 |
|
|
|
|
|
17 Dogra celebrates silver jubilee
Somewhere in the Western Sector, November 25 General Vij, who is also the Colonel of Dogra Regiment and Dogra Scouts, was here to attend the silver jubilee celebrations of 17 Dogra. In his brief interaction with the media, he said he was confident that the ongoing dialogue with Pakistan would prove fruitful and would usher a new era of peace and stability in the region. “Everyone is hopeful that a positive outcome will bring a lot of cheer to the people of both the neighbouring countries,” he added. Reacting to a query on infiltration levels, the General said they had been successful in containing it to a large extent. We had an upper hand since no large-scale incident of terrorist activity had come to light. We had not lowered our guard and were fully prepared for any eventuality. He, however, cautioned the media against reporting stories that were speculative and did not reflect the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir. In the scramble to be first with the news, some half-baked news items were carried which ended up doing more harm than good, he pointed out. General Vij, who arrived here on his way to Srinagar by air, inspected an impressive guard-of-honour before addressing a sainik sammelan. He also released a first day cover and a brochure on the occasion. Addressing the sainik sammelan attended by serving and retired officers, JCOs and jawans, he said although the country was not at war but the ongoing proxy war was not any different. Jawans and officers continued to lay down their lives and every soldier should emulate this for the integrity of the country. More so for a new battalion which had completed 25 years, he stressed. General Vij commended the unit for excellent performance in the past and urged all ranks to maintain a high standard of professionalism and build up on the reputation and traditions of the Dogras. Highlighting the welfare schemes initiated for the benefit of the serving and retired soldiers, General Vij said more polyclinics would be set up across the country so the soldiers did not have to go to big cities to seek medical treatment. With specific reference to Himachal Pradesh, he said four polyclinics had already been set up and he was making efforts to get an additional clinic set up at Nahan or Sarahan. He exhorted the soldiers to become a part of the new health insurance scheme. The General said the government had finally agreed to a scheme where retiring soldiers could deposit their pensionary benefits in their respective post offices and draw an interest of 9 per cent. Widows could also avail of this scheme, he added. Cautioning those present against falling prey to touts for recruitment of their wards, he said the recruitment process had been revamped to weed out any irregularities. He said the process had been made foolproof but any wrong doing in the recruitment process must be diligently reported to the army authorities. 17 Dogra has a proud history of gallant and distinguished service and has left an indelible mark in every sphere of activity. The battalion has won many laurels, including one Shauraya Chakra, four Sena Medals, two Vishisth Seva Medals, two Mention in Despatches, 16 COAS Commendation Cards and 17 GOC-in-C Commendation Cards.
|
|
Govt establishes Hazrat Mian Mir Chair at GND varsity
Amritsar, November 25 Disclosing this, Dr S.P. Singh, Vice-Chancellor, said that the government would bear all the financial liabilities for the chair. He said that Prof Manjit Singh of the Guru Ram Das School of Planning had been appointed Chairman of the chair. The Vice-Chancellor said that the university had also decided to establish Hazrat Mian Mir Bhavan. Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, and Choudhary Parvez Elahi, Chief Minister of Pakistani Punjab, would jointly lay the foundation stone of the bhavan on the university campus on December 2. He said that the bhavan would cost Rs 50 lakh and the research on the Sikh architecture, town planning and Sikh studies would be undertaken and also a provision for museum depicting the Sikh architectural and cultural heritage would be made. Hazrat Mian Mir, also known as Sai Mian Mir, was contemporary of Guru Arjan Dev. The Guru bestowed the honour upon Sai Mian Mir to lay the foundation stone of the Golden Temple santum
sanctorium. Hazrat Mian Mir was a symbol of Sikh architecture and town planning.
|
|
|
D.Litt degrees for Amarinder, Elahi
Amritsar, November 25 Dr S.P. Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, said the Chancellor of the University, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd.) would preside over and confer the degrees. The university had decided to confer these degrees in recognition of their contributions for taking initiatives for making cordial relations and also promoting the cause of Punjabiat, cooperation and brotherhood.
|
|
Kahlon chief of SAD ex-servicemen’s wing
SAD secretary Daljit Singh Cheema, said that Mr Parkash Singh Badal had asked Brig Kahlon to setup the district units of the wing in consultation with the district presidents of the Dal. Brigadir Kahlon has been associated with the welfare of the ex-servicemen ever since his retirement in 1997. He was appointed Director, Sainik Welfare, Punjab, in the SAD-BJP government led by Mr. Parkash Singh Badal in 1997. Brigadier Kahlon is a highly decorated soldier, having been in the forefront of military operations in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars. He was awarded the coveted gallantry award, the Sena Medal and the Chief of the Army Staff Commendation Card for his bravery and distinguished services .
|
|
Makeshift toilets a nightmare for residents
Jalandhar, November 25 Protests by the residents against setting up of makeshift toilets had fallen on deaf ears of the authorities as these went ahead with the setting of these toilets allegedly without caring for the concerns of residents of the area. Apprehending that the open toilets could result in a foul smell in the area the residents feared that the deep trench could convert into a death trap for small children who came to play in the ground. “Nobody listened to our complaints and rather we are being treated with indifference when we point it out to some officials. They told us that could do anything we wanted but they would set up the makeshift toilets under the instructions of the administration,” said Nirmal
Kaur, a resident of the area. Mr Sain Dass, another resident of the area, alleged that though only a few delegates might have used the makeshift toilets, a large number of these toilets were used by migrant labourers which resulted in the spread of filth in the area. Mr
R.K. Goyal said what was the use of holding such “melas” if the concerns of residents were not taken care of. “For us it is no mela but a problem” he said.
|
|
A box which has proved to be boon
Patiala, November 25 With the marriage season approaching, the bounty from the box is increasing by the day. “I have to empty it every morning now,” says Mohinder Singh Walia who runs a forum called Common Cause and who is responsible for installing the box. “The contents from the box serve the poorest of the poor as well as needy children and also the old and infirm,” said Mr Walia while talking to TNS. He said people were encouraged to deposit clothes which were in a good condition into the box, besides old watches and spectacles. The forum had collected a huge amount of clothes from the box in the past few months. “Collection of ladies’ suits is the most as many women cast away suits in a good condition due to the change in fashions,” Mr Walia said. He said besides clothes, the forum was also getting old watches and spectacles from the box. “We get the watches repaired and then present them to needy school-going children,” he said, adding that the spectacles were given to needy old citizens, with the forum taking on the responsibility of changing the lenses according to the requirements of the new wearers. Mr Walia said he was inspired to put up the box because he wanted to do something which would require little manpower. “Getting manpower to do social work is very difficult. So I thought of taking up this venture,” he said, adding that it had met with a resounding success. He said he was mostly giving away the clothes collected in the box to slum dwellers settled near the Badi Nadi on the outskirts of the city. The social worker has earlier compiled a booklet, “Myths and Facts about Food and Health”, to educate people about a number of myths which have become associated with healthcare. Mr Walia said some of the myths could prove to be dangerous as they kept people from correctly preventing or treating a disease. He has distributed more than 5,000 copies of this booklet, free of cost, all over Punjab and is also now planning to bring about a Punjabi edition of the booklet in the near future.
|
||
|
SGPC members object to violation of maryada
Mohali, November 25 According to sources a group of women in Sector 68 had organised a community path of Sukhmani Sahib this morning. The path was being held in a tent hoisted for the function on a piece of vacant land nearby. Mr Hardeep Singh said according to the information gathered by him, a small place to sit had been constructed nearby and a shivling was kept there along with a trishul. ‘‘The women who had organised the path were paying respect to both the Guru Granth Sahib and the shivling. Though I have nothing against any religion, such acts are against the maryada that has to be followed for the Guru Sahib,’’ pointed out Mr Hardeep Singh. He added that heaps of loose soil had been placed all around the structure as a boundary and it could also be used to encroach upon government land. ‘‘I have no objection to the presence of the structure there, it is for the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) to ensure that their land is not encroached upon in the garb of religion. But I object to the fact that the maryada of Guru Granth Sahib was not followed during the path,’’ he said. Mr Hardeep Singh brought the Guru Granth Sahib from location after the ceremony was completed and placed it at Amb Sahib Gurdwara. "We have called the family who had given Guru Granth Sahib for the path and would be talking to them," said Mr Hardeep Singh adding that the matter had been brought to the notice of the Dharam Prachaar Committee of the SGPC, Amritsar.
|
|
Blast in milk plant, child hurt
Bathinda, November
25 Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that this was the second explosion in the Badal milk processing unit in this month. Earlier, an explosion took place in it on November 9 and the same worker Jagdeep Jaggi had suffered burn injuries. Whether Jagdeep has been admitted to any hospital or not could not be known despite repeated efforts. Mr Pawan Kumar, owner of the unit, could not be contacted for comments. Apprehending danger to their lives, the residents of the Paras Ram Nagar locality, where the milk processing unit is situated, have moved a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr
K.A.P. Sinha, for taking the necessary action against the owner of the unit. In the complaint, they alleged that some things, which were against the norm, were going on in the milk processing unit complex. They added that the authorities concerned had not been taking any action in that connection despite their repeated requests. Mr
Sinha, when contacted, said that though he had not received any complaint, he had been inquiring into the matter.
|
|
|
Council takes lenient view in fake passes scam Kharar, November 25 The president of the council, Mr Charanjit Singh, said at the meeting of the General House of the civic body that all three inquiries into the scam failed to pinpoint the main culprit in the market. Even the octroi contractor had been exonerated. He said the inquiries revealed that fake passes were issued but did not name as to who had got these printed or issued. He said the employees concerned would be issued a warning and told that strict action would be taken against them if they indulged in any irregularity in the future. This was agreed to by the House. The president said that out of six municipal employees indicted by the vigilance inquiry, two —Avtar Singh and Maan Singh — had been on duty in the council office since 1998 and not at octroi posts. The remaining four employees — Gurdeep Singh, Mahesh Kumar, Rajinder Singh and Rameshwar Dass — though working in the octroi wing were not on duty. Mr Jai Bhagwan Singla, a councillor who was a member of a committee which probed the scam, told the House that all six employees were telling untruth. The statements given by them did not tally with one another. The three-member committee of the council had upheld the recommendations made by two senior government officials in the scam earlier and had demanded action against those involved. Mr Singla argued that if the council employees concerned were not on duty, why had they gone to check an octroi post. He suggested that if the conclusions of the inquiries were not clear, the Vigilance Bureau or a senior official could be approached to conduct another probe. The scam came to light in February last year. Thereafter the Ropar Deputy Commissioner had asked the Kharar SDM to conduct a probe into the matter. The inquiry showed that state transit passes were fake and the council had suffered a loss in revenue. The inquiry report of the SDM was forwarded to the Principal Secretary, Local Government, Punjab, who ordered an inquiry by the Vigilance Bureau. The bureau indicted six clerks of the council for conspiring to issue fake state transit passes from octroi collection posts in Kharar. The Director, Local Government, had then asked the Executive Officer of the municipal council to take action against those indicted. However, the council set up the three-member committee, comprising two municipal councillors and the superintendent of the civic body, to probe the matter. The panel upheld the recommendations made in the earlier two probe reports.
|
|
Revenue stamps available now
Barnala, November 25 For about a fortnight neither the post office nor the treasury office could provide revenue stamps. This had resulted in the sale of revenue stamps at exorbitant prices ranging from Rs 2 to Rs 50 per stamp. The cause of the problem was the rate of commission and now the confusion pertaining to the date from which the revised commission rate was to become effective. The Postal Department had asserted that the revised rate of commission of 6 per cent instead of previous 3 per cent with effect from November 1 for the Postal Department, whereas the Punjab Treasury deemed it applicable from January 1, 2005.
|
|
Red Cross mela organised
Moga, November 25 Various competitions for kids like healthy baby show, tricycle race, fancy dress and rangoli contests were held. A lucky draw was also organised in which the first prize winner got a motorbike. Dhruv won the healthy baby show in the 6 to 12 months category, while Vikram was the winner in 1 to 2 year category. The NIFD won the first prize for its stall. The Deputy Commissioner said that this one-day annual fair had proved to be of great help in raising funds which were utilised to aid the poor and the needy.
|
|
‘Aman mela’ concludes
Jalandhar, November 25 Most of the participants emphasised on the need to preserve communal harmony. Dr Kewal Krishan, Speaker, Punjab Assembly spoke on freedom struggle, militancy days, corruption and communal harmony on the first day of the mela. Mr Sunderlal Bahuguna and Ms Nirmala Deshpande, MP, also addressed the gathering on the first day. Mohammad Akbar from the Pakistani delegation said both countries should get together to solve the Kashmir issue. The opinion of the Kashmiri people could not be disregarded, he added.
|
|
|
CM praised for allowing Punjabi meet at Patiala
Patiala, November 25 He had a macroscopic vision to encourage not only trade, commercial and industrial exchanges between two states but also promote cultural and literary heritage by encouraging people of the two countries to interact frequently by holding seminars, said forum Chairman, Mr Ved Parkash Gupta, who is also the Chairman of the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation and President of the District Congress Committee.
|
|
Bhandari bridge to be closed for repair
Amritsar, November 25 This was informed in a press release issued here today. All types of vehicles, except two-wheelers, would not be allowed to ply on the bridge. Mr Parveen Kumar, officiating Deputy Commissioner after convening a meeting with Railway, PWD, police and Municipal Corporation officials, said that no heavy vehicles could pass over the local flyover near Hussainpur Chowk and the Lohgarh bridge from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the period. Mr Parveen Kumar said the buses coming from Ajnala, Majitha, Fatehgarh Churian and Pathankot side would reach the main bus stand of Amritsar of the GT Road via bypass and will follow the same route while leaving Amritsar. The buses coming from Ram Tirath, Attari and Lopoke side will enter Amritsar via Phatak No 22. He added that no truck would be allowed to enter the city during this period and they would halt in the outer areas.
|
|
Labourer buried in well
Jalandhar, November 25 According to the police, the deceased was identified as Raja of Udhowal village, while the injured was Nirmal Singh of the same village. The incident occurred this afternoon when both of them descended deep inside the well to take out some bricks. But one of the sides of the well collapsed. Villagers rushed to the spot and managed to evacuate both of them in an unconscious condition after three hours of rescue operation. They were rushed to a nearby private hospital where doctors declared Raja as brought dead. The condition of Nirmal Singh was stated to be critical.
|
|
School celebrates Gurpurab
Kharar, November 25 The students of different classes recited shabads and presented devotional songs highlighting the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev. Members of the staff advised the students follow the teachings of the Guru and spread the message of oneness of God, equality and dignity of labour. Teachers and students of Classes V to VII later went to Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Kharar, and took part in the nagar kirtan procession which began from that institution.
|
|
Supplementary challan filed against Kahlon
Ropar, November 25 The Special Court Judge, Mr S.K Goel, has summoned all the accused to appear in the court on January 17. The Vigilance Bureau has alleged that Mr Kahlon, Mr Baldev Singh and Mr Kesar, in connivance with the two officials of Escort (JCB), had taken bribe in the purchase of the JCB machines.
|
|
Shop on Lower Mall demolished
Patiala, November 25 Municipal Commissioner Manvesh Singh Sidhu had ordered the demolition of a shop opposite Kwality Dhaba on the Lower Mall around a week back. However, ATP Nirmalpreet Singh did not pay heed to this order following which he was issued a show cause notice and a warning of disciplinary action against him. The ATP, who was given time till tomorrow to demolish the shop, demolished it this morning. Earlier, the same shopkeeper had alleged that the erstwhile Municipal Town Planner, Mr S.S. Bhatia, had taken Rs 20,000 from him through a clerk posted in the corporation as bribe threatening him that his shop would be demolished otherwise. An inquiry team constituted of Senior Deputy Mayor Kabir Das and the Health Officer had indicted both the MTP and the clerk, Ms Vijay Sharma. While a request had been made to take action against the MTP to the Secretary, Local Government, the clerk was suspended.
|
|
Man killed by father-in-law, brother-in-law
Malout, November 25 Police sources said that Kehar Singh was murdered by his father-in-law Mehal Singh and brother-in-law Major Singh when he was sleeping in the house of his in-laws. After strangulating Kehar Singh to death, both the accused started claiming that Kehar Singh had committed suicide. Sources added that while Mehal Singh was arrested by the police, Major Singh, the other accused, had gone underground. Police parties had been raiding his suspected hideouts. Apart from it, the police was also investigating the matter to find out the fact whether anyone else was involved in this crime. Information gathered by The Tribune from the police authorities revealed that Kehar Singh, who got married about seven years ago with Chinder Kaur, had been living at Abohar for the past many years while his wife had been living with her parents at Dabwali Dhab village for the past four months. Both Kehar Singh and Chinder Kaur were living separately as they were having some dispute over the fact that they were issueless and blaming each other for the same. Kehar Singh came to Malout on Tuesday evening for some work. In Malout town, Mehal Singh met Kehar Singh and both started consuming liquor. After sunset, both Kehar Singh and Mehal Singh came to Dabwali Dhab village when Mehal Singh requested him to visit that village for bringing a compromise between Kehar Singh and Chinder Kaur. After reaching Dabwali Dhab, Mehal Singh and Kehar Singh consumed liquor again and Kehar Singh got drunkard. During the course of conversation, Kehar Singh disclosed to Mehal Singh that he wanted to sell his residential plot located in Abohar and then wanted to go back to his brothers living at Birdana village in Fatehabad district. After that Kehar Singh went to bed and slept. At the dead of night both Mehal Singh and his son Major Singh, who was agitated over the fact that Kehar Singh had been harassing Chinder Kaur for the past many years and now wanted to go back to his village after disposing of his landed property, strangulated him to death. A case has been registered in Sadar police station, Malout, under Sections 302 and 34, IPC.
|
|
2 of marriage party die in mishap
Abohar, November 25 According to information, the baraat of Sunil Kumar left for Zira this morning. The Maruti Esteem car in which they were going reportedly collided head-on with a canter near Gobindgarh village on the National Highway No. 10 due to thick
fog. Zohna, a sister of the bridegroom, and the driver died on the spot. Other injured members were admitted to the Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital here by their relatives who followed them in other vehicles. The driver of the canter fled the spot leaving the vehicle there while his assistant, Bhupinder of
Azamwala, received injuries in the mishap. Doctors had referred bridegroom Sunil Kumar to Ludhiana but expressed inability to make ambulance available The police has registered a case against the driver of the canter.
|
|
|
Woman councillor held on fraud charge
Barnala, November 25 The police received a complaint from Ms Urmala Devi, wife of Mr Suresh Kumar, against the councilor. As per reports, Ms Manjeet Kaur, councillor, was running a lucky draw scheme. On this pretext she had been collecting money from the people for several months but she did not hold any draw under the scheme.
|
|
School holds annual function
Banur, November 25 The students also participated in various cultural programmes. The District Education Officer, Patiala, Ms Pritpal Kaur Sidhu, who was the chief guest, distributed prizes among students. She encouraged the students to participate in extra-curricular activities also, said the Principal, Father Thomas K.J.
|
|
MC to charge for ads on its sheds
Patiala, November 25 A decision to this effect was passed at a meeting of the General House, which was presided over by Mayor Vishnu Sharma. It was brought to the notice of the corporation that it was losing out on revenue with advertisers not taking its permission for putting up advertisements on both motor cycle sheds and traffic umbrellas. The General House also passed a resolution to take out a tender for allotting all advertisements on lease to an advertisement agency. Rates for various kinds of advertisements were also fixed on the occasion. Now anyone desirous of putting up an advertisement board on his own private space would have to pay the corporation Rs 250 per foot per year. Those putting up advertisement boards within the limits of the corporation would have to pay it Rs 500 per square feet per year. Those putting up glow signs on private space would have to shell out Rs 150 per month while those putting up glow signs on the corporation space would have to pay Rs 50 per foot per month. The corporation also passed a resolution to give 10 employees, eight of whom are firemen, the benefit of promotion after putting in eight years of service. The meeting was attended by Municipal Commissioner Manvesh Singh Sidhu, Senior Deputy Mayor Kabir Das and Deputy Mayor Inderjit Singh Boparai.
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Chandigarh, November 25