 |
|
|
|
|
|
AFDR indicts cops for atrocities
Sangrur, November 13 The AFDR has also reported after an emotional speech of Mr Balbir Singh Ghunas, MLA, from Bhadaur, the crowd started throwing stones on the police and damaged some police vehicles. At this stage the police retreated. While retreating the police used tear gas, resorted to lathi charge and also opened fire on the crowd, giving bullet injuries to two to three persons. In his speech, Mr Ghunas reportedly had said that the police had entered the gurdwara Sahib with shoes on and a wall had also been erected in front of the gate of the gurdwara. The committee of the AFDR comprises Mr Hari Singh Tark, state president of the AFDR; Mr Tarsem Lal and Mr Hardev Rathi, president and secretary respectively of the Sangrur district unit of the AFDR; Mr Jagjit Singh, Mr Sohan Singh and Mr Rajinder Bhadaur, members of the AFDR. The AFDR also stated the tension in Bhadaur and clash between the police and residents took place due to adamant attitude of the administration to implement an order on the possession of the land. The administration saw the dispute over the land between two gurdwaras from legal aspect only and ignored feelings of the people of the area, which led to the clash. The AFDR also stated that following the clash Rubin Masih, a Christian youth, died in police custody due to the negligence of the police as it failed to provide proper medical help to Rubin in time. The AFDR has termed actions of those religious organisations “wrong “ which asked people to keep away from greed but they themselves indulged in taking over the land or properties inciting religious sentiments of people and putting pressure on the administration. In the end, the AFDR has urged the administration to find a solution, acceptable to all, of this problem by rising above legal niceties and taking all related parties into confidence. It also demanded legal action against the “erring” police officials for atrocities on people in a revengeful manner. An FIR should be registered under Section 302 of the IPC against the officials responsible for the death of Ruban Masih, besides compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the bereaved family. It also demanded release of all persons (around 150), arrested in connection with this incident, besides withdrawal of “False” cases registered against them. It also demanded compensation for the injured persons.
|
|
Farmers repair canal banks
Gurdaspur, November 13 When The Tribune team visited the Bhamri area of the district, many farmers were seen repairing the kutcha banks of the UBDC with their own labour and tractors. They were filling deep trenches that had development on the canal banks due to erosion over the years using their agriculture implements. When asked, they said the banks of the canal had deteriorated to such an extent that it was very difficult to move vehicles over them. Moreover, the deteriorated canal banks could also cause breach in the canal once the water was released in it for the current cropping season. “We have requested the Department of Irrigation to repair the canal banks many times. However, when they did not act in the matter, we were forced to do the job on our own,” they said. The farmers were also keen to repair the canal banks as they connect them with main roads. They use the route for transporting their produce on tractor-trailers.
|
|
Dharna against land sharks
Abohar, November 13 Col Chopra, who led a dharna at the martyrs’ memorial here today alleged nexus of land grabbers, political workers and revenue officials posed a threat to law and order, human rights besides causing to the state exchequer. Speaking to reporters here in the presence of six victims, including aged and physically challenged women, Col Chopra said Punjab DGP Sarabjit Singh Virk had admitted last year there were 75000 cases of land grab in the state. The number has increased despite crack down efforts by the authorities. An Akali activist who had grabbed my land at Chananakhera village near here had become active again and property broker from neighbouring Sriganganagar region across the border had joined hands with the land grabbers, the Col alleged. He said a Sriganganagar-based property dealer had allegedly connived to grab 80-acres of prime land on roadside in Sappanwali village near here. He was booked in similar cases by the Delhi police in past seven years. In Rajasthan also a case of chealing was pending against him with the DRT Jaipur. There were cases of forging wills, preparing bogus documents to sell properties. Now the same person had allegedly grabbed property in Fazilka and Abohar subdivisions. The victims said grabbers get information from the revenue employees regarding disputes over the distribution of ancestral property, then contact a member, forge documents and get girdawari changed or go ahead with agreement for sale of undivided property lower than market rate. The mafia allegedly criminals from Malout to grab the land at Sappanwali village. The Khuyiansarwar police initially thwarted armed attack but criminals were camping at a nearby farmhouse to create terror, he alleged. Mr Harpal Singh a resident of Azeemgarh who had filed complaints against a Congress MLA of a neighbouring constituency with the Punjab Human Rights Commission and the Lok Pal said the ADC had fixed 20 hearings since February 2005 but did not act at all. The PHRC on September 28 penned that a report from the IGP of the Commission had not been received.
|
|
Bus gutted at bus stand
Jalandhar, November 13 The district police claimed that it was a mere accident but at the same time it did not rule out the possibility of any terrorist hand behind the fire. Two Punjab Roadways buses were gutted in similar fires at the local bus stand on April 28 and May 14 this year. While initially the police had claimed that they were just accidental fires but later said Jammu-based Ranjit Singh Neeta’s Khalistan Jindabad Force (KJF) was behind the fires and arrested terrorist Satta for implanting chemical bombs in the buses. The Amritsar-bound Punjab Roadways bus, bearing number PB12C9470, was coming from Delhi and had stopped for a few minutes at Jalandhar bus stand. The passengers, driver and conductor of the bus alighted for taking tea, driver of the bus Jasbir told mediapersons. The conductor of another bus said smoke was seen emerging from the bonnet and as soon as the bonnet was lifted the fire spread. Soon fire brigade was informed and two fire tenders extinguished the fire. The bus was completely burnt. Senior police officers reached the spot. When contacted, SSP Ishwar Singh said as per the statements of the driver Jasbir and conductor Ranjit, it was an accidental fire. To a query, he said he did not rule out the possibility of any terrorist hand at this moment. In reply to a question, he said the earlier two fires occurred due to blasts and the noise of the blasts was heard but this time no explosion had taken place.
|
|
Probe still on in City Centre case
Chandigarh, November 13 No report has been submitted to the government so far. He, however, gave an assurance that appropriate action would immediately be taken on receipt of the report from the bureau.
|
Quarterly Lok Adalat settles 1,018 cases
Patiala, November 13 In the Lok Adalat, each bench was presided over by a judicial officer and to assist him one senior advocate and one eminent social worker were also present. A total of 1,414 cases were taken up out of which 1,018 cases were disposed of with the mutual consent of parties involved. Mr Justice Inderjit Singh said all types of cases, including civil suits, motor-accident claim cases, bank loan cases, matrimonial cases and compoundable criminal cases were taken up. He added that according to Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, a member of SC/ST, women, children, mentally challenged, physically challenged, victims of mass disaster, persons in custody and persons whose income was less than Rs 30,000 per annum were entitled to get free legal aid. He also informed that a person seeking disposal of his case through Lok Adalat could contact District and Sessions Judge, Civil Judge (Senior Division) or Assistant District Attorney, (Legal Services) at Room no 134, Ist Floor, District Courts.
|
|
3 get RI for contract killing
Amritsar, November 13 The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Sukhdev Singh, fined Rs 3,000 each, failing which the accused would have to undergo one more year in jail. However, Mr Sukhdev Singh acquitted Gurmit Kaur for lack of evidence. Kuldeep Singh, junior engineer and resident of Mohni Park, allegedly had illicit relations. He had given the other two accused “supari” of Rs 50,000 to kill his wife. As per details, Gurdeep Kaur, wife of Kuldeep Singh, was stabbed by two persons, Gurmit Singh Ghuggi and Mandeep Singh, both residents of the Kot Khalsa area here. Gurdeep Kaur succumbed to her injuries in hospital on November 14, 2005. During investigations, accused Gurmit and Mandeep, named the junior engineer for giving them “supari” for killing his wife.
|
ASI suspended after scuffle with DSP
Amritsar, November 13 It is learnt that the DSP manhandled the ASI when he misbehaved with the former during special naka duty. However, Mr Bajwa alleged that the ASI, who was allegedly under the influence of liquour, misbehaved with him. However, Mr Amrik Singh claimed that he did not take liquor. However, the district police chief, Mr S.S. Srivastva, confirmed that he had received recommendation for suspending the ASI. It is learnt that Mr Kaustab Sharma, SP (City), had directed the ASI to put up a special naka at Chatiwind Chowk, near Gurdwara Shaheedan, to arrest some miscreants following a tip-off. However, Herefused to divulge the details.
|
5 kg opium seized, 2 held
Ferozpore, November 13 Mr Arpit Shukla, SSP, said a police party spotted a Maruti car near the Hussaniwala chowk on the Ferozepore-Fazilka road. On getting suspicious the police party signaled the car to stop. Two persons sitting inside the car tried to flee but were overpowered by the police. The SSP said 5 kg opium was recovered from the car and Jasbir Singh and Davinder Singh, both resident of Sangaria, Hanumangarh district in Rajasthan were arrested. During interrogation, they revealed that they had brought the consignment for Jagir Singh, a resident of Harike.
|
300 selected as maths teacher
Chandigarh, November 13 The list has the names of mathematics teachers. The letters of appointment will be issued within a few days. — TNS
|
Meeting to discuss waiving of interest to industrial unit
Chandigarh, November 13 Almost two decades ago, the company, Harpratap Steels, undertook an ambitious project in Phase IX Industrial Area, Mohali, to start a steel rolling unit on 15 acres of land. However, despite the fact that the company gathered a large amount of money from various sources like the PSIDC and the Punjab state Export and Industrial Corporation (PSIEC), it never commenced production. Last year following an extraordinary permission granted by the Punjab Government’s Empowered Committee, Harpratap Steels sold this land to Chandigarh-based Globus Projects Private Limited which intends to establish a mega Information Technology Park here complete with a commercial and residential component. However, both PSIEC and the PSIDC were asked to settle their dues with Harpratap Steels before handing over their shares of the company. While the PSIEC recovered its total outstanding amount of about Rs 5.50 crore from the company, the PSIDC waived off the interest amount of about Rs 9.35 crore and settled for a payment of only Rs 3. 77 crore which it had invested in the company. This decision taken by the then Managing Director of the company was approved by the PSIDC Board of Directors (BOD) following which PSIDC’s shares in the company were transferred to Globus. An audit objection on the matter has now brought to light that company’s MD “neither persuaded the collaborator for payment of interest of Rs 9.35 crore (as on October 31, 2005) as per the Financial Collaboration Agreement (FCA) nor recorded the minutes of the meeting where in a financial decision to sacrifice the whole interest of Rs 9.35 crore was taken in a one-to-one meeting...” Sources added that such a decision should have been taken, to retain transparency, by a committee of officers which should have been approved by the BOD and the Projects Approval Board (PAB) before implementation. “But here the decision for sacrifice was taken by the MD, approved by the BOD and implemented immediately without approval of the PAB,” states the audit objection. Among other explanations, the auditor has also asked how the PSIDC transferred its shares to Globus and not to Harpratap Steels. “Please state the provision number of the FCA or otherwise the mandate therefore, as it has caused the loss to the state exchequer in terms of stamp duty. Please also state as to how the share certificates transferred in the name of Globus were personally delivered to Mr Kairon,” reads the auditor’s objection. The objection also pointed out that the PSIDC had, in the beginning, committed to invest only Rs 1 crore in the project but invested Rs 3.77 crore in violation of its policy not to invest for overrun costs of the project.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
