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Woman attempts suicide
with two kids
Ludhiana, June 28 The woman later identified as Murati was the wife of a labourer Shankar. She was unconscious till the evening. Her minor daughter was safe and had escaped miraculously without any injuries. The woman was also not hit by the train but had fallen on the stones when pushed away by her rescuers. She is still unaware that she had lost her son in the bargain. Her husband Shankar has claimed before the police that she was mentally unstable for the past few weeks. He said she had earlier also tried to end her life. He was upset more that the woman had included the children in the suicide pact this time. The Government Railway Police has conducted proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC so far. Sources said the woman could be booked for suicide attempt and even the murder of the child if her husband or other family members pressed for charges. Despite blaming the woman for all the problems in his life and the tragic death of his only son, Shankar had declined to make any police complaint against her. According to police sources, some residents of the New Kartar Nagar spotted the woman sitting on the railway track with two children in her lap. They raised the alarm as Dadar Express train was approaching. The rescuers, including mostly youths, pushed the woman at the eleventh hour. However, they could not save the boy as he fell on the tracks and was crushed. The woman and her minor daughter were saved. The Dadar Express train was held up at the spot for about 15 minutes . Sources said the driver of the train had seen the woman from a distance and had applied brakes but could not prevent the crushing of the minor |
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Trucks
stay off the roads
Ludhiana, June 28 The memorandum signed by Mr Bhupinder Singh Pandher and Mr Charan Singh Lohara, president and chairman of the association, respectively, listed various problems the transporters were facing. Appealing to the minister to provide relief from various additional taxes on petroleum products, the memorandum said, “Undoubtedly the international oil prices are not in your hand but the other duties like cess, excise and sales tax can be controlled to lower side”. It said the price hike came as a severe shock to the transporters and the farmers who were the backbone of the economy and the Central Government should take into consideration the direct impact of the sudden rise of prices of petrol and diesel on the economy. “Instead of providing any succour and relief, the government polices have crippled the economy”, it added. The transporters demanded that the prices of petrol and diesel be streamlined keeping in view the problems faced by them. The transporters also raised the issue of toll tax terming it a draconian measure. They asserted that the imposition of toll tax was a harsh measure adopted by the government to squeeze every single drop of blood from the transporters. It was the need of the hour that the government should abolish the toll tax immediately so that the dwindling profits of the transporters were arrested. The transporters demanded strict check on the quality control of petrol and diesel. They alleged that the black marketers in order to mint money at the cost of the masses were often found mixing kerosene oil with diesel which could damage to the engines”. They also alleged that the petrol dealers were manipulating the measures and were providing less petrol by way of the manipulations. They demanded strict action against such manipulators. The auto rickshaw drivers also staged a protest demonstration against the hike in the petroleum prices. However, most of the autos were on the roads after the protest demonstration. |
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Police
informer assaulted
Jagraon, June 28 One and half year ago, he had helped the police nab a gang of “kale kachhewale”, involved in robberies and murders. One of the gang members, Bholu, had recently been released on bail and held grudge against Raju. Similarly, Raju had informed about Sony, daughter of Darshan Singh, who owned a beauty parlour but also allegedly ran a flesh trading racket in connivance with Habbi, a local resident, to the police. The persons, including Sony, conspired against Raju and they along with two unidentified persons attacked Raju, causing him injuries. The police has registered a case under Sections 324, 323, 34 and 120 B IPC against the six and started investigation.
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Faulty
sewerage: lakhs down the drain
Araichan, June 28 After struggling for 12 long years, as many as 3000 residents of Araichan and Malhipur villages had finally succeeded in moving the authorities, six months ago, to lay the sewerage in the area. Coming back to square one, the residents are again forced to live amidst a lake of sewer water and without potable water as the discharge has flooded the tubewell pumping drinking water for supply. The sewerage had started working some days ago only and the residents were literally jumping with joy at the fact that they would finally be living in clean environs where they would be able to breathe clean air. But their joy was shortlived when the sewerage soon developed a problem and filled their roads and parts of colony with contaminated water. A visit to the area today revealed that dirty water was flowing in the open and the MC authorities were not able to understand what went wrong with the system. A playground of children was flooded with water besides the tubewell and water tank supplying drinking water. The water was threatening to flood a newly constructed temple in the village causing resentment among villagers. Pungent smell was making it impossible for anybody to stand in the area without covering one’s nose. Mr S.P. Sood, Senior Vice President and acting president of MC, Doraha, when contacted, said that he was away to Mussoorie and did not know anything about the problem. He added that he had left the town three days and till then everything was alright. He directed TNS to talk to the Executive Officer. He, however, could not be contacted. Mr Sukhwinder Singh, a member of Mohalla Sudhar Committee said there was a problem with the diametre of pipes laid for drainage. He added that the diameter of the already existing system and newly laid system did not match and the result was visible to everybody.‘‘
They spent Rs 15 lakh on this project which seems to be a failure. If they do not find a solution to the problem we will be forced to agitate, ’’ he said. Mr Darshan Singh Panesar, vice chairman of the committee, said in view of the ensuing monsoon they were reeling under the fear of water borne diseases. He added that mosquitoes were also breeding fast in the water. For the past 12 years, these The residents are claiming that while many among them have already fallen prey to water-borne diseases a number of times, the rest are apprehending an outbreak of diseases. As many as 20 acres of two villages, including Malhipur and Araichan, Araichan Colony and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, are under sewer discharge. The situation is likely to worsen in the monsoons.
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Panthic, political parties to meet on July 2
Ludhiana, June 28 Mr D.S. Gill, chairperson of the International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO), said the meeting had been convened after consulting representatives of the SAD (1920), SAD (Longowal), Shiromani Khalsa Dal (SKD), SSF, Dal Khalsa, Khalsa Panchayat, all human rights groups and BKUs, Damdami Taksal, and DSGMC president Paramjit Singh Sarna, SGPC member Karnail Singh Panjoli, Manjit Singh Calcutta, Jathedar Sukhdev Singh Bhaur and SAD (A) general secretary Charan Singh Lohara, He added that all those, who have respect for human rights and dignity of the people, had felt the need to counter the political onslaught let loose by the state police, which had resulted in hundreds of arrests, torture, disappearances of persons and their false implication in criminal cases. “A few of them may be involved in some criminal acts, but hundreds others have been harassed, nabbed and tortured only because they had any proximity with Hawara or his relations,” they said. These innocent persons and Sikh leaders, such as SAD(A) president Simranjit Singh Mann and Dal Khalsa leaders, had been booked in false cases to create terror in the minds of people in the state and elsewhere, they said. All these matters would be discussed at the meeting and efforts would be made to devise ways and means to counter the sinister political designs of the government and others who are bent upon to disturb peace in Punjab just to gain political mileage, they said.
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Left protests against
oil price hike
Ludhiana, June 28 The two Left organisations also took out a protest march in which hundreds of activists participated. They raised slogans against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre, although both the parties are supporting it. The protesters, who included the district secretaries of the CPI and CPM, Dr Arun Mitra and Mr Sukhminder Singh, respectively, alleged that the UPA government, in general, and the Petroleum Minister, in particular, were ignoring the interests of the common man. The leftist leaders pointed out that during the last one year the hike in the petroleum prices was quite substantial and it was hitting hard the common man. They warned the government against such policies as these could have severe repercussions.
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BSNL staff oppose FDI hike
Ludhiana, June 28 The third circle conference of the union, which concluded at Punjabi Bhawan here today, further asked the Congress-led UPA government to immediately reverse the policy of disinvestment in profit-making public sector undertakings like BSNL and BHEL. The conference was attended by more than 250 delegates and around 100 observers from the region. Giving more details of the deliberations, Mr Balbir Singh, circle secretary, informed that through other resolutions, the union asked the BSNL to streamline its working so as to provide efficient service with latest technology at affordable rates to the people. It was impressed upon the BSNL management to impart intensive training to the members of the staff and apprise them with latest technological advances in the telecom sector in order to effectively meet the challenges posed by the private sector. Focusing on pending demands of the BSNL employees, various speakers asked the central leadership to launch decisive struggle against the management for the settlement of long-pending demands of non-executive employees of the BSNL. Prominent speakers at the conference were Mr V.A.N. Namboodrpaid, national general secretary, Mr H.L. Markan, president, northern region, Mr H.S. Dhillon, Mr R.L. Moudgil, circle president and Mr Balwinder Singh, district secretary of the union. Earlier, Mr R.L. Moudgil and Mr Balbir Singh were re-elected president and secretary of the circle unit for a two-year term for third time in succession.
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Girl awaits good Samaritans
Ludhiana, June 28 A suitable donor for kidney transplant was sought and her mother volunteered to donate one of her kidneys. The financial condition of her family, with the father a truck driver and her mother unemployed, rendered the life saving but expensive transplant surgery, beyond their reach. In response to a newspaper story about her condition, several people donated generously from India and abroad and Gurdeep was able to have a renal transplant in February this year. According to Dr Basant Pawar, Professor and Head, Department of Nephrology at the
CMCH, Gurdeep had one instance of acute rejection after renal transplant, which responded to treatment. Unfortunately, she had to be placed on stronger medicines to prevent any further rejection which entailed a monthly expense ranging between Rs 15000 and Rs 20,000. As Gurdeep and her family cannot afford the cost of treatment, the CMCH management has made an appeal to kind hearted and generous people to come to the rescue of this young girl. All those who wish to help this family and the young recipient of kidney, can send their cheques or demand drafts, made in favour of ‘CMC, Ludhiana Society’ for the treatment of Gurdeep Kaur, to Dr Basant Pawar, Head, Department of Nephrology, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana-141008. All financial assistance will be duly acknowledged.
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Master Tara Singh’s birth anniversary
Ludhiana, June 28 Among the prominent Akali and Congress leaders, who would be attending the function are Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Captain Kanwaljit Singh, Mr Amarjit Singh Chawla, Jathedar Hira Singh Gabria and Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur A host of famous raagis and dhadis including Bhai Guriqbal Singh, Bhai Narain Singh Chandan, Bhai Avtar Singh Taari, Bhai Joginder Singh and radio artist Rachhpal Singh Pal will also be attending the function.
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Scribes to fight yellow journalism
Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 28 Members of Journalists Association of Payal, Doraha,
Malaudh, Karamsar, Sudhar, Jodhan, Pakhowal, Dehlon, Kup Kalan, Raikot and the town resolved to start a coordinated effort to combat yellow journalism and exploitation of mediapersons by a section of politicians. “A few black sheep, working under the banner of journalism, have maligned the image of the profession, which had since been known as the fourth pillar of democracy,” remarked Ravinder Puri, president of the local unit of journalists. It was observed that a section of politicians had been exploiting the media by using their clout in the managements of some of the newspapers. Dilbagh Singh Chapra from Payal alleged that some political leaders had been forcing reporters to publish their statements, which might prove detrimental to the stability of society.
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Woman’s death: hospital owner told to join probe
Raikot, June 28 Her body had been recovered from a deserted place near Fridpur Kalan village on June 10. Sources at the Malerkotla police station revealed that the ambulance belonging to private hospital situated on Barnala road here had been impounded allegedly for shifting the woman to Ludhiana and concealing the facts about throwing her body when she died on the way. The body of Paramjeet Kaur of Changli village near Malerkotla was found at Faridpur Kalan village on June 10 and the situation became tense when her husband, Mr Maghar Singh, of Changli village and her mother, Nifa, wife of Bashir Khan, a resident of Ludhiana, had reached Civil Hospital, Malerkotla, for taking possession of the body. After hearing both the sides, the police had handed over the body to the mother. Mr Maghar Singh and Paramjeet Kaur, a resident of Ludhiana, were married about six years ago. Before the marriage, Paramjeet Kaur’s name was Surya Begum as she was a Muslim but after that she reportedly adopted the Sikh religion. The Malerkotla police later registered a case on the statement of Ms Babli of Dugni village near Dhuri, a sister of the deceased, against Harbans Singh of Shehbaz Pura village, Daljit Singh of Raikot and Bhura Singh of Johlan for allegedly abetting the suicide. Referring to information received from her sister on the telephone a day prior to her death, Babli had stated before the police that the accused had been exploiting her physically to satisfy their sexual desire. “I am going to them today to take my ultimate decision to end my life rather than dying daily,” the deceased had said to her sister. Preliminary investigations revealed that the trio was blackmailing the deceased who consumed some poisonous substance to end
her life. The accused took her in an unconscious condition to the said hospital here from where she was referred to Ludhiana. Though the hospital authorities should have reported the matter to the police before starting the treatment, they did not do so and facilitated the shifting of the patient in a serious condition allegedly in their ambulance. Paramjit Kaur died on the way and the accused threw her body near Faridpur Kalan village. Interestingly the paramedical staff accompanying the patient forgot to remove the urinary catheter that created suspicion and made the police think that she had died due to negligence of some medical staff. Mr Harjinder Pal Singh, SHO Malerkotla, said he had called the owner of the hospital to join investigations but he was not cooperating. “We will be left with no alternative than proceeding against him according to law,” remarked Mr Singh.
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Labourer’s body found in tank
Jagraon, June 28 Surjit Singh apparently drowned after he slipped into the tank. The police brought the body to the local Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination and later handed it over to his family. The police has registered a case under Section 174 of the CrPC.
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School employee crushed to death
Jagraon, June 28 
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Man stabbed by son, hurt
Ludhiana, June 28
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Industry moving out of Punjab
Ludhiana, June 28 The chamber of industrial and commercial undertakings has sent on SOS to the Punjab Chief Minister through the Punjab Pradesh Congress chief expressing its serious concern over the plight of the industry. Mr Inderjit Singh Pradhan, president and Mr Avtar Singh, general secretary of the chamber, said today that the engineering industries in particular were in bad shape. The steel furnace units were also moving out of Punjab and a number of local industrialists had set up their units in Himachal Pradesh at Baddi and adjoining towns of that state. Mr Avtar Singh said the chamber had drawn the attention of the Chief Minister towards the labour problem which the industry had been facing in Ludhiana during the past two years and had sought a permanent settlement of the same. The settlement was not helping the industry at all, he said. He disclosed that a leading bicycle parts manufacturing unit was shifting out of Punjab because of the labour trouble only. The chamber has expressed its serious concern over the steep hike in the power tariff. Punjab had very costly power supply where as the same was available quite cheap in Himachal Pradesh. There was almost half the difference in the price of power. Moreover, it was available in abundance. Further, the union Government had extended other concessions like the exemption of central excise and income tax and other local state taxes. Besides, engineering and steel units, a number of hosiery units have also shifted to Baddi in Himachal Pardesh. The chamber in a letter to the Chairman, Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission, has also pointed out that the Punjab State Electricity Board had failed to implement its directions whereas the industry was being subjected to all revised and hike power tariff . The chamber has urged the regulatory commission to stay the implementation of the new power tariff and it should be implemented simultaneously alongwith its directions to the PSEB. When the PSEB was not ready to implement its directions, why the industry was being forced to pay the revised and hiked power tariff. According to Mr Avtar Singh, the chamber would file and appeal against the present hike of power tariff to the central tribunal of the central regulatory commission for the electricity. Mr Avtar Singh disclosed that the chamber had filed a PIL in 2003 against the power tariff hike and the verdict was in favour of the industry. But the PSEB went in appeal against the same in the Supreme Court and the hearing had not taken place as yet. In the meantime the second revision had taken place. Industrialists in Punjab are also sore that the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, has not given a personal hearing to the problems of the industry. Mr Inderjit Singh and Mr Avtar Singh emphasised that the industry was on its last legs and if no immediate remedial measures were taken, the same would collapse.
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