents of the area where the incident took place lodged a complaint against the persons and the employees of the Fire Brigade in city police station Khanna. A case has been registered under Section 429 in this connection. |
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Sub-conscious mind is powerful, says reiki expert Ludhiana, April 19 The guest speaker was Dr Ravi Saini, a renowned reiki expert, who has done an intensive research on human mind for many years. He said the human mind comprised conscious, sub-conscious and unconscious self. The conscious mind manages the body but the power of unconscious mind has not been harnessed as yet, he said. Dr Ravi said the sub-conscious self unfolded a host of opportunities for all. Everyone possessed an aura around him or her which was a potential field of personal energy. He said this energy could be utilised to tap opportunities for securing abundance of five main success factors-time, money, health, knowledge and peace. Dr (Col) H.S. Singha, officiating director, GNIMT, said the main objective of the seminar was to introduce the power of sub-conscious mind in the overall well-being of a person. |
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Tributes paid to
Manjit Singh Ludhiana, April 19 Members remembered his meritorious services. Throughout his association with the LMA. The members remembered him for his endearing nature. A man of great conviction, Mr Manjit Singh always stood for values for self-less service. As a mark of respect executive committee members unanimously decided to institute the Manjit Singh Memorial Lecture Series on annual basis.
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Man posing as SSP held Ludhiana, April 19 When the police officials reached the spot and arrested him he produced an ID card of an SPO, which was later found to be fake. Earlier, he tried to give the police a slip. SHO Gurpreet Singh said the accused was appointed as SPO in 1991 and was relieved from services due to his involvement in some cases. He was arrested by the Dehlon police four months ago following a complaint and remained in jail. He was released four days ago and began threatening shopkeepers of the area after the release.
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Unidentified body found in fields Ludhiana, April 19 The complainant had stated to the police that he owned some piece of land at Majh Phaguwal village. He had gone to his village last Wednesday, when he came across the body of an unknown person. The person had apparently been murdered and his body had been dumped in the complainant’s fields. The police is investigating the case. Two held:
In another case under the same Act registered yesterday, the Haibowal police arrested Yograj Singh , a resident of Qila Raipur village, and seized 250 gm of contraband opium from his possession. Fraud alleged:
The woman had stated that she had purchased a 555-sq-yrd plot from Rajesh Kumar for Rs 12 lakh on July 17, 2001 but later on the plot turned out to be the property of the municipal corporation. The accused had conspired to commit a fraud on her, added the complainant. No arrest has been made so far. Carjack:
On the statement of Mr Davinder Singh, a resident of Model House locality, the Sarabha Nagar police has registered a case under Section 382 of the IPC and various sections of the Arms Act against four unknown persons. The complainant had alleged that his new Indica car was taken away at gun-point by the accused. He added that a sum of Rs 50,000 and some gold ornaments were lying in the car when it was taken away forcibly by the accused. Booked:
The complainant had alleged that the accused, to whom he had rented some accommodation, threw his household goods out of the house, locked it and also threatened him on April 5 last. No arrest has been made so far. Passengers hurt:
The complainant had stated that the accused, who was driving an auto-rickshaw full of passengers, overturned the vehicle due to negligent driving near Garhi Fazal village on Friday evening, as a result of which a number of passengers were injured. No arrest has been made so far. Stolen:
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Man held for preparing fake octroi receipts Khanna, April 19 The matter came to the light of Octroi Department officials when an employee posted at octroi post No. 7 informed Octroi Inspector Sukhdev Singh that a tractor-trailer had passed the post without paying the octroi. The employees intercepted the tractor-trailer (PBD 8905). On being questioned, the driver produced a receipt (No. 83/4396). The employees on verification found the receipt to be fake. The driver told them that the receipt had been issued to him by Devinder Singh, alias Kala, of Rauni village. The octroi officials said Devinder had earlier been an employee of a octroi contractor and had been indulging in the work for the past five month. The police has registered a case and arrested the man. |
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