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Man pays price for saving family’s honour
Mandi Ahmedgarh, November 13 Des Raj Verma (55), a resident of the Dehliz road here, who repairs sewing machines by moving from one village to another is paying the price of trying to save his family’s honour. After being bashed up by his wife and a brick kiln owner of a nearby village, Mr Verma, a heart patient, is now staying with his mother and requesting police authorities to take action against his wife. His three daughters, one of them a minor, had been working with an orchestra group for the past two years and the matter had been a bone of contention between the couple. The latest provocation came on Friday when Mr Verma objected to the staying of two persons overnight in his house. “This was enough for my wife. She attacked me with a wooden beater and was joined by the two men. I was thrown out of the house and had to spend the night in the fields nearby,” he said while talking to Ludhiana Tribune here today. After taking refuge at his mother’s house the next day, this “destitute husband” went to the police station the next day to complain against her. But a rude shock awaited him there as he was detained by the police “at the behest of his wife, who enjoys good relationships with policemen”. He was allowed to go home after a social worker vouched for him. Narrating his tale of woe, Mr Verma said: “Tired of day’s hard work, when I reached home on Friday night, I found a brick kiln owner and an SAD leader relaxing there. When I objected to this, my wife asked them to teach me a lesson and finish the matter for ever.” He was mercilessly beaten up by them and thrown out. When he along with his mother Krishana Devi approached social leaders and some councillors, they showed their inability to intervene in their matter, as, according to them, the suspects could harm them later for opposing them. To add to the insult, his wife, backed by her “brothers”, thrashed him again today. “She has threatened to get me eliminated. I understand that my days are numbered. But I plead the authorities, including the Chief Minister and the DGP, to save my daughters from the clutches of the gangsters who are conspiring to sell them on the pretext of sending them abroad,” appealed the unfortunate father. The Ahmedgarh police said it had received complaints from both parties and was investigating the matter.
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Falciparum malaria spreads,
claims three lives
Ludhiana, November 13 An abnormally high number of nine cases of the mosquito-caused disease had been reported in Dayanand Medical College and Hospital since mid-September and three persons, two from Jagraon subdivision and another from Focal Point locality in the city, have succumbed to the disease during this period. While the health department here had confirmed one death, of Balwant Singh of Agwar Gujran in Jagraon last week, Dr Sandeep Puri, Medical Superintendent of DMCH told Ludhiana Tribune here today that the disease had claimed three lives till now. He said the number of cases admitted to the hospital were on the higher side because normally not more than one or two cases of falciparum malaria were reported in a month during this particular season. He said falciparum malaria was a more serious kind of the disease which, associated with high fever, affected either kidneys or the brain. The latter form, is known as cerebral malaria. In the absence of timely treatment, it often proves fatal. That during the past about two months, almost 400 cases of dengue were reported here and now the city residents are grappling with another threat from malaria speaks volumes of the total failure of the authorities concerned to take preventive measures against mosquito breeding all over the city, other towns and villages in the district. If the residents from most of the city localities are to be believed, anti-mosquito sprays and fumigation are either non-existent, or at best erratic and selective. Even after the Deputy Commissioner had issued explicit directions to the civic body to draw a comprehensive schedule for fumigation more than two weeks ago and further asked officials of the Health Department to supervise the operations, the desired results remain elusive. Not to be left behind, the Health Department here is also casual in its approach to the grave threat to the health of the city population and rather than realise the gravity of the situation, its efforts are directed more on passing the buck or covering up its own failures. A recent report by Senior Medical Officer, Jagraon, that the field staff of the Health Department had failed to locate the house of Balwant Singh, one of the victims of falciparum malaria, has thoroughly exposed the earlier claim of one of the senior officers of the department here that this particular case was a solitary one and family members as well as other residents in the vicinity had been screened against the disease.
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Empowerment of women must, says Johar
Ludhiana, November 13 These views were expressed by the Education Minister, Punjab, Mr Harnam Dass Johar, at the 47th Punjab University Culture and Heritage Festival at Ramgarhia Girls College here today. Mr Johar exhorted the youth to shoulder the responsibility to preserve and carry forward the rich cultural heritage of Punjab which would help in further strengthening moral and social values in society. He called upon the girls to acquire excellence in different vocations so that they could get their due share in employment opportunities. Referring to the fast changing social and economic scenario, Mr Johar said the government was committed to women empowerment and for the effective participation of women in all fields. For this, vocational education for women was a prerequisite. He said providing education to a girl was the key to prosperity of a family. He asserted that Indian women had made substantial contribution to the freedom movement. Mr Johar said with the advancement in the Internet and satellite facilities, the whole world had shrunken into a small village and professionally qualified students had unlimited employment scope in different countries. Referring to the important role being played by privately-managed educational institutions, particularly Ramgarhia institutions, Mr Johar said the founder of these institutions, Baba Gurmukh Singh, and his sons visualised the importance of women education for the development of the country. Mr Johar said these institutions had played a pioneer role in spreading education, particularly among women, since Independence, which had helped improve the social and financial environment in the country. He said now girls were outclassing boys by way of their excellent performance in examinations and also by joining technical and vocational fields, which were earlier considered a male bastion. Expressing concern over the declining sex ratio in Punjab, Mr Johar called upon the educated women to launch a crusade against female foeticide. Mr Johar announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh for the college. Mr Ranjodh Singh, president, Ramgarhia Education Council, highlighted the achievements of the college in the field of education. Among others present on the occasion were Mr S.M. Kang, Director, Youth Welfare, Panjab University, Mr Jagtar Singh, general secretary, REC, and Ms Harmeet Kaur, Principal. Meanwhile, the 47th youth festival, going on at Ramgarhia Girls College, concluded here today. The day was dedicated to traditional songs, folk instruments, folk dances and bhangra. The function was attended by eminent personalities from different walks of life. The evening session was presided over by Mr Rakesh Pandey, Minister for Printing and Stationery, Punjab. Over 350 students participated in today’s competitions.
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Little response to info Act
Ludhiana, November 13 The Deputy Commissioner’s office has received only one application under the Right to Information Act for seeking the record regarding a property dispute case. The district Police Department has not received even one request. Same is the state with the district Health Department and other departments. It is ironic that people have been demanding access to such information since long. They have accused government officers of withholding information. However, when they have been empowered, they have failed to respond. Lack of publicity about the Act on the part of the government is one of the main factors responsible for the low-key response. Dr G.S. Bahia, Assistant Public Information Officer, District Administration, said they were in the process of providing the required information to an applicant who wanted certain details about a property dispute. He said the administration would provide the information within 30 days to the applicant as stipulated under the Act. SP-D Gurpreet Singh, Public Information Officer of the city police, said no application had been received so far for seeking any information. Interestingly, a social organisation, Resurgence India, had in news reports claimed that the city police had refused to entertain two applications submitted under the Act. The Act has also not evoked any response in the district Health Department. The Civil Surgeon, Dr Rajinder Kaur, said no application had been received. The district Education Department has, however, not even deputed any official as Information Officer. The same is the case in other departments.
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Danga Peerat Welfare Society chief removed
Ludhiana, November 13 Mr Surjit Singh was recently in news for taking on the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation for removing billboards depicting the pain of victims of the 1984 riot victims. Mr Mohinder Singh said the removal was on account of the misappropriation of funds collected by the society for various purposes.
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Non-gazetted ranked city police officers witnessed a refreshing change this week when DIG Parag Jain presented commendation certificates to seven of those who had played an important role in nabbing two alleged bank robbers. It was after a long time that the heroes of police were felicitated. Usually, senior officers took the honours in press conferences or SHO of the police station or in-charge of a police post concerned got a pat on their back. But this time, the actual men at the ground level were honoured. Sentinel hopes that this will continue in future also to lift the morale of the force. Scant regard City schools and other organisations have a scant regard for special days or anniversaries. Making a mockery, schools celebrate or observe a birth or death anniversary a week before or after the actual day of the event. Same has been the case with the Children’s Day celebrations, which marks the birth anniversary of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, this time. Though November 14 falls on Monday, several schools have already organised functions related to the day. Cold business Although half of November has passed, woolens are not yet out and hosiery manufacturers are keeping their fingers crossed for a good season. While mornings and evenings are getting colder, the afternoons are still warm. Now, rain gods can only change the scenario and rescue the hosiery manufacturers, who had been crying hoarse at facing losses for the past many years due to changing weather conditions. Last year, there was a comparatively longer spell of cold that had helped them make up for the losses. Traffic blues
Tailpiece A maid was given a nice colourful corduroy coat by the lady of the house. She tried it on and was quite pleased with how she looked. But soon she removed it and said: “No, I cannot wear this coat as dogs will bark at me.” One wonders why she made this queer statement. — Sentinel
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Dullo to issue notice to two party leaders
Ludhiana, November 13 Talking to The Tribune over telephone today, the PCC president warned “indiscipline would not be tolerated in the party at any cost”. He regretted that the two senior leaders had been washing their dirty lenin in public. He observed that in case the two leaders had any grievances against each other they should have sorted these out between themselves. There was no need to go public about it and they could always have used the party forum for this purpose instead of rushing to the media. He said the way two leaders had been levelling grave and serious allegations against each other and that too in public reflected very bad upon the party. The two leaders would be issued show cause notices and the party would soon decided as what disciplinary action should be taken, he added. The PCC president refused to be drawn into any controversy over the issue saying he did not want to comment on anything. “Except that as the leader of the party in the state I think it to be my responsibility to sort out problems and curb indiscipline”, he said, while categorically saying that both leaders, despite being so senior, had violated the party discipline. Mr Dullo claimed that this was an isolated incident and it should not be interpreted as factionalism in the party.
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Amritsar police ‘trying to mislead Rights panel’
Ludhiana, November 13 In his application dated February 8,2005, to the commission, Mr Gurmukh Singh, a practising lawyer of the city, had stated that since he had a dispute with his son’s father-in-law, a team of Amritsar cops entered his house at around midnight by scaling the boundary wall and took him in custody without any valid arrest warrants and also without informing the local police. After he was taken to Amritsar, Mr Gurmukh Singh was pressurised to withdraw his complaint against Jagdish Singh, father-in-law of his son. His signatures were obtained under duress on an affidavit stating withdrawal of the said complaint, added Mr Gurmukh Singh. Taking cognizance of the matter, the commission asked the SSP, Amritsar, to get an inquiry conducted into the complaint. But, according to Mr Gurmukh Singh, the Amritsar SSP handed over the inquiry to the same officer who was allegedly responsible for his kidnapping. The report submitted by the SSP to the commission is intriguingly silent about the kidnapping but states that Mr Gurmukh Singh had not joined the investigation and that all allegations levelled by Mr Gurmukh Singh had been found baseless after an investigation. The SSP also added in his report that because the complainant was a lawyer familiar with the legal twists, he was trying to make the most of it by lodging false complaints. Not satisfied with the response of the Amritsar police, Mr Gurmukh Singh has filed a rejoinder with the commission stating that the reply submitted by the Amritsar SSP was factually wrong and misleading. Mr Gurmukh Singh has stated that his son Tarunjit Singh had been living in Australia with his wife Rupinderjit Kaur, daughter of Mr Jagdish Singh. Even when the couple were living happily in Australia, Jagdish Singh had got a false case registered against him, his wife and his son under sections 498-A and 406 of the IPC just to teach them a lesson for filing a complaint in a local court against Jagdish Singh. The case was, however, withdrawn at the request of the complainant later. Mr Gurmukh Singh has further questioned the report submitted by the Amritsar SSP by stating that the SSP had not denied the fact that he had been forcibly picked up from his residence at Ludhiana and taken to Amritsar without informing the area police and without making any entry in the roznamcha register of the police station concerned at Ludhiana. Moreover, the arrest or detention of the complainant was not recorded anywhere and he was illegally confined in the police post at Ranjit Avenue. Regarding the assertion made by the SSP that Mr Gurmukh Singh had not joined the investigations, Mr Gurmukh Singh stated that all proceedings at Amritsar had taken place in a police post under the directions of the DSP, Mr Ashish Kapur. The SSP had marked the inquiry to the same officer against whom the complaint was directed. As proof of his involvement in investigations, Mr Gurmukh Singh said that he along with Mr Kartar Singh, general secretary, Lok Jan Shakti Party and Mr Shekhar Gupta, a practising city-based lawyer, had got his statement recorded with the DSP, Mr Ashish Kapur.
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Rally against drugs
Ludhiana, November 13 According to Dr K.S. Verma, Programme Coordinator, NSS, PAU, volunteers marched past hostels, Ferozepore Road, Bhai Bala Chow, Ghumar Mandi, the Government College for Boys, Rose Garden Road, Udham Singh Nagar and other residential areas. They were carrying banners and placards warning the youth against drugs. They also pasted handbills and posters all over the area.
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701 needy women given ration
Ludhiana, November 13 The marriage of a poor girl was also solemnised. President Jagdish and Kesho Ram Vig supervised the distribution of ration. Charandas Dawar, father of Surinder Dawar, was also remembered on the occasion. Director Social Child and Women Development S.R. Laddar was the chief guest. Mr Dawar appreciated the sangathan’s gesture of providing pension to widows. He also appreciated the Gyan Sthal for empowering girls by training them in computers and cookery courses. Mr Ladder said it was the duty of every individual to reach out to the needy. He said his department was spending huge amount of money every year for the development of women and children.
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Contests mark Rotary awards
Ludhiana, November 13 Rtn Arun Jain delivered a talk on leadership skills and qualities of a good leader. Prof Neelam Sethi gave tips on personality development and a detailed talk on the qualities of a good human being. A quiz contest for delegates was conducted by Rtn Atamjit Singh, RYLA chairman in which Renu Bala (Phagwara) and Chandan (Hoshiarpur) won the first and second positions, respectively. In the speech contest, Sidharth (Amritsar) and Jotisha (Jalandhar) won the first and second prizes, respectively. S.S. Misra from Jharkhand was declared Mr RYLA while Miss Inder Preet Kaur from Jalandhar was adjudged Miss RYLA Rtn Rajat Deep Kaur conducted the contest. Rtn district governor elect Romesh Rana, Mrs Ramesh Rana, Rinna Swarnjeet Kaur and Arun Seth were the judges while DGE Romesh Rana announced and honoured Mr & Ms RYLA.
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Nagar kirtan held
Mandi Gobindgarh, November 13 The town was decorated with welcome gates and fruits were distributed on the way. Among others, MP Sukhdev Singh Libra, gurudwara committee chief Inder Singh, Karam Singh Khalsa and others were present.
— OC
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3 of family injured in mishap
Ludhiana, November 13
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Retired Inspector shoots self
Ludhiana, November 13 His wife told the police that at about 6 pm, he locked himself in his room and committed suicide. The police is convinced about the suicide theory but investigations are on.
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Chamber discusses VAT with Commissioner
Ludhiana, November 13 “We discussed the problems being faced on account of the implementation of VAT,” said Mr P.D.Sharma, president, Apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He said the Excise and Taxation Commissioner had stated that the government was proposing to give refunds without producing C and H forms. The process was on and it would be finalised soon and refunds would be made from December, said Mr P.D. Sharma. He said various stringent provisions of the VAT Act were also discussed in detail. Earlier, the Finance Minister of Punjab had given an assurance at the meeting with trade and industry here that the stringent provisions would be removed. However, the Commissioner said some demands of industry had been rejected by the government, he said. The Chamber said the Act required maintenance of a stock register, which was not possible for the industry due to various problems. “For similar items produced by different manufacturers there are variations in inputs used, wastage and the final product. This can become a source of harassment,” said the Chamber. Mr P.D. Sharma said the Commissioner told the delegation to give this proposal afresh in detail and also assured reconsideration about the same. He also asked the Chamber to give details about the issues regarding obtaining a no objection certificate (NOC) for sale of property. The Chamber also pointed out that the white paper on VAT stated that the provision of VAT should not be harsher than the sales tax provisions. “But the penalty under VAT is 30 per cent where as in the earlier system it was 20 per cent,” the Chamber pointed out, proposing that the penalty should be graded according to the magnitude of the fault. Mr P.D. Sharma said, “Goods carriers are detained on flimsy grounds and remain impounded for several days. The Commissioner gave an assurance that only specific faults will be recorded. He also ordered the officials concerned that no vehicle shall remain impounded for more than 72 hours.
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Festival season is over but the traffic on city roads is yet to be controlled. The number of vehicles has increased to such an extent that roads and parking lots cannot contain them. Be it a busy hour or a comparatively free hour, the condition of traffic is same as serpentine queues of vehicles are seen on all roads. The traffic police also seems to be ill-equipped. Maybe the city residents will find some relief after the elevated road and other overbridges are constructed.
