Youth sentenced to life term for raping minor
Rajneesh Lakhanpal

Ludhiana, May 8
A 25-year-old youth, Phul Kumar of Sunet village, Ludhiana, has been sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment yesterday on the charges of raping a six-year-old girl. The accused was sent to the Central Jail here.

Pronouncing the judgement, the Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Sukhdarshan Singh Khaira, held that the prosecution had successfully proved the guilt of accused beyond any doubt. The court also ordered the accused to pay fine of Rs 5000.

Terming the act of accused to be “barbaric”, the judge remarked that such type of persons should not be allowed to roam freely in society. Keeping in view the facts, circumstances and the manner in which the rape was committed with the child, the accused is not entitled for any leniency, observed Mr Khaira, while declining the plea of leniency raised by the judge.

The unfortunate victim lives with her parents in a rented quarter on the outskirts of Threekay village. The accused was booked under Sections 363 and 376 of the IPC at Sadar Police Station Ludhiana on June 12, 2003, following the complaint of Rakesh Kumar, the father of victim.

The complainant had stated to the police that on the night of June 11, 2003, the family was watching the television. Meanwhile, the accused who was known to them also came there and started watching TV soon he and his wife fell asleep while watching TV. But accused remained there watching the television.

At about 2 pm, when he woke up, he found her daughter missing. Bikramjit Singh, one of their neighbourer, told them that he had seen their daughter being taken away by Phul Kumar, added the complainant.

“When we went for search we heard the cries of our daughter. We saw him raping her in a ditch which was surrounded by grass. I caught hold of him but he managed to run away”, deposed the father of victim in court.

However, during the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed false implication. But he failed to produce any evidence in support of his contentions.

The prosecution had examined as many as eight witnesses to prove the guilt of accused. Dr. Nirmaljit Kaur of Civil Hospital who had medically examined the prosecutrix also confirmed in the court about the injuries and confirmation of rape. 

Minister inaugurates project while councillors cry foul
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, May 8
A development project for laying sewer lines in the New Ashok Nagar locality in ward no 5 at a cost of Rs 25 lakh here has become a bone of contention between the area councillor, Ms Kashmir Kaur, supported by other the Akali Dal and BJP councillors on one side and the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mr Rakesh Pandey on the other.

While Mr Pandey laid the foundation stone of the project at an elaborate function held in the locality today in the presence of several ruling party functionaries and officials of the municipal corporation as per the programme finalised by the civic body, several councillors belonging to opposition parties, led by the area councillor, had already laid the stone for the project on Saturday.

Charging the minister with an attempt to take credit for the development work, for which he had made no contribution, Ms Kashmir Kaur, as well as Mr Bhairaj Singh, Mr Jaswinder Singh Bhola, Mr Harbhajan Singh Dang, Mr Hans Raj and Mr Parveen Bansal, all councillors, had also threatened to hold a demonstration if the minister came to lay the foundation stone of the project. However, better sense prevailed and the function organised by the supporters of Mr Pandey passed off peacefully.

In fact, it was a tactical move by the ruling party functionaries which saved the situation from taking an ugly turn and avoid an open confrontation between the ruling Congress and opposition parties. The Mohalla Sudhar Sanstha of the locality, dominated by some of the close supporters of the minister, had arranged a path of today which was to be performed close to the venue of the function. Perhapse it were the religious considerations that deterred the SAD and BJP councillors from taking aggressive postures on the issue.

On the other hand, Mr Pandey, strongly defending his right to lay the foundation stone maintained that he represented the entire city and he attended the functions wherever he was invited by the people. He further asserted that he had taken up the matter of speeding up the development works in the concerned locality with the civic administration and it was the result of his efforts that the project had been approved and work taken in hand.

Well digger rescued
Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 8
The five-hour rescue operation undertaken jointly by the administration and the residents of the area saved one of the well diggers who were buried under the earth at Ghudani village near here last night. One of the labourers succumbed to his injuries.

Meanwhile, the administration had taken the deepening of the well as violation of the orders of the Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana, banning the digging.

Balbir Singh (51) and Amarjit Singh Pappi were deepening a well in the fields at Ghudani village. The sidewalls of the well caved in suddenly in the evening and the two got buried underneath. Though the field belonged to a farmer of the same village, Gurmit Singh of Dhamot Khurad village had taken it on rent for cultivation.

Receiving information on the public announcement system of the religious place at the village, residents of Ghudani village and surrounding villages rushed to the spot and started rescue operations.

Mr Tejinder Singh Dhaliwal, SDM, Payal, who had supervised the rescue operations, claimed that the coordination between the police, the civil administration and the volunteers, resulted in fruitful action.

After being brought out, the two labourers were shifted to a private hospital at Doraha at around 10 pm. Doctors declared Balbir Singh as brought dead and Amarjit Singh was given medical treatment.

Mr Dhaliwal said Mr Anurag, DC Ludhiana, had already banned digging operation in areas falling under his jurisdiction.

“According to the extant instructions, both the labourers and the owner of the field who had engaged them should be booked under law,” said Mr Dhaliwal.

Girls outshine boys in middle school exam
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 8
Girls have proved their mettle in the Middle School Examinations conducted by the Punjab School Education Board this March by securing top positions in the district Mandeep Kaur of Dashmesh Senior Secondary School is the topper in Ludhiana district although she stands seventh in the state.

The second in the district is Samneet Kaur Dhall of Samati Vimal Jain School, Jagraon (11th in Punjab). The third position has gone to Payal Gandhi of Ritambra Model School, Sunder Nagar (28th in Punjab). The fourth position goes to Harpreet Kaur of Ritambra School (30th in Punjab). Fifth place in the district is attained by Mandeep Kaur of Dashmesh Senior Secondary School (51st in Punjab)

At the sixth position is a boy, Harpratap Singh Grewal from Nankana Sahib School, Kilaraikot (56th in Punjab). Ankita Luthra from RS Model School stands seventh (62nd in Punjab) while eighth position is attained by Vikram of BVM School (118th in Punjab) Hardeep Kaur is at ninth position. He is from Harkrishan Public School (173rd in Punjab).Sadhna Sharma of Sanmati Vimal Jain School, Jagraon, occupies 10th position (126th in Punjab) At 11th position is Humayucdun from Swami Roop Chand School (127th in Punjab) 12th position has been earned by Kamla Gupta of BVM School (135th in Punjab).

Shifting of gurdwara divides villagers
Mahesh Sharma

Barundi (Ahmedgarh), May 8
The issue of shifting the Gurdwara Shri Guru Arjun Dev Ji to a more spacious building has divided the residents of Bhoju Patti of this village of transporters into two factions.

The situation arose when the committee headed by Mr Jaswinder Singh shifted the articles of the religious place to newly built gurdwara on the outskirts of the villages and the other group formed a new committee under the patronage of Ms Daljit Kaur, sarpanch of the village.

Representatives of the SGPC reportedly took the stock of situation to prevent any untoward incident.

Ms Daljit Kaur and Mr Ranjit Singh, leaders of the opposition faction, accused the old committee of “stealing” the articles belonging to the new building being run under the control of the old president. They said the residents desired that the same committee would manage both the gurdwaras after the new gurdwara was constructed.

They accused a Congress leader of the village of hurting the sentiments of the devotees by locking the old building.

Mr Sukhdev Singh Walia, president, Truck Operators Union, Pohir, on the other hand claimed that the residents of Bhoju Patti had resolved to shift the gurudwara to a more spacious building as the old building was not enough for the sangat.

“Architects called at that time had claimed that the present Dewan Hall could not be expanded according to the requirement of the sangat, the gathering resolved to shift the religious place to a more spacious building,” explained Mr Walia.

Mr Harminder Singh Giga, a farmer who had donated a piece of land measuring 40 biswas for the new gurdwara and persuaded Mr Surjit Singh to transfer some land with that of the organization, claimed that the villagers had unanimously decided to construct more spacious gurdwara on the outskirt with an intention to unite people.

Denying the charges of stealing the articles of the old gurdwara Mr Jaswinder Singh, president of the committee, claimed that all belongings of the religious place, including religious books were shifted to the new premises with full honour and Sikh maryada at a function organized on occasion of Baisakhi.

He further told the Ludhiana Tribune that some representatives of the SGPC had called on him at his residence on Saturday and had sought his comments. “I showed my inability to comment on the issue without knowing the views of all the residents of the Bhoju Patti,” responded Mr Jaswinder Singh. He offered to step down from his post in case someone acceptable to all came forward to serve the religious place.

PAU staff bitter over new varsity Bill
K.S. Chawla

Ludhiana, May 8
Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University is yet to take the final shape but tension has already started mounting at the campus of Punjab Agricultural University, which will house this new university.

The Punjab Vidhan Sabha has since passed the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Husbandry University Bill in the Budget session on April 19. The Bill has been sent to the President of India for his assent. The notification for the establishment of the new university will be issued only after the approval from the President.

However, there is resentment among the faculty members and the non-teaching employees as they alleged that the state government, while framing the Bill, had not consulted the authorities of the PAU nor the Board of Management of the PAU over the distribution of assets and liabilities and transfer of the non-teaching employees to the new university.

Under the Act passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, “the College of Veterinary Science, Ludhiana, research stations, veterinary hospital, fisheries and small animal colony in the Department of Zoology and hostels attached with the veterinary college and all other moveable and immovable assets, liabilities and obligations shall stand transferred and vested in the university”.

The Act further says: “The College of Veterinary Science, Ludhiana shall continue to share the facilities of the library, medical, playgrounds, guest houses, auditoria, clubs, public health services and accommodation for employees or any other facilities available with the Punjab Agriculural University”. The Act also provides for the division of assets at the ratio of 70:30.

The veterinary college has a faculty strength of little over 100 where as the remaining strength of the faculty of the other constituent colleges is around 1200. The PAUTA claims that even some of the departments now working in the College of Veterinary Science are not ready to join the new university and they want to remain with Punjab Agricultural University.

“The most objectionable portion of the new Act pertains to the sharing of playgrounds, hostels and auditorium and other such facilities. There is a feeling that this will lead to clashes among the students,” a senior officer of the PAU said.

The non-teaching employees of the PAU have already started agitation as no formula has been prepared for the transfer of the employees to the new university. Further, the PAU has already been facing financial crisis and the state government grants Rs 90 crores as annual financial help to the PAU. Out of this Rs 10 crores goes to the College of Veterinary Science. This is not sufficient to meet the salary bill of the college staff, they alleged.

Rumours are already rife on the campus that the prime land of 70 acres which stands transferred to the new university will be put to sale to raise finances.

ASI, two constables booked
Our Correspondent

Khamano, May 8
Khamano police has booked an ASI Balwinder Singh Sodhi and two constables, who were posted at Khamano police station, for falsely implicating a youth, Gurmeet Singh, of Nanowal Kalan, under the Excise Act.

According to information available, ASI Balwinder Singh Sodhi, booked Gurmeet Singh under Sections 61, 1, 14 of the Excise Act and claimed to have seized 18 bottles of liquor. But after the registration of this case, Gurmeet Singh said the case was false. Gurmeet Singh had appealed and approached Human Rights Commission to verify the facts.

The Human Rights Commission asked the SSP, Fatehgarh Sahib, to look into the matter. The SSP ordered the SP(H), Fatehgarh Sahib, to conduct an inquiry. After the submission of inquiry report SSP Varinder Kumar ordered Khamano police to register the case. The police booked three policemen under Sections 467, 468, 471, 167 and 120-B and cancelled the case registered against Gurmeet Singh.

Passing Thru

Ludhiana Calling

Next Victory Media and Films organised a music night in Ludhiana recently with famous music directors Jatin and Lalit being the star performers, rather the anchors of the show. Both Jatin and Lalit belong to Hisar, but are now settled in Mumbai. But when they performed, they admitted that they were awed over the liveliness of the Punjabi life. Jatin said he loved Punjabi life so much that if the circumstances would allow he would marry a Punjabi girl, although he is already married. As they say love expressed may be easily turned down, but love demonstrated is irresistible. So did he. He did not just express his love but demonstrated it by singing a song in Punjabi. Though he tried to make it chaste, his difficulties were understood. He was cheered time and again even when he could not sing properly in Punjabi. Luckily he was not jeered at like thousands of people, mostly migratory labourers, who try to speak Punjabi.

(Un) charitable institutions

Never be awed over the charity of the charitable (read uncharitable) institutions. There are umpteen number of institutions which claim to be a charitable institute. In the course they also manage to get good amount of grants from the government while exploiting their (un)charitable name. It is high time that all such charitable institutions, particularly the schools and hospitals, are put under scanner to see whether these were really charitable and in most cases they would prove otherwise.

Publicity hungry

So much have several organisations grown publicity hungry that they do not hesitate to send a press note to newspaper offices for even routine activities. Recently a bank sent a note stating that it had installed a water cooler. The bank did not fail to mention that it was fulfilling its social responsibilities by installing the cooler. Would it not be better if such organisations did a few things without a desire for the media publicity?

SGPC chief & jewellery

It appeared to be a case of going exactly against of what you preach. SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, who is a baptised Sikh, recently inaugurated a jewellery showroom in the city. While Bibi tried to justify her visit by saying that she was not promoting the company’s products and was there only because of a warm invitation she had received, the action invoked criticism from a couple of religious organisations. They emphasised that people, particularly public figures, should at least follow the path they ask others to tread.

Not so cool!

Weather gods are showing an increasing impact not just on agriculture but on industrial sector as well. With temperatures soaring, residents might have found a reason to be happy enough but the cooler industry is not finding it cool enough. The industry, which used to register sharp increase in demand from April itself, is disappointed with weather gods. “During winters it was the hosiery industry that suffered a lot as it was not so cold and this time it is the cooler industry that is in for a tough time it seems because it’s not so hot,” a market observer noted. 

— Sentinel

FDI in banks harmful, say bank employees
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, May 8
The Punjab Bank Employees Federation has condemned the proposals of the Central Government to facilitate the take over of banks by foreign investors. The employees said the proposals were highly retrograde moves and were made without any consultations with the trade unions.

A meeting of the federation employees was held here today under the presidentship of Mr C.H.Venkatachalam, General Secretary, All India Bank Employees Association. The employees said the Finance Minister had made unilateral announcements that government would encourage merger of public sector banks to make them international banks. Employees said these were the policies of the previous NDA/BJP government and now the UPA government was following the same track.These pronouncements of the present government had created deep concern and resentment among the bank employees.

The All-India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) has decided to go for countrywide agitation, if the government proceeded with the policies. The employees said the government was proposing to merge the existing 27 public sector banks into some five or 10 banks. Their proposal was to make the banks international in character but there was no need for this.India’s share in the total global trade was only 0.75 per cent and banks could hardly play any role with this limited scope, said the employees.

Bank employees said the entry of foreign direct investment (FDI) in private banks was harmful. The government had announced that FDI would be upto 74 per cent in the capital of Indian private banks with unrestricted voting rights as against existing 10 per cent ceiling on voting rights. Today there were 29 private sector banks and their total capital was only about Rs 3000 crores but they had total deposits of more than Rs 3 lakh crores. Thus, by investing a meager amount of just Rs 2000 crores, the foreign capital and multinational banks would be in a position to corner and control huge resources and precious savings of the Indian people.

The agitated bank employees further said to facilitate the take over of banks by private corporate and foreign investors, the government was proposing to bring a Bill in the current Parliament Session to amend Section 12 (2) of the Banking Regulations Act, 1949. At present there was a ceiling of 10 per cent on voting rights of shareholders in the banks. The proposal was to remove this ceiling which meant that the private and foreign investors will have unlimited voting rights upto their share holding.Thus, there was a danger of total take-over of the banks and their huge depositors, feel the employees.

The employees demanded that the government should publish the list of the bank loan defaulters and take stern action against them for recovery. They also demanded that the government should not amend the BR Act to provide for total take-over of banks by foreign investors.

The meeting was addressed by Mr N.K.Gaur, Mr Sudesh Kumar, Mr P.R.Mehta and Mr P.L. Syal.

Release of Cong men demanded
Our Correspondent

Raikot (Ahmedgarh), May 8
Congress leaders of the local area staged a dharna in front of the police station yesterday, demanding the release of persons who had been rounded up by the police in connection with the April 27 Bassian fire incident. They accused the police of bowing to the pressure of opposition leaders, including Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, a senior SAD leader.

The Congress party had staged a dharna on Friday also. The Joint Action Committee on the other hand staged a massive dharna in front of the office of the SSP, jagraon, on Friday. Baljit Singh Rangi, former block president of the Youth Congress, along with his henchmen, had allegedly set afire the pesticide shop owned by Mr Ved Parkash Rawal, SAD leader and former sarpanch, on April 27. They had allegedly assaulted Rawal’s son Raj Kamal before sprinkling petrol one the shop and setting it afire.

The police had booked 16 persons and four of them, including Rangi, had been arrested. 

Minister lays stone for memorial gate
Our Correspondent

Amloh, May 8
Mr Jasjeet Singh Randhawa, Minister of Cooperation and Horticulture, Punjab, laid the foundation stone of a gate in memory of late S. Lakha Singh, founder of Lakha Singh Wala village, 3 km from here, today. It will be completed within seven months, he informed.

Flaying the SAD which seeks votes in the name of Panth, he said the party had not planned any scheme for the welfare of the state or country. On the other hand, he said Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, had taken steps to remove stagnation in the development of industry with 19 mega projects.

He said, “Due to scanty rainfall the government had to buy power worth Rs 16,000 crore last year, and even as there seemed to be no such problem this year, the government has reserved Rs 2,400 crore to purchase power from the national grid in case of an emergency”. He said the Vajpayee government had brought VAT in the country but it was the BJP-ruled states now that were reluctant to adopt it. “Our state has implemented VAT in a simplified form after discussions with people concerned, it has removed tax on diesel, pesticides, secticides, agricultural implements, fertilisers, etc. whereas it is being charged at the rate of four per cent in the neighbouring states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh”, the minister maintained.

The rate of interest on loans has been reduced from 14 per cent to 11 per cent, besides 1.5 per cent incentives of lower interest will be given to good pay-masters. The minister and the Deputy Commissioner also released a cassette “Sonya-di-Marrak” of Lakhwinder Singh Passi. Mr S.K. Ahluwalia, Deputy Commissioner, Fatehgarh Sahib, spoke in detail about the progress of various development schemes in the district. Mr S.K. Batish, Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Department, said diesel would be supplied to farmers through six diesel pumps to be allotted in the district to cooperative societies. The first pump has been installed at Khanyan village, and diesel will be supplied at 40 paisa per litre lower than that at other pumps and the remaining profit will be distributed among the society members.

State chief of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, Baldev Singh Miyanpur, pointed out that the farmers were facing no problem in selling their produce during the rule of the Congress Government. 

600 women get relief items
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 8
The Gyan Sthal Mandir here has set a unique example. It has been providing regular monthly relief and ration to over 630 needy women. The moving force behind this mission is Mr Jagdish Bajaj.

Every month the mandir committee holds a function where the needy women are provided ration and relief items. Most of the women also get sewing machines so that they can manage to earn something of their own.

Today the mandir completed 93 months of regular the monthly relief distribution. The Minister of State for Forests, Mr Hans Raj Josan, and the chief of the All-India Anti Terrorist Front, Mr Maninderjit Singh, were special guests at today’s function.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Josan lauded the efforts of the Gyan Sthal Mandir in general and Mr Bajaj in particular for providing relief to the needy and the destitute women. He said even the government was facing a lot of difficulties in distributing the pension to the needy.

Mr Josan announced a grant of Rs 51,000 from his Discretionary Fund. He said Mr Bajaj had set an example that small efforts could generate great results.

Mr Bitta said Mr Bajaj had set an example for others to follow.

“I have never felt short of funds or material to provide the relief to the needy”, Mr Bajaj told The Tribune. He said, as the number of women seeking relief kept on growing, so was the number of donors.

“The fresh applications for relief are thoroughly scrutinised to ensure that no deserving case is left or undeserving person gets the relief,” he added. 

Orientation camp for women
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 8
The Sandaur branch of the State Bank of India organised an orientation camp for the women registered with self-help groups working in this area. Besides giving the volunteers tips on their respective projects, the technical staff of the bank provided know how in the subject.

Addressing the volunteers, Mr A.S. Anand and Mr Santokh Singh, senior manager and field officer, respectively, called upon the self-help group members to make optimum utilization of the funds and loans received from the bank. They further held that the subsidy granted should be taken as a part of profit.

“It is rather a cushion provided by the government so that the entrepreneur might manage his or her routine affairs during the incubation period when the profits would either be negligible or required to ploughed in the project,” argued the officers. 

Jassa Singh Ahluwalia’s birthday celebrated
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 8
The 287th birthday of Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia was celebrated at Ahluwalia Bhavan, here today. Kirtan was recited on the occasion. The life and history of Maharaja was described by the President of Sabha, Mr Yadwinder Singh to the Sangat.

They were explained how the Nawab became Sultan-UI-Quam after conquering Lahore and was declared Badshah after his victory over Delhi and he was crowned at the Dewan-e-aam of Red Fort. He became the founder of Sikh Raj and Architect of Sikh misls.

BUSINESS

Bicycle exporters flay new duty rates
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 8
Exporters of bicycles and bicycle parts have condemned the new duty drawback rates announced by the government in a public notice. Mr Rajinder Jindal, president, Engineering Exporters Association of India, and Mr Satish Dhanda, chairman, Bicycle Panel of Engineering Export Promotion Council, said in spite of the fact that steel prices had increased by more than 10 per cent and excise duty on steel had also been increased from 12 per cent to 16 per cent, the drawback department of the government has introduced new duty drawback rates with a cap of 8 per cent of FOB instead of the previously applicable quantity based rates.

“These rates do not cover even the incidence of excise duty suffered on a particular product,” said Mr Dhanda, adding, “the new rates are arbitrary, unmeaningful and faulty. In some cases these rates have not been increased at all in spite of a major increase in steel prices and excise duty on steel.”

The association said over 100 Indian companies participating in a trade fair to be held in China this month were expecting a large number of orders. “But with this decision we are likely to lose orders that we were expecting to the tune of over Rs 500 crore,” said Mr Jindal.

The Engineering Exporters Association of India and the Engineering Export Promotion Council have also sent a representation to the Joint Secretary demanding a review of the matter.

Traders unhappy over tax credit provision
Shveta Pathak
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 8
Trade and industry here has demanded input tax credit under the value added tax (VAT) to be given in the first quarter itself. “Currently, if a dealer holds a certain stock on March 31, 2005, he starts getting the input tax credit not from the April to June quarter but from July onwards. Even after that, the amount of credit he gets is one-fourth of the total amount per quarter,” said a tax consultant here.

Industrialists say this particular provision is not only creating a lot of confusion but is also blocking a large sums of money leading to problems in conducting transactions.

“If we are to get input tax credit, what is the problem in giving it in the first quarter itself,” a trader questioned adding that, “The entire tax credit needs to be given at once.”

Traders say that instead of simplification, this system is adding to their problems.

Owing to this problem and due to lack of clarity in tax rates that prevailed till last month, a large number of traders did not issue invoices for transactions.

“A lot of confusion prevailed over tax rates of various items. We were not clear whether the rate of tax on a certain item has reduced, increased or remained the same,” a dealer said.