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HC quashes reauction of liquor shops
Chandigarh, November 10 The re-auction was conducted pursuant to the orders of the high court on Mr Bhandari’s petition. Disposing of the petition filed by Mr Bhandari, challenging the re-auction, a Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Mr Justice D.K. Jain and Mr Justice Hemant Gupta, also held that re-auction was conducted in violation of Punjab Liquor Licence Rules, 1956. The petitioner had alleged that the re-auction was conducted in an illegal manner to benefit firms of Mr Ponty Chadha at the cost of the state exchequer. During hearing, petitioner’s counsel Mohan Jain had said the exchequer suffered a loss of Rs 11.78 crore in the process. He had alleged that the re-auction was conducted by changing the reserve price arbitrarily in contravention of the liquor rules. Mr Jain had stated that once the reserve price for the full year had been fixed at Rs 102 per bottle, the government had no power to revise the price, more so when the petitioner had made a higher bid and also deposited Rs 6.07 crore that was 5 per cent security deposit for the full year. He added that the Excise Department lowered the reserve price to Rs 75 per bottle so that the bidders, who belonged to the Chadha group, could take advantage. After the re-auction, he said, the authorities announced a loss of Rs 17.79 crore and later claimed improvement by reducing the loss to Rs 11.78 crore through negotiations with the successful bidders. He also claimed that even top government officers, including Chief Secretary J.S. Gill and Finance Secretary K.R. Lakhanpal, had objected to the confirmation of the re-auction. In its order, the Bench held that since the re-auction had been conducted in breach of rules, whereby the government had not even fixed the minimum licence fee, it would be open to the government to take appropriate action against the officers who failed to carry out the mandate of liquor rules and to safeguard the interests of the state. The Bench said since the action of the respondents in conducting the re-auction not in accordance with the rules, the petitioner could not be forced to make good the loss suffered in re-auction. “We direct that Rs 6.07 crore lying in deposit in pursuance of the orders passed by this court earlier be remitted to the petitioner along with accrued interest thereon,” it ordered.
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Amarinder plans to storm Badal’s bastion
Chandigarh, November 10 On the Chief Minister’s directions, three senior ministers have been deputed to mobilise people for holding the largest possible political rally at Lambi, from where Mr Badal was elected last time. Lambi is located near Badal village, the native place of the SAD chief and his son, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is also being projected as the next Chief Minister. In a way, Capt Amarinder Singh will sound his party’s bugle for the next Assembly elections from Lambi. The rally is obviously a part of the Chief Minister’s strategy to convey to Mr Badal and his son in clear terms that he (Chief Minister) is fully prepared for the next electoral battle with the Akalis. The second objective of the rally seems to be to enhance further pressure on Mr Badal by engaging him in a multi-pronged electoral battle. Already Capt Amarinder Singh has started increasing pressure on Mr Badal by repeatedly asking him to hold debates with him in the Assembly on issues such as development, law and order and corruption. Earlier, the late Beant Singh had held such a rally at Tohra village to attack the then SGPC supremo Gurcharan Singh Tohra. Using the same strategy, the Congress now wanted to rattle Mr Badal by holding rally virtually at his doorstep. Mr Shiv Kanwar Singh Sandhu, who is expected to be projected as the Congress candidate against Mr Badal in the next Assembly elections, said today that earlier the rally was to be held on November 14, but now it would be held on November 17. Mr Sandhu belongs to Gursar Jodhe-ke village in the Lambi constituency. Besides, Capt Amarinder Singh, the Defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, the General Secretary of the AICC, Ms Ambika Soni, the Punjab Pradesh Congress President, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, would be among the main speakers at the rally. Sources said Mr Avtar Henry, Mr Jasjit Singh Randhawa and Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, all three Cabinet ministers, had been given the task to mobilise people for the rally. Local leaders such as Mr Gursant Singh Brar, Mr Nathu Ram, MLA from Malout and Mr Sant Singh Brar have been asked to extend all required support to the ministers in this regard.
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Dullo rules out poll pact
Sangrur, November 10 This was stated by Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), to mediapersons today at a marriage palace here where he arrived to meet workers of five Assembly constituencies, Malerkotla, Sunam, Lehragaga, Dirba and Sangrur, of the district. Factionalism among party leaders and workers was also seen at the marriage palace as they had come in different groups with their leaders to meet Mr Dullo. Workers and leaders of different Assembly constituencies also complained to Mr Dullo against rival groups. Mr Dullo also said party ticket for Assembly elections would be allotted on the basis of performance of the MLAs of the party. Besides, choice of the party workers and voters would also be considered at the time of allotment of party ticket. He said he had come here to know from party workers about the performance of Congress MLAs and officers attitude towards Congress workers. Besides, he also wanted to know about the steps, helpful in strengthening the party, he added. On restructuring of the PPCC, Mr Dullo said he would send a panel of office-bearers to the Congress high command for the restructuring of the PPCC after getting feed-back from workers and completion of his tour of the state. He said in his panel, he would provide an opportunity to the senior and experienced leaders, besides the party workers and leaders, who worked hard for the party. Regarding the setting up of a nuclear power plant in the state, Mr Dullo said it was his personal view that the state should have a nuclear power plant, but as the Chief Minister had stated that it was not viable in view of the security of the state, so he also thought now on the same lines. He also said the Congress party would also constitute village development committees in villages and all development works would be done through these committees. Earlier, Mr Dullo addressed Congress workers in the palace. Ms Razia Sultana, MLA from Malerkotla; Mr Malkiat Singh Dakha, MLA; Mr Kewal Singh Dhillon, vice-president of the PPCC; Mr Ram Lal Dhapai and Mr Gurkeerat Singh Kotli, general secretary and secretary, respectively, of the PPCC; Mr Gurcharan Singh Dirba, former Punjab Minister; and Ms Sonia Deepa Arora from Sunam were present at the meeting. However, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Mr Arvind Khanna, MLA from Lehragaga and Sangrur respectively were not present. Mr Dullo said Ms Bhattal was busy in the marriage of her son, while Mr Khanna was out of station. Mr Dullo asked the workers to tell him on his mobile phone if any officer refused to do their genuine work. He said action would be taken against all the officers who would not do genuine works of the Congress workers. However, he asked the workers not to go to the officers with ‘wrong’ works. He said due regard would be given to workers at all levels.
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Father Mark case: Sinha ready to face any probe
Chandigarh, November 10 In the affidavit, Mr Sinha, who is now Financial Commissioner (Cooperation), stated that: “Since the petitioners allege that I am a high-ranking official and I am influencing the police not to investigate me or respondent number 5, I state that I have no objection to being investigated by any agency, this court is pleased to order in this case.” The main petitioner in this case is the diocese of Jalandhar. Father Mark Barnes died on February 15, 2005. The main allegation levelled against Mr Sinha in the petition is that he had colluded with Ms Anne Wakeling, a sister of the Father, and he had misused his official position to assist her in burying Mark Barnes on the premises of St Mary’s School, Gumtala, a suburb of Amritsar. The school is in the possession of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar. Mr Sinha has denied through the affidavit that he had played any role in his burial. “I knew Father Mark Barnes during his lifetime, however, I had no knowledge of any controversy raised over the issue of his burial. I was told on my arrival that this burial would take place on February 16 because his sister was expected to arrive on that day.” “I had never met Father’s family or his sister previously. I met her for the first time at the mortuary of Escort Hospital, Amritsar, where his body was kept and introduced myself to her as a friend who had come to be present at his burial considering it as my moral and social duty.” “I had not made or ordered any arrangement to be made for his burial. All arrangements had been made prior to my arrival,” Mr Sinha stated.
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Two Pakistani nationals held
Jalandhar, November 10 The persons are accused of not only illegally staying in the country but also for espionage by collecting vital information relating to military and other institutions of strategic importance. The two were today remanded to police custody up to November 20. The two have been booked under sections 471 A, 120 B of the IPC and section 3 and 4 of the Official Secrets Act. One of the accused Khurram Shehzad Ali alias Junaid Alam resident of Okara Pakistan, was arrested near the Military Hospital in the Cantt area. The other identified as Ali Mohammed Iqbal alias Qasim Mata alias Mohammed Saqlain resident of Islamabad was arrested from the Rama Mandi Chowk today. Shehzad Ali had come to the country on pretext of watching the India-Pakistan cricket match held at Mohali, six months back but did not return to Pakistan. The police claim that he has confessed to having been collecting information of strategic importance while living in India. Ali Mohammed Iqbal had been living in the country for the past 2 years and had been gathering and passing information of military importance. The police was recovered a camera, army maps, railway and bus tickets, cash receipts, and even driving licence from the two Pakistan spies. In another revelation the police said the investigations had found that the two had been receiving financial help from their connections in Pakistan as the police has recovered receipts from their possession. The receipts show that Khurram had received sum of Rs 10,100 and Ali Mohammed had collected Rs 18,562 through the Western Union. The police here said the money was routed through Dubai. The police sources say that Khurram had began living away from other Pakistani nationals who sneaked into India and was living at the Shaheed Udham Singh
Nagar. He posed as someone running a marketing company called M/S Samurai Marketing, which was dealing in trading water purifiers, which is an international brand. A bus ticket revealed that he had traveled from Jalandhar to Amritsar. Mohammed Ali had gone from Pakistan to Nepal two years back where the police say he married a local woman. He later sneaked into India and began living at the Abadpur area a locality in the city. A railway ticket was recovered from him which showed that he had travelled from Saharanpur to
Jalanadhar. The two accused used the internet to transmit the information collected.
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Bikaner-Bathinda train derails, close shave for passengers
Bathinda, November 10 No loss of life and injuries has been reported so far. According to sources, the mishap took place when the passenger train reached near Lohgarh village, 15 km from Dabwali, at 4.55 am. Sources said while the engine and two coaches passed off smoothly, seven bogies following them derailed damaging badly a stretch of railway track. Luckily, the derailed coaches stuck to the track, as there was gorge on both its sides and had the coaches rolled further the consequences would have been disastrous. The sources said another chance of a major tragedy was averted, as the derailment took place just 200 metres ahead of Indira Canal. The mishap had disrupted rail traffic, as the track was yet to be restored. Trains were now passing through an alternative route. The exact cause behind the accident was not yet known. When contacted, the station master of Bathinda, Mr DK Singh, said an accident relief train was immediately rushed to the spot, but no injuries were reported at the mishap site.
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Petrol stations eating into forest cover
Jalandhar, November 10 Interestingly, tree felling to pave way for exit and entry points to a number of outlets is being done even before the forest and district administration authorities are approached for the mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC). The Norms, fixed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in the list of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, specify that the minimum distance between two fuel stations, on each side of the road, should not be less than 5 km on highways or outside city limits. In a number of cases, this norm is violated. The most favoured modus operandi, in felling trees is cut these in connivance with forest officials and then to make a labourer own responsibility and deposit the meagre fine with the forest authorities. Official sources point that the largest number of trees were felled for setting up petrol outlets between 2003 and the first half of the current year. According to Mr J.P. Khanna, president of the Punjab Petroleum Dealers’ Association and chairman of the All-India Federation of Petroleum Traders, there were 936 petrol outlets in Punjab in 2003. The number jumped to about 1,400 last month. The installation of nearly 500 petrol stations is in the pipeline, while 500 outlets in the state are near completion. Since on an average, exit and entry points to a petrol station claims six full grown trees, it means that more than 2,500 trees, as per estimates of forest officials, have been wiped out. Another 6,000 are to be felled. This is a huge loss to green cover in Punjab, known for its lowest forest cover as compared to other states. A number of petrol stations are coming up in Doaba area in alleged violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, which specifies that the minimum distance between two fuel stations should not be less than 5 km. This condition, however, does not apply if no tree felling is involved. On the Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar-Balachaur, Jalandhar-Moga and Jalandhar-Kartarpur roads, some petrol stations have come up less than 5 km from each other.
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Juice processing plants to give boost to horticulture in Punjab
Chandigarh, November 10 The processing plants to be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 35 crore each will have grading, waxing and packing facilities and offer to buy small size/non-table quality fruits from farmers at reasonable prices. To enhance capacity utilisation, these plants will have additional facilities to process non-citrus fruits like tomatoes, carrots, papaya, apples, musk melon, plums, peach, guavas etc. These plants with a crushing capacity of 20 tons per hour would be commissioned with a year The Managing Director of PAGREXCO, Mr Himmat Singh, told TNS that these multi-purpose plants would be one-of-its kind in the country since they would be capable of processing a wide range of fruits and vegetables one after the other. The setting up of these plants will provide a major boost to horticulture in Punjab since farmers will not have a problem of excess production for they will now be able to sell the same at fixed rates to these plants for processing of concentrates, he said. Mr Himmat Singh pointed out that today even the leading juice manufacturers in the country imported orange juice concentrate and pay high freights and duties. But once these plants started functioning, these would be made available locally, thereby benefitting the juice manufacturers. While the investments in these plants will be made by the state government, the plants will be owned by PAGREXCO, Pepsi will bring in the know-how through Tropicana to meet the world class standards. Mr Celso Bedogni, Sales Manager, Rossi and Catelli, said cold extraction would be done to process tomatoes, fruits and vegetables to obtain diced and concentrated products, clear juices, ketchups and hot sauces etc.
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To hang or not to hang
Ludhiana, November 10 The issue of abolition of death penalty came into sharp focus when the President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, using his discretionary powers under Section 72 of the IPC, asked the Home Ministry to take a sympathetic and comprehensive view about all aspects of capital punishment. A number of clemency appeals are pending with the President, including that of Devinder Singh Bhullar, whose death sentence has been upheld by the Supreme Court. Devinder Singh Bhullar has been convicted for the killing of CRPF personnel during an attack on Maninderjit Singh Bitta. He is on the death row. Also on the death row are LTTE cadres convicted for the conspiracy and murder of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. While the issue is being debated in public, Mohammade Afzal, a Kashmiri militant, was sentenced to death in the Parliament attack case. Significantly the judiciary is vertically divided on the issue. The outgoing Chief Justice of India, Justice R C Lahoti, on the day of his quitting office upheld the need for death sentence particularly in cases of terrorism. The incumbent Chief Justice, Justice Y K Sabharwal, categorically stated that he was against capital punishment. At the same time both of them maintained that these were their personal opinions and not of the Supreme Court. A new organisation known as Sikhs against Death Penalty has been formed by some human rights activists and this organisation has launched a signature campaign against death penalty. Prof Jagmohan Singh, a spokeman of the Sikhs against Death Penalty, told The Tribune today that there were around 35 persons who were on death row all over the country and out of them 11 were in Punjab. In an appeal to the President of India, the Sikhs Against Death Penalty has urged him to order commutation of all death sentences by securing abolition of the death penalty, by ratifying the second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and by furthering and supporting initiatives in this direction by various African unions and the United Nations. Prof Jagmohan Singh further said that Amnesty International and other world organisations had conclusively held that there was no direct link between commitment of the crime and use of capital punishment. As many as 86 countries had abolished capital punishment and it was time for India to join the ranks of these countries. Asked how henious crimes like rape and murder would be checked by abolishing the death penalty Prof Jagmohan Singh maintained that India should follow the example of the USA where the culprits of such crimes were sentenced to 200 years imprisonment and no clemency was shown. Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the Akali Dal (Amritsar) has also written to the President, Dr Kalam, urging him for abolition of death penalty. Mr Mann has made a mention of those who had been hanged in the recent past and observed: “I am grateful to you for your just, clean and constructive mind. The Bible says: “Be not be overcome of evil but overcome evil with good. Your thoughts and actions are in accordance with the teachings of great religions. Had your government heeded your advice on the dissolution of the Bihar Assembly it would not have landed itself in such a constitutional embarrassment. To my mind judicial murders of persons and executive terminations of democratically elected assemblies are no longer acceptable to the people. We must model ourselves on Europe where the judiciary cannot kill any person nor can the executive dissolve any federating unit. By your actions in recent time I can see you taking us right there”. On the other hand, there are the death row in Amritsar jail. The family members of those killed by these persons on the death row have publicly stated that they want the killers to be hanged. They have also announced their intention of meeting the President to plead for their hanging.
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Rajni’s death — accident or murder?
Barnala, November 10 In a complaint to the Station House Officer, Maur Mandi Police Station in Bathinda district, Mr Rameshwar Dass father of Rajni has alleged that Krishan Kumar, his son-in-law and driver Kaala had killed
Rajni. Copies of the complaint have been sent to the DGP Punjab, IG Punjab Police (Crime) Chandigarh, IG Police
Bathinda, DIG Police Faridkot Range at Bathinda, Deputy Commissioner Bathinda and SSP
Bathinda. Mr Rameshwar Dass said Rajni (40) married to Krishan Kumar of Mansa now residing in Bhaini Jassa village 19 years ago. His son-in-law and his parents following loss in business used to beat Rajni who ran a school Guru Gobind Singh Model School in Bhaini
Jassa. She had two sons — one a student of XI class and other of X class. He revealed many a time the panchayat and relatives brokered compromises between the two
families. Rajni’s father said by hatching a conspiracy, Krishan Kumar and car driver Kaala murdered his daughter. Krishan Kumar on November 1 at 3 a.m. took Rajni in Maruti car
(DDU 2150) driven by Kaala. After killing her he passed it as an accident. Then summoning another vehicle Krishan Kumar took the body of Rajni to Bhaini Jassa village. He further added Krishan Kumar sent a message informing them about the death of Rajni in a car accident. Rajni’s father said they rushed to Bhaini Jassa and they found cremation of Rajni’s body was in progress. He alleged they destroyed the evidence by cremating her. Cremation was done without waiting for the parents of the deceased.
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NHRC blames cops for inaction in dowry case
Abohar, November 10 The council blamed the sub-divisional police for shielding the in-laws. Mr J.S. Mattu, chairman of the council, said at a press conference here yesterday that Jagwinder was married to the son of an employee in the Revenue Department here on March 6. Her in-laws wanted more dowry. So they started torturing Jagwinder, physically and mentally. She was finally expelled from the house on June 13. Exhibiting several papers at the press conference, Mr Mattu regretted that the district civil and police officers did not respond to her complaints because the father-in-law was a state government employee. The complaints were serious as Jagwinder had alleged that her father-in-law had raped her as a coercive measure many a time. She later approached the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC). Mr V.K. Sibbal and Mr N.K. Arora of the PSHRC directed the DIG, Ferozepore Range, to investigate and submit a report by October 21. According to Mr Mattu, an inquiry was conducted by the local DSP who summoned the complainant to his office repeatedly, only to humiliate by calling Jagwinder a “characterless girl”. No action was initiated against the in-laws. Mr Mattu said the council was determined in its fight for the rights of such women.
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Bank employees observe strike
Patiala, November 10 The strike, which was observed in nearly 400 branches across Punjab and Chandigarh, affected banking services and work at clearing houses conducted by the SBOP remained paralysed throughout the day. Mr N.K Gaur, general secretary of the All-India State Bank of Patiala Employees Federation, said the bank’s management had no faith in bipartism and the management was unilaterally implementing decisions in complete violation of the bipartite and other agreements which were earlier reached with the bank’s management. Mr S.K. Gautam, general secretary of the State Bank of Patiala Employees Union (Punjab unit), while addressing the gathering, urged the management to immediately withdraw single-window operators’ powers and also said that the management should stop the illegal reduction of wages of single-window operators. He added that employees were asked to conduct marketing, accept cash without counting under cash administration cell in violation of the bipartite provisions. Jalandhar: In protest against the polices of management, employees of the State Bank of Patiala of the state today observed strike on the call given by the All-India State Bank of Patiala Employee Federation. Mr R.K. Jain, Assistant Secretary of the federation, demanded increase in wages of single-window operators, abolition of marketing systems and currency administration cell and lifting of ban on recruitment. SANGRUR: All employees of the State Bank of Patiala today observed a strike in the district and set in a dharna in front of the main branch of the SBP here demanding withdrawal of unilateral decision of the SBP management on single — window power of the employees, following which an employee will now have to make payment of Rs 35,000 in place of earlier Rs 10,000 to customers.
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Ex-servicemen, widows honoured at rally
Ferozepore, November 10 Addressing the ex-servicemen from Air Force and Navy, Lt-General Mandhata Singh GOC 11 Corps said the government was determined to redress their grievances on priority for which various schemes had been instituted by the Army and the government. The rally was attended by Major Mahavir Singh GOC 7 Div, Major B. Sivasankar, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, Commissioner, Mr. IPS Sahota DIG, N. S. Kapur Station Commander, Mr B.C. Thakur, DC, and Mr S. Srivastava SSP and all brigade commanders and senior civil, Army and police officials of the district. Lt. Mandhata Singh said for the resettlement of Ex-servicemen, the Army had established four placement cells at Chandimandir, Bathinda, Ambala and Jalandhar where information and guidance regarding job opportunities and employment schemes were made available. The General also honoured various ex-servicemen, war widows and gallantry award winners and distributed blankets, sewing machines, tricycles and other utility items. Col S. P. Singh (retd.), Deputy Director Sainik Welfare, stated that the government had given nod to fill 70 posts of the Sainik Welfare Department and released Rs 7.50 crore to dispose of 150 pending cases out of a total of 300 cases where the government would help for the construction of houses for the families of the martyrs. The government has also enhanced grant extended at the time of marriage of the daughters of ex-servicemen to Rs 6100.
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Youths queue up for jobs in Army at rally
Bathinda, November 10 Harvinder Singh, who hails from Ghunas village of Sangrur, is one of the hundreds youths queuing up to try their luck at the Army’s rally being held at Rajindra College. The Tribune team today interacted with a number of aspirants and tried to find out as to why they were opting for the Army. Surprisingly, only a few of them said they had a craze for armed forces and they wanted to serve their country. A majority of aspirants said they had nothing to do in their villages. Sewak Singh, another boy from Ghunas village, said he was studying, but could not go for higher education due to financial constraints and considered Army to be his best bet. Kulwinder Singh from Rodewala village said he was looking for employment for quite sometime and didn’t think twice before boarding a bus to Bathinda when he came to know of Army’s recruitment rally. However, his friend, Inderjit Singh, said he always wished to join the Army and saw this rally as an opportunity to realize his dreams. Khushpal Singh of Badrukha village said he neither had any landholding nor a job and his uncle, who too is in the Army, encouraged him to try his luck at this recruitment rally. Col. S.S. Yadav, Director, Recruiting, BRO, Ferozepore, admitted that rising population and dwindling employment opportunities brought youths to their recruitment rally, but at the same time said there was certain craze about the armed forces in Punjab, as the Army always had a large number of soldiers from the state. He said Punjabi youths were also well aware of service conditions in the Army and were enthusiastic to serve their motherland.
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Plea to launch campaign against quacks
Phillaur, November 10 Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Mehta also urged the Chief Minister to initiate state-wide campaigns against drug abuse, use and sale of intoxicants, spread of Hawala trade and fake currency rackets and bogus travel agents. He said the quacks were openly practising with the connivance of several Health Department employees and checking their registration and certificates was required. All chemists should be prevented from selling intoxicants and orders to sell medicines with valid prescriptions of a qualified doctor should be implemented strictly.
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Cyclist feared drowned
Abohar, November 10 According to sources Kaka Singh (22) son of Mr Gurdas Singh resident of Islamewala village was going to fields to pick cotton along with his nephew Akashdeep (4) and niece Rani (9) on the banks of Bikaner Canal (Gang Canal) early in the morning. The cycle slipped near the cremation ground located on the outskirts of the village in to the canal. As the children cried for help raising hands out of water some shepherd boys led by Ravi son of Hyder Ali rushed and rescued both children. Though Kaka could not be located. Scores of farmers were trying to trace Kaka by throwing net in the canal, some residents of Arniwala village told reporters on telephone. The canal had been remodeled at a cost of rupees 167 crore early this year.
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SGPC jatha leaves for Pak
Attari, November 10 The ‘jatha’ will take part in the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak at Nankana Sahib on November 15. Besides the ‘jatha’ would also visit the other Sikh holy shrines of Panja Sahib and Dera Sahib in Lahore. The ‘jatha’ is scheduled to return on November 19. The ‘jatha’ is being led by senior SGPC member Makhan Singh Nangal.
— UNI
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Razia Sultana nominated to Wakf Board
Chandigarh, November 10 Other nominated members are Mr Azadar Hussain Shaikh from Malerkotla, Mr Mansur Ali from Chandigarh, Mr M.G. Sabir from Patiala and Mr Vakeel Ahmed from Sangrur. The order regarding the reconstitution of the board is subject to the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in a civil writ petition. The notification regarding the nomination of members has been issued by the Department of Home Affairs and Justice.
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Traders fleecing cotton growers
Abohar, November 10 Purchase of cotton through auction remained suspended for two hours as farmers confronted with traders on the fourth day of their dharna outside the Market Committee’s office here in the new grain market. Senior office-bearers of the BKU at a rally alleged that growers were being victimised by buyers in connivance with officials of the Market Committee. The farmers raised slogans demanding the transfer of the secretary and a mandi supervisor of the Committee. They alleged that in the local market cotton was purchased below the MSP fixed by the government. Underhand deals were frequently allowed to evade Income Tax and market fee, they added. A deputation of the BKU met the Additional Deputy Commissioner, who was on his weekly visit here and apprised him of their grievances. He asked the tehsildar to go to the grain market to ensure the sale of cotton, loaded in tractor-trailers, per token system. More than 300 vehicles were waiting for turn by then. Purchase had to be continued till evening though the buyers had earlier been leaving the mandi by 3 p.m. without completing the process.
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2 vets occupy one post
Moga, November 10 Sources said while one of these doctors had the court orders for his posting, the other had been continuing due to his alleged political connections. The sources said top department officials were aware of the matter, but were yet to take necessary measures to remove confusion. They said sometime back the Senior Veterinary Officer at the local hospital, Dr Dev Prakash Chugh, was transferred as Deputy Director of the department in Ferozepore against his wishes. This despite the fact that he was about to retire in about a year and as per norms an official could perform his duties at the place of his choice in the last two years of his service. In the meantime the veterinary officer posted at Moga, Dr Prakash Chand Mittal, was promoted to the post of Senior Veterinary Officer at the same hospital. Disappointed at the turn of events, Mr Chugh moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which ordered cancellation of his transfer orders paving the way for his return to Moga. Since then two doctors have been working on a single post. When contacted, the Deputy Director, Mr Satpal Sharma said he was aware of the matter and had already sent the case to higher authorities. The Director of the Animal Husbandry Department, Mr Baljit Singh Sidhu, could not be contacted for his comments.
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Boy killed, 5 hurt in mishap
Sangrur, November 10 Two of the injured were stated to be in a serious condition. Harpinder Singh (43) of Uppli village, owner and driver of the car, who was injured seriously in the mishap, was shifted to a Ludhiana hospital, while Karamjit Singh (35), his wife Paramjit Kaur (30), his daughter Renu (4) and his mother Surjit Kaur (70) were admitted to the local Civil Hospital. Renu was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, in the evening. Karamjit Singh, along with his family, was going to Mauran village to get treatment for his ailing child. The police has registered a case against the driver of the bus.
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Ex-Army officer murdered
Batala, November 10 He was alone in the home when the incident took place as his wife was away for the past two days. The body was seen by the maid in the morning today. The body bore sharp-edged weapon’s injuries. Household articles were lying scattered and valuables and licensed gun were taken away. The deceased has three sons and one daughter who reside at other places with their families. The police has registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC at Rangal Nangal police station.
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Woman commits suicide; in-laws held
Kharar, November 10 According to the police, Ranjit Kaur took the step following repeated harassment at the hands of her mother-in-law. Ranjit had been married for 11 years and had a son. DSP Kharar Raj Bachan Singh Sandhu said the family, instead of informing the police about the incident, gathered a few villagers and cremated the body last evening. The incident came to light this morning when the victim’s parents came to the village and were informed by the villagers that their daughter had been found hanging from the hook of a ceiling fan yesterday. “We have booked her husband Harvinder Singh, father-in-law Harnek Singh and mother-in-law Nasib Kaur under Sections 306 and 201 of the IPC and arrested them,” said Mr Sandhu.
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Woman abducted, let off on seeing police barrier
Sangrur, November 10 Mr Kuldip Sharma, DSP, Sangrur, said this evening that as information of kidnapping of the girl reached, we set up nakas in the area. He added the kidnappers took the girl towards Badbar village and started threatening her for marrying one of the kidnappers, Manoj Kumar, alias Mannu. In the meantime, they saw a naka on the road. On this they asked the girl get off the car while two of them — Manoj Kumar and Ravi, fled from the scene. One of the kidnappers Amanjot Singh has been caught with the car at a naka by the police, he added. The DSP said the girl returned to her house at Sangrur after taking a lift from some one. All kidnappers belonged to Sangrur, he added. The police had registered a case under Sections 365 and 34 of the IPC in this connection.
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Silver ornaments worth Rs 6.5 lakh seized
Khanna, November 10 According to Gurdeep Singh Gossal in charge community policing at about 4.30 a.m. today watchman Harpret Singh noticed two persons coming toward G.T. Road from the railway station side. He along with other three watchmen Baljinder Singh, Parminder Singh and Jasbir Singh stopped them. They found 58.6 kg of silver ornaments lying in bags. The watchmen informed the police. The police inquired about the ornaments from both the persons. They failed to produce record paper, for the ornaments. Both were identified as Vinod Kumar and Vijay Kumar residents of Agra.
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Minor girl raped, murdered
Amritsar, November 10 According to the police the girl had been missing from her home since yesterday
morning. The body of the victim was discovered today morning and the matter was reported to the police. No arrest has been made.
— UNI
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One held for killing brother, sister-in-law
Bathinda, November 10
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Badal lays stone of Tohra institute of advanced studies
Mohali, November 10 Mr Badal, flanked by the SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, addressed mediapersons here today after laying the foundation stone of the Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra Institute of Advanced Studies in Sikhism at Amb Sahib Gurdwara. Even though the institute has been given the name of former SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra, his wife, Ms Joginder Kaur Tohra, was conspicuous by her absence from the function, while his son-in-law, Mr Harmel Singh Tohra, was present. With less than a fortnight to go for the SGPC elections, Mr Badal was the most sought after man at the SGPC organised public function. When asked about who would be his preferential candidate for the post of the president, Mr Badal said a decision would be taken only after prior consultation with members of the Political Affairs Committee. Other than the SGPC President, the SGPC General Secretary, Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, is also said to be in the fray for the president’s post. SGPC members are also considering names of former SGPC President Kirpal Singh Badungar, former Punjab minister Sucha Singh Langah, Mr Alvinder Pal Pakhoke and Mr Sewa Singh
Sekhwan.
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Planning Board allocates Rs 20 cr to PAU
Ludhiana, November 10 Elaborating details of the new research projects, the Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.S. Aulakh, told The Tribune that the thrust areas included improvement of pulses, forages, vegetable crops, medicinal and aromatic plants and application of biotechnology. The other relevant areas of research funded under the support include development of technology aimed at promoting input use efficiency and resource conservation, including integrated nutrient and pest management. The Planning Board has promised to replenish this kitty by its continuous augmentation proportionate to the funds utilised in various research programmes. In addition to this, funds amounting to Rs 1.5 crore for research on strengthening of laboratory for testing of produce of the organic farming (Rs 0.82 crore) and on biotechnology (Rs 0.68 crore) has also been approved and the release is under process. Further, the Central Government had already transferred an amount of Rs 3 crore as central assistance to the state government for carrying out research on ‘technology improvement for production of marketing development for high value crops, including medicinal and aromatic plants.
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Youth festival results
Patiala, November 10 Dr R.K. Sehgal, Dean Academic Affairs, and Dr B.S. Sandhu, Dean, Students Welfare, presided over the competitions. The results: One Act Play: Tibba Nangal College 1, University Campus, Pta 2. Mimicry: Govt Barjindra College, Fdk 1, Mohd Imran Govt College, Malerkotla 2. Debate: Manmeet Kaur (Chandigarh College of Edu, Ladran, Moh) 1, Roop Sohi (GCG Pta) 1, Priyanka (Govt Mohindra College, Pta) 2, Rosi Dhir (Govt Ranbir College, Sgr) 2. Elocution: Gagandeep Chuhan (University Campus, Pta) 1, Jasleen Kaur (Govt Barjindra College, Fdk) 1, Manmeet Kaur (Guru Nanak College, Budhlada) 2, Nimrat (Govt Mohindra College, Pta) 2. Poetical recitation: Dhanveer Singh (SD College, Barnala) 1, Nimrat (Govt Mohindra College, Pta) 1, Alamjit Singh (Mata Gujri College, Ftg Sahib) 2, Inderjeet Kaur (DAV College, Bta) 2. Cartooning: Daljit Kaur (GCG Pta) 1, Kulpreet Kaur (Khalsa College, Pta) 1, Jyoti (Govt Ranbir College, Sgr) 2, Sunita Devi (Govt Rajindra College, Bta) 2. Poster making: Mandeep Singh (University Campus, Pta) 1, Jatinder Singh (Govt Mohindra College, Pta) 1, Himmat Makar (Lincoln College of Law, Sirhind) 2, Monika (Govt Ripudaman College, Nabha) 2. Collage making: Poonam Goyal (Govt Barjindra College, Fdk) 1, Harmeet Kaur (MM Modi College, Pta) 1, Prabhdeep Kaur (Shivalik Hills College of Edu, Patti) 2, Amanpreet Kaur (GCG, Pta) 2. Quiz: Govt College of Edu Faridkot 1, University Campus, Patiala 2. Group shabad: University Campus 1, Mata Gujri College, Ftg Sahib 2, Classical Dance: Sunaina (University Campus) 1, Rekha, (PMN College, Rjp) 2. Classical vocal: Manpreet Singh (Khalsa College Pta) 1, Lincoln College of Law, Sirhind 2; instrumental (percussion): Nazir Mohd (Govt Rajindra College Bta) 1, Govt College, Rpr 2; non-percussion: University Campus 1, Amarjit Kaur (Divya Shiksha Gurkul College of Edu, Dera Bassi) 2. Clay modelling: Jasmine Kaur (University Campus) 1, Rupinder Kaur (GCG, Pta) 1, Anup Kumar (Govt College, Mkt)-2, Harpreet Kaur (Govt Ripudaman College, Nbh) 2. Rangoli: Sonu Rain (GCG, Pta) 1, Shally Bala (Govt College, Moh) 1, Gurpdeep Kaur (DBPCD College of Edu, Fdk) 2, Elish Singla (Govt College, Rpr) 2. On-the-spot painting: Anver Husain (State College of Edu, Pta) 1, Gurdeep Singh (Govt College, Moh) 1, Amritpal Singh (Govt
NM College, Mansa) 2, Harminder Kaur (KBS Arya Mahila College, Brl) 2. Skit: Govt Barjindra College, Fdk 1, Guru Harkrishan Girls College, Phalewal 2. Mime: Mata Gujri College, Fth Sahib 1, LBS Arya Mahila College, Brl 2. Geet/Gazal: Manpreet Singh (Khalsa
College, Pta) 1, Tajinder Pal Singh (Govt Rajindra College, Bth) 2; group song (Indian): Universtiy Campus 1, Govt College, Mohali 2.
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2 students to be reinstated
Bathinda, November 10 Mr J.S. Anand, principal, of the college said that two students had given written apology while other four including one girl student, would give reply to the charges against them on November 18. Dr Anand said that these students were suspended from the college a few days back after they (including boys) entered the girls common room and started addressing the students. He said that they also misbehaved with some staff members of the college. The students were protesting against the college authorities for charging more fee than that mentioned in the college prospectus.
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Insurance company’s office inaugurated
Moga, November 10 With this launch the company will operate in eight locations in Punjab. It has already 150 branches in the country. Mr Namit Rai, Branch Manager-Retail Sales said, “We have done very well in Punjab last financial year. We see good potential for growth in the state and are therefore expanding our reach to cover some more cities.”
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