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Assembly Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 22 On terrorism he went on to say: “The recent admission by the Director-General of Punjab Police on rehabilitating former militants, vindicates the stand of the SAD that it was the Congress that was responsible for terrorism in Punjab.” He also sought the resignation of the DGP, Mr S.S. Virk, saying: “If he has an iota of professionalism in him, he will resign”. Mr Manpreet Badal, went on to sarcastically ask: “Can the country also pardon Dawood Ibrahim who, like these terrorists in Punjab, also waged war against the nation?” Mr Raj Kumar Verka pointed out to Mr Manpreet Badal that it were the Akalis who used to attend the bhog ceremonies of militants during the phase of terrorism. Mr Manpreet Badal, MLA from Gidderbaha and nephew of the former Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, was speaking on the Motion of Thanks and discussion on the Governor’s Address initiated by Mr Sunil Jakhar. The latter had hailed the achievement of the Congress government in having fulfilled all promises it had made at the time of going to the polls. Mr Jasbir Singh Gill had seconded the motion. Earlier, Mr Manpreet Badal began by opposing the Motion of Thanks and added: “The Address was uninspiring and far removed from reality”. The Governor, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), had addressed the Assembly two days ago. From here on Mr Manpreet Badal launched an attack on the Congress and with each example recited an Urdu couplet and extensively quoted famous poet Iqbal. He said in the past four years the government had been run on the policy of oppression and revenge. The state exchequer was being looted while the bureaucracy had been politicised. He alleged: “We fear crores of rupees have changed hands in the finalisation of mega projects in the state”. If ministers were accepting bribes, one could imagine what was happening in the state, he added. The Education Minister, Mr Harnam Dass Johar, challenged Mr Manpreet Badal to name the minister and not paint the entire Cabinet as tainted. Mr Manpreet Badal clarified that he was not hinting at Mr Johar. The Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Avtar Henry, also asked him to prove which minister was taking money. Mr Manpreet Badal continued: “The Chief Minister knows full well who are part of the land mafia, which officer and minister owns land in Ropar district”. Carrying on in the same vein, he said: “When Mr B.I.S. Chahal’s son got married where did the money come from for holding such a lavish wedding ? Does the Chief not know?” Mr Chahal is the Media Adviser to the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh. His son got married a few months ago. People in Punjab, Mr Manpreet Badal alleged, were paying a “vigilance cess”. The Vigilance Bureau was itself in the forefront of corruption.
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Farmers stage dharna over MSP
Sangrur, February 22 Their main demand was Rs 850 minimum support price (MSP) for wheat. They gathered at the office of the CPI, near Mahavir Chowk, and marched to the office of the Deputy Commissioner. Their other demands included complete ban on the import of wheat, waiving the loans of farmers, free water supply for irrigation, payment of pending bonus of Rs 20 per quintal on paddy, payment of arrears to farmers for sugarcane crop and roll back in the prices of diesel, pesticides and fertilisers. The protesters were addressed among others by Mr Achhra Singh, former CPI MLA from Dhuri; Mr Hardev Singh Bakshiwala, district secretary of the Punjab Kisan Sabha; Mr Amar Singh, district secretary of Jamhoori Kisan Sabha; and Mr Karnail Singh Jakhepal, a leader of the Khetibarri Kisan Vikas Front. They also submitted a memorandum enlisting their demands to the Deputy Commissioner. The district unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) also held a separate dharna and rally on the DC office complex under the presidentship of Mr Gurdev Singh Amargarh, district president of the union. They also opposed the acquisition of 376 acres by the Trident Group of Industries in Fatehgarh Chhanna, Dhaula and Sangherra villages. The dharna was also addressed by Mr Kapur Singh Chhahar, state vice-president of the union, Mr Raghbir Singh Chhajli, Mr Darshan Kumar Sangrur, Mr Gurcharan Singh Chananwal, Mr Jagroop Singh Dhura and Mr Surjit Singh wazidke, all kisan leaders. However, they left the rally venue without handing over the memorandum to the DC saying the DC himself should have come to receive it. Amritsar:
A similar protest was held in Amritsar also. The rally started from Ram Bagh, passed through various markets and culminated at DC office with the submission of a memorandum. The activists raised slogans against the government. Five farmers organisations had given call for the protest from February 22 to 24. Jalandhar:
The BKU has demanded that the government decision to import wheat should be withdrawn and the families of farmers committing suicides be given financial help up to Rs 10 lakh each. It has also demanded that the remaining payments be made towards the procurement of sugarcane and the loans of Dalits, labourers and farmers be waved off. A rally was held in front of the local DC office calling for immediate redressing of their grievances. They said the country was self-reliant in foodgrain and did not need any imports. Moga:
Seeking a review of the UPA government’s decision to import wheat, the BKU staged a protest in front of the DC office here. The BKU secretary general, Prof Manjit Singh Kadia, demanded Rs 900 MSP for domestic wheat as the imported variety would cost Rs 1,050 at the sea port. They said the current market rate of wheat was also Rs 1,000 and in such a situation paying only Rs 650 per quintal was “total injustice” to the farmers.
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Ropar, February 22
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Discussion on police patronage to ex-ultras
Chandigarh, February 22 The Speaker, Dr Kewal Krishan, rejected an SAD adjournment motion on the law and order situation with reference to the issue involving Sukhi but later allowed a special discussion on it. Mr Parkash Singh Badal and 12 other SAD members raised the issue with specific reference to the case of Sukhi, who had been living in Jalandhar under an assumed name with the knowledge of the police, including the Director-General of Police, Mr S. S. Virk. Mr Badal said his party had no objection to the announcement of the Chief Minister on the rehabilitation of former militants, including Wassan Singh Zaffarwal. But, he added “nothing should be hidden, let them surrender openly”. When the House reconvened after the adjournment, the bureaucracy came in for fire from the Speaker, Dr Kewal Krishan, who took offence to the fact that just two senior functionaries from the bureaucracy were present during the call-attention notices. After the Speaker said this, six officers trooped in. Meanwhile, during question hour, the Punjab Transport Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh Kaypee, assured the House that the government would take up with Himachal Pradesh the issue of the levying of entry fee on vehicles registered in other states entering the hill state through various inter-state borders. The Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister, Mr Amarjit Singh Samra, assured the House that the government would consider the demand to hike the relief amount being given to the victims of the anti-Sikh violence which was last revised in 1998. The exemption of 32.10 acres on the Jalandhar-Amritsar highway from a 188 acre scheme of the Improvement Trust of Amritsar came up for heated debate.
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PIL seeks names of persons declared dead
Chandigarh, February 22 The PIL, filed by World Human Rights Protection Council (WHRPC) through its Chairman Ranjan Lakhanpal, also seeks that directions be issued to the respondents to initiate action against the erring police officers who declared living persons dead. It also prays that the practice of declaring living persons dead by the police be put an end to. Referring to recent media reports, which highlighted the fact that Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, a former militant, who had been declared dead in an encounter with the police, has been leading a normal life in a Jalandhar locality with his family, the petition says that the police acted illegally in declaring living persons dead. Sukhi has been leading a normal life on an assumed name. The petition also points to the recent acknowledgment by the DGP, Punjab, Mr S.S. Virk, about the fact that Sukhi was alive. In a press conference some days ago, the DGP had said that Sukhi, and many others like him, had been rehabilitated with the full knowledge of various Chief Ministers and Governors. The DGP had put the number of such persons at over 300, saying that they had helped the cops during the ‘‘war against terrorism’’ in Punjab. The PIL also cites the case of former alleged terrorist Harpreet Singh alias Happy, who had been declared killed in an encounter by the Punjab Police. The cops had also claimed the reward of Rs 30 lakh that the alleged terrorist was carrying on his head. However, sometime back, Happy made a dramatic appearance before the court, seeking protection. He had said that while the cops had been taking credit for his death, he was working as a servant in a Chennai house. The WHRPC petition is likely to be taken up for hearing soon.
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Badal: Cong got SAD candidates killed by ‘cats’
Chandigarh, February 22 He said when the Assembly elections were held in 1992 not a single Congress candidate was killed. The 1992 elections were boycotted by the SAD, he added. The matter was worth investigating. He said that otherwise also several senior Akali leaders were either killed or attacked in the 90s. Talking to a group of mediapersons at his party office in the Punjab Assembly complex, Mr Badal said: “We have been saying for a long that the ruling Congress is maintaining a private army of criminals and ‘cats’.” Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, has asked the Union Government to give two years’ extension in deputation to Mr Virk.
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Dullo flays DGP on Sukhi issue
Ludhiana, Feb 22 Addressing a press conference at the Circuit House here today, the PCC president maintained that by joining the mainstream the terrorists cannot escape from their past sins of killing of hundreds innocent of people. He said the police must not act as the judges and let the court's decide whether they are innocent or not. Mr Dullo maintained that it was not proper on the part of the DGP to admit in public that the police was providing shelter to former terrorists in the name of fighting militancy. This would send a wrong signal. The PCC president said he would meet the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, on the issue for registering cases against all the 300 former terrorists, whom the police was providing protection. On the nomination of candidates from various Assembly segments, the PCC president said, he would recommend only those who would be enjoying the support of the grassroot workers.
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Closed lab adds bite to bird flu
Jalandhar, February 22 The regional laboratory, which caters to Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh, Rajasthan and New Delhi, has been undergoing renovation at a very slow pace owing to which the entire set-up is lying disrupted. The laboratory equipment, including pipettes, burettes, flasks and other items, have been put in the animal post-mortem room, due to which disease diagnosis of dead animals seems to be practically impossible. The huge government poultry farm in the same complex of the laboratory has long been evacuated. The only animals available for testing purposes are the pigs that are in abundance and in overgrown sizes. Officials, however, claim that there was no need to maintain the farms as they could easily approach private farms close by for taking samples. The laboratory is currently being headed by Joint Director of the Animal Husbandry Department, Dr H.S. Sandha. There are nine doctors, technicians and other staff working for the lab. The post of a parasitology specialist has been lying vacant since long. Dr Sandha, however, claimed that even as renovation was on, there was no problem in taking samples. He said 5000 samples of poultry and migratory birds had been sent from the laboratory that had tested negative in Bhopal. The doctors, when asked as to whether they had masks and other protection covers available, could not show these items immediately but they said they could get these items whenever there was a need.
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Team monitoring migratory birds
Ropar, February 22 The four-member team headed by the Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry, Mr Ram Singh, took 178 samples from poultry firms and blood samples of birds species in the wetland area. The samples were sent to a laboratory in Bhopal. Three species of migratory birds suspected to be carriers of bird flu have arrived in the wetland area, the natural habitat of these birds till December 6. The wetland area here is providing shelter to more than 250 species of local and migratory birds. Officials of the Forest Department circulated photographs and details about these three species among villagers living along the wetland area. There is no need for panic as no case of bird flu has been detected in Punjab. All samples sent to the laboratory earlier have been found negative. A control room had been set-up in the Animal Husbandry Department in Ropar to monitor the situation, said the Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry, Mr Ram Singh, to The Tribune. The Deputy Forest Officer, Mr Satnam Singh, said after the outbreak of bird flu in Maharashtra, the surveillance of birds had been increased. Special teams of Forest Guards had been instructed to visit the wetland land area everyday to monitor the conditions of birds. Meanwhile, the Health Department has set up a
control room in the Civil Hospital.
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Man recovered from police station
Sangrur, February 22 Mr Beera said here today that he had been in the illegal custody of the local police since February 19 (Sunday) when the in-charge of the city police station, along with a police contingent, bundled him into a police canter from his shop and took him away. He said the in-charge of the city police station wanted that he should pay rent to Shiromani Panth Akali Buddha Dal (Damdama Sahib) for the shop (occupied by him as a tenant in Idgah Market) though there was a stay order in his favour. Mr Beera said he had been recovered by the Warrant Officer at about 8.45 pm on February 21. He said the Warrant Officer had been appointed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court the previous day on a criminal writ petition, filed by Mr Ravi Charan Singh Deol who was a friend of his son, seeking his release. When contacted, Mr Darshan Singh, incharge, City Police Station, Sangrur, refuted the allegation that Balbir Singh had been kept in illegal custody for three days. He said Balbir Singh had come to the police station on the pretext of lodging a report just two minutes before the arrival of the Warrant Officer at the police station. When the Warrant Officer had entered the police station, Balbir Singh was found sitting in the room of munshi where any one could sit. The in-charge also said he had no links with the rent issue of his shop and he had never put any pressure on Balbir Singh to pay rent to any one.
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Widow loses seven sons to drugs
Amritsar, February 22 Shaken Mohinder Kaur, who lives with her widowed daughter-in-law in the locality of drug-addicts here, cannot recall the names of all seven sons and dates of their deaths. On hearing about the plight of the destitute widows, local BJP member of Parliament Navjot Singh Sidhu visited the affected families in the locality and announced first instalment of Rs 5 lakh for the uplift of the widows, their wards and the ‘Citizen Forum Vidya Mandir’, a school for the children of drug addicts in the colony. Moved by the plight of Mohinder Kaur, Mr Sidhu gave Rs 5000 from his personal account. Mr Sidhu appreciated efforts of Mr Brij Bedi, convener, Citizen’s Forum and Master Ajit Singh for their selfless endeavour to convert Maqboolpura — the ‘haven for addicts into heaven for orphans’, by providing them (orphans) education free for cost. The locality has lost more than 150 bread-winners in the last few years to drug abuse. The addicts administering morphine injection is a common sight with the administration remaining a mute witness. Maqboolpura, fast converting into a ‘slum of addicts’ may see a ray of hope with Mr Sidhu promising financial aid from the central government to rehabilitate the affected families. He was appalled to see the collapse of the sanitation system in the colony where more than 20,000 souls, most of them lived the poverty linelive. Mr Brij Bedi told Mr Sidhu that residents of Maqboolpura were compelled to live in the hell-like situation. MP announced to adopt the locality for its overall development and uplift of its residents . Mr Sidhu said that he would make all-out efforts to improve condition of residents and raised his voice against drug pedalling. He was told sale of drugs had been going on unchecked and with alleged connivance of law enforcement agencies. He, however, was impressed with the stitching centre and computer section being run by the Citizen’s Forum in Maqboolpura.
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SAD workers, panches join Cong
Gurdaspur, February 22 Mr Bajwa said that the government was soon launch a recruitment drive in the state. No primary school will remain without teacher after March. The SAD workers, including panches who joined the Congress today, include Mr Kuldeep Singh, Mr Hari Singh, Mr Bua Singh, Jagir Singh, Ms Nirmal Kaur, Joginder Singh, Gian Singh, Kulwant Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Jarnail Singh, Rajinder Singh and Raghubir Singh. Later Mr Bajwa also inaugurated a medical camp organised at Khanuwan. The camp was organised at the foodgrain market of
Khanuwan.
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Snag hits Harmander Sahib filtration plant
Amritsar, February 22 The "seva" was started by five Sikh saints — Baba Jagtar Singh Tarn Taran, Baba Harbans Singh Delhi, Baba Labh Singh Anandpur Sahib, Baba Seva Singh Khadur Sahib and Baba Mohinder Singh of the Nishkam Sevak Jatha Birmingham (UK) — with five spades and bowls made of gold and silver, respectively, in accordance with Sikh traditions on March 25, 2004. Before the installation of the filtration plant, the then Head Granthi, Harmander Sahib, Giani Puran Singh and senior experts had raised objections on the plea that it (filtration plant) was not workable. However, Mr Roop Singh, Manager, Darbar Sahib, claimed that the current problem was short-lived since the snag in the filtration plant stood removed. He, however, said that there was 'no problem' with regard to the filtration process since new pipes had been inserted in the holy tank. Everything would be alright within couple of days. Steps were taken to stop draining the water after washing sanctum sanctorum of Harmander Sahib. Separate route of drainage had been designed for making sarovar water cleaner. The construction of the Golden Temple tank undertaken under the supervision of Guru Ram Das, assisted by Baba Budha Ji started on November 6, 1573, and the digging was completed by 1577 AD. While the tank was under construction, Guru Arjun Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, then thought of building a temple in the midst of the tank (giving lotus-like shape). After the constitution of the SGPC, the first kar seva to clean the sarovar was undertaken on June, 17,1923. Second kar seva was launched on March 31, 1973 by five Sikh Saints during Army operation in June 1984 as the sarovar got desecrated with the dumping of arms and ammunition and bodies of the visiting pilgrims. The temple complex was handed over to the Sikh clergy on September 29. The kar seva of the sarovar was again undertaken on October 12, 1984, the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Ram Das. After Operation Black Thunder a kar seva was also conducted on May
19, 1988.
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State Human Development report discussed
Patiala, February 22 The workshop seeks to disseminate awareness about the report and initiate a discussion on key developmental issues relevant to the socio-economic development in Punjab. Dr Sucha Singh Gill, Dean, Social Sciences, dwelt on the genesis of human development index evolved by UNDP expert Mehboob-ul-Haq and Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen to overcome deficiencies of per capita income as a measure of social, economic and political development. The key parameters covered by the HDI include purchasing power per capita, health and education, based on which the first Human Development Report was published by the UNDP in 1990. The Punjab Human Development Report 2004 is the first report on the state. It places Punjab second to Kerala in human development with high level of per capita income and social development. However, the report brings out that Punjab lags much behind southern states and even Himachal Pradesh with respect to gender equality and educational attainment. It also highlights the serious crisis in Punjab agriculture, which is considered the backbone of the state’s economy. Prof A.S. Dhesi brought into focus the flaws in economic development model adopted by Punjab, which focussed on peripheral activities like agriculture and small-scale and traditional industries, bringing in only short-term gains. However, these activities require low skills, low capital investment and generate long-term economic growth which needs capital-intensive industries requiring high skills and capable of paying high wages. This model has not fulfilled the aspirations of the Punjab youth, who are migrating out. This model has kept a majority of people dependent on agriculture with small land-holdings, resulting in low productivity and poverty of peasantry. Prof Dhesi said education required not only infrastructure but proper competitive environment which would raise the aspiration level of the youth in rural Punjab. He expressed apprehensions about the authenticity of data in the report at some places. Prof P.S. Raikhy highlighted the need for industrial development in Punjab and emphasised on restructuring the District Planning Board. He highlighted the need for neighborhood schools to impart quality education in rural areas of Punjab. Prof R.S. Ghuman pointed out at the non-shifting of workforce from the agriculture sector to the non-agriculture sector, which had adversely affected livelihood in rural areas. Prof R.S. Bawa questioned the quality of education being imparted at the school level.
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Three mentally ill rescued
Faridkot, February 22 Deputy Commissioner Alok Shekhar and Red Cross secretary Gurdayal Singh visited the village before admitting him and two other mental patients at Sadik to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital here. Roshan’s family members said he was married and had four children. He worked as a daily wager to eke out his living, but four years back he became mentally ill and started wandering around the village. They said they were compelled to chain him, as he began pelting stones at the villagers. They also got him treated at various places, but to no avail. When the DC was in the village for Roshan, the villagers brought two more such cases to his notice. Ms Veerpal Kaur, the mother of 14-year-old Soni, told the DC that once her son had temperature when he was two-and-a-half years of age, after which he became mentally ill. Mr Darshan Singh, brother of Prakash, said the latter had been mentally ill for the past many years. “His condition deteriorates in July and August and he often ventures out of home in those days,” he added. The DC assured them free medical aid for these mental patients. Earlier, Kala Singh of Mani Singh Wala village and Malkit Singh of Marak village were offered free treatment by the Red Cross and now both of them were leading normal life.
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PSEB workshop concludes
Patiala, February 22 The programme was attended among others by Engineers-in-Chief, Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers and Senior Executive Engineers of the distribution system. The programme was addressed by Dr A.S. Chawla from the Punjab School of Management and associated with the executive education programme of Harvard Business School. During these three days, the distribution officials interacted with the faculty on management issues like leadership, motivation, team building, communication and transactional analysis. Mr H.S. Sohi, Member (Finance and Accounts), PSEB, said such HRD initiatives were required to change the mindset of senior functionaries of the board and help them to analyse strengths and weaknesses of their working. Mr Sohi said that through modern
management techniques, it was possible to improve the power sector. Mr Sohi said the HRD initiative in the PSEB to improve its overall performance will continue.
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Bhutan’s most wanted visits Amritsar
Amritsar, February 22 This was alleged by Mr D.P. Kafley, general secretary of the Human Rights Council and one of the most wanted fugitives of Bhutan while talking to TNS here yesterday. He carries a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head. He had come here to participate in a seminar on “The problem of terrorism in South-Asian countries,” organised by the Folklore Search Academy, Amritsar. He said many Bhutanese were languishing in various jails of the country for raising voice against the atrocities committed on the citizens. He said he was one of the 14 Bhutanese who carried an award of Rs 5 lakh on their heads. He alleged there was no written constitution of the country and hence the voice of pro-democracy citizens was being muzzled using inhuman methods. He said they would continue their struggle till true democracy was set up in the country.
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SAARC workshop on water
Amritsar, February 22 These remarks were made by Dr Malwinder Singh, member secretary of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, Patiala, while inaugurating a three-day 6th Saarc workshop on water-saving technologies being organised by the United States Educational Foundation in India in collaboration with the Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences of Guru Nanak Dev University here at its Guru Nanak Bhavan Auditorium. Dr S.P. Singh, Vice-Chancellor, presided while Prof (Mrs) Jean Schuloske, Executive Director of the foundation, gave the introduction about the workshop.
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PSEB vigilance for action against five
Patiala, February 22 After investigation, the Vigilance found five, including an Assistant Engineer and a Storekeeper, guilty of embezzlement of Rs 1.75 lakh. Mr
Bhatia recommended initiation of disciplinary proceedings for major penalty and the registration of a criminal case.
TNS
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Power unit shut down at Ropar plant
Ropar, February 22 As a result, people in the rural and urban areas faced longer power cuts than scheduled. Sources said that due to a leakage in boiler of Unit-2, the unit had stopped functioning. It is expected to become operational tomorrow.
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3 injured in blast
Muktsar, February 22 Rinkoo (22), his sister Neenu (15) and their neighbour Shinder Kaur (45) were injured when a blast took place while they were engaged in manufacturing fireworks, the police said. The injured were referred to a hospital at Ludhiana. Senior police and civil officials rushed to the spot. Due to the blast considerable loss was reported to the roof of the house as the victims were manufacturing fireworks while sitting on the roof.
— PTI
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IAF man insulted for carrying ‘choti’
Pathankot, February 22 In the orders, a copy of which is available with The Tribune, it has been stated that the tuft of hair on the back of his head was against the rules. As per the directive, the authority should take appropriate action (that is to remove the tuft of hair). The petitioner has alleged that he is a Brahmin. He has been a supporting tuft of hair (Choti) at the back of his head after a religious ceremony was held at the age of five. He joined the Indian Air force in 1987and joined the duty at the Pathankot air force station in 2003. For all these years no one had objected to it. However, recently he complained to the authorities against the use of abusive language against him on duty by one of his senior officers. Instead of redressing his grievances, the authorities had started victimising him. An inquiry officer, instead of listening to his views, further used abusive language against him. On the petition of Naresh Kumar, the high court has issued a notice of motion to the air force authorities at Pathankot and the Ministry of Defense and directed them to reply to the charges within 15 days.
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Nabha jail official suspended
Chandigarh, February 22 The Chief Minister said such persons had no business to be in government service and added: “ If I had my way, I would have dismissed them from service. However, the rules and procedures have to be followed”. Narinder Singh had alleged that the objectionable word was branded on his back and then he was paraded naked in the jail.
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Stop flow of dirty water into canal, XEN told
Chandigarh, February 22 Drawing the attention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court judgement in this regard, Mr Harbans Singh has asked the Executive Engineer to implement the order of the court immediately. The copy of the letter has also been sent to the Chief Engineer (canals) here. It was alleged in the complaint that dirty water was flowing into the canal near Jandali village, 15 km from Doraha. The canal supplies water to various parts of the Malwa region.
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Verma new Home Secy
Chandigarh, February 22 Mr Verma will continue to work as Financial Commissioner, Development. Mr Dubey, whose name has been forwarded to the Union Government for deputation, will replace Mrs Sujata Dass, who has been appointed Commissioner, Enquiries.
— TNS
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Four killed in road accident
Abohar, February 22 According to information, the victims had gone to Pucca Sarna village reportedly for buying liquor to celebrate the marriage of their brother-in-law at Morjand Khari village. The marriage party had returned last evening from Dholipal. Witnesses said their ill-fated jeep (RJ-13C-6817) rammed in to an oil tanker (HR 38 H 2764) parked on the roadside due to some mechanical fault near Uttamsinghwala village at 11.30 PM. Two of the occupants died on the spot, while others died on way to the district hospital, Sriganganagar, 40 km from here. The victims were identified as Sanjay Jhorar, Vijay Singh Panniwala, Krishan Lal (all brothers-in-law of the bridegroom) and driver Vinod Sharma. The police has launched a search for the driver of the oil tanker who reportedly fled from the scene after the accident.
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Rs 15.5 lakh looted from PNB
Thekerewal (Barnala), February 22 According to witnesses, three youths came in white Maruti car at about 1 pm. One robber snatched the rifle of security guard of the bank, while another person entered the bank and held the pistol on the head of bank manager Satish
Kumar Arora. The third robber started collecting the cash from bank. Soon after the incident, the bank manager called up the police. SSP G.Nageshwar Rao said red alert had been sounded in the state. The white car, which was used for robbery, was bearing registration number PB-18 2405 which was a fake number. The police is suspecting that the looters can be in the Jagraon area.
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Peace panel member commits suicide
Abohar, February 22 According to information, Harpreet was alone at her house when she consumed the poisonous tablets. A member of the village panchayat rushed her to the Civil Hospital with the help of
neighbours as she fell unconscious. Efforts by the doctors to save her proved futile. The police could not record her statement. An FIR was registered on the statement of her son, Gurpreet Singh, but he did not hold any one responsible for the death. Sources said her husband had complained to senior police officers in the past three months objecting to the visits of an ASI of Punjab police then posted at Fazilka.
— OC
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Prisoner escapes from hospital
Amritsar, February 22 When contacted Mr Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh confirmed the incident. He said that Dilraj Singh was admitted to the hospital for treatment after the court orders. It is pertinent to mention that Dilraj Singh was going through rigorous imprisonment under smuggling, rape and looting cases. He had earlier also run away from the hospital in a similar manner.
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Takeover of medical institute: Centre to be approached
Chandigarh, February 22 The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, who chaired the meeting, would soon call on the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to urge him to direct the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to take over the PIMS. This would go a long way in providing super-speciality services to patients in the northern region.
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SGPC institutes to retain minority
status
Chandigarh, February
22 In
other words, the state government will not withdraw their status as
minority community institutions. Sources said the issue was discussed
here this afternoon at a meeting presided over by Chief Minister
Amarinder Singh. The dominating opinion at the meeting was that the
SGPC was an elected body of Sikhs of three states — Punjab, Haryana,
Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh — and that it
did not represent Sikhs of Punjab only.
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Dr N.P. Singh is ISTE regional head
Sangrur, February 22
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Income tax awareness camp organised
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 22 She had come to address the awareness camp, organised by the Department at Aam Khas Bagh today. She said the concept of organising camps in rural and small towns had yielded good results and the income tax assesses in the Patiala Zone had increased from 1,83,512 to 1,93,756. In these camps people are educated that to pay tax is their duty and they should come forward voluntarily to pay taxes. She said the primary purpose is to teach them the benefits of paying taxes. She said the department is for their help and they should not be afraid of it. On this occasion, Mr Varinder Rattan, president, District Beopar Mandal, highlighted various problems being faced by traders and demanded that more branches of banks in all towns of the district should be authorised to collect various types of taxes.
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