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2 bank employees caught in debit card fraud
Ludhiana, December 7 The accused, Vikas Tandon and Manoj Tandon, both employed with the Regional Processing Centre of the ICICI Branch, Ferozepore road, were remanded to one-day police custody by a district court today. A team of Basti Jodhewal police, led by ASI Harbans Singh, had nabbed the accused yesterday from near Tibba Road. They had misused the card belonging to Mr Rohit Malhotra, an industrialist living in Civil Lines. The act of stealing the card and getting a pin number from the bank's helpline has shocked the banking industry and the account
holders. They managed to do so by allegedly exploiting the easy accessibility of the details of an account holder which are available with all employees. While the Basti Jodhewal police is investigating the role of other bank employees in the fraud, including senior officials. The accused youth in an interview with the Ludhiana Tribune alleged that they were earning only Rs 5,000 from the job and stole to make both ends meet. Giving details about the modus operandi adopted by the accused, the investigating officer said the youths stole a debit card from 150 cards received through courier. They then contacted the bank's helpline over the phone to take the pin. The helpline operators asked for certain details about the account holder. They easily gave the details as they had access to the computers. The duo then cleverly used the debit card at those ATMs where they knew no cameras were installed. They withdrew Rs 1.50 lakh gradually. However, they made the mistake of using the card for buying petrol and shopping at some shopping malls. Meanwhile, the victim account holder, Mr Rakesh Malhotra, noticed the withdrawals from his account. On his complaint, the police launched an investigation and caught the two accused with the help of their pictures caught in a camera at a shopping mall. Mr G.S. Bains, SHO, Basti Jodhewal, who supervised the investigation said the fraud came as a wake up call to the banking security
system. He said the police would investigate and take action accordingly. He
said the police has already recovered Rs 1.50 lakh from the accused.
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Bar poll: candidates warned against defacement
Ludhiana, December 7 A notice to this effect was put on the notice board, which mentioned that the filing of nomination papers had started and the contestants should not paste posters and handbills on the complex. In the past also the Returning Officer had issued the same direction but it was ignored by the candidates. Sources claimed that today three candidates had been called by the poll officer in connection with the defacement of walls. They were asked to remove the posters and handbills. Meanwhile, four contestants filed their papers for different posts today. Mr Rajan Chand and Ms Anju Sodhi filed papers for the post of joint secretary while for the post of finance secretary, Mr Karan Singh filed his papers. Ms Gurbir Kaur filed papers for the post of executive member. The secretary of the association, Mr Rajneesh Gupta, welcomed the directions of the Returning Officer, saying that it would save the money of the candidates.
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Villagers take upon themselves
to build bridge
Kaniya Hussaini (Jagraon), December 7 But without enough funds and engineering skills, the bridge has been falling time and again. It has been constructed six times since January 2005 but has given way to the pressure of water released into the drain or when the Sutlej gets flooded. The need for the bridge is immense. It enables villagers to remain connected to other parts of the district during monsoon. Farmers will not have to travel 20 km to reach their fields situated on the opposite side of the drain. Also the villages would get a bus route approved if the bridge comes up. The government's commitment of development stands exposed with the plight of these villages. Pooling their resources, the residents led by present and former sarpanches today started building a bridge over the Jassowal drain which has become a rivulet of sorrow for these villages. Constructed in 1954 to check waterlogging, the drain had started carrying flood waters of the Sutlej and inundated routes leading to these villages. "We are fed up with waiting for the government to start the construction of the bridge which politicians and bureaucrats have been promising ever since the drain was dug up. We don't want to remain waterlocked this monsoon and have very little time at our disposal," said Mr Gurdev Singh, former sarpanch of Sherewal village. He and his brother Prem Singh have put in Rs 1 lakh and started the work with the help of tractors. "The district administration has been telling us that they need Rs 70 lakh for the project but we plan to complete the bridge with Rs 10 lakh that we would arrange from nearly 20 villages," he said. He hoped that some donors would also come forward. The bridge will become the lifeline for Kanya Hussaini, Sherewal, Baghian, Bahadar Ke, Mand Tihara, Subhajpur, Patti Multani, Kaker, Parjian Biharipur, Khurshedpura, Hujra, Bhaini Gujran and other villages. A foundation stone stands near the bridge site on the Kanya Hussaini-Sherewal road. It is claimed that a former Akali MP had donated Rs 1 lakh for the bridge. The work never started. Mr Gurdev Singh claimed that the money never reached the panchayat. "We inquired from the district administration several times about the grant given by the MP but none knows anything about it. The MP had handed over the cheque to certain officials of the Rural Development and Panchayats," he said. Villagers hoped that they would manage to get a bus route after the construction of the bridge. A metalled road from Kanya Hussaini ends abruptly at the drain. The villagers have not taken the help of any engineer so far and are confident that they could build the bridge on their own. Despite a number of representations to the Chief Minister and the district administration, no financial help has come from the government. A deputation of the villagers had also met the PPCC President in this regard. The MLA had also raised the matter in the Assembly but nothing had come of it.
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Rare barn owls rescued
Ludhiana, December 7 Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Mr Ajay Jain said he got suspicious when he saw blood stains on a jute bag, carried by three persons at Shivpuri. As when they tried to enquire about it, the three ran away leaving the bag behind. "We were shocked to see these six birds tied tightly in the bag. Two of the baby owls were dead while one of them was seriously injured and was bleeding profusely", Mr Jain said. He further said they informed the wildlife people in Chandigarh and took permission to take the barn owls to the Animals and Birds Shelter and Hospital of People for Animals, Ludhiana, for treatment. The birds were released by Mr Ajay Jain in presence of Mr Mohan Singh, Forest Officer, Mattewal Jungles. Mr Jain said tantriks in the region sacrificed these birds for various purposes. An injured white hawk was also rescued by the PFA recently on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh highway, which was later released in the same jungle, said Mr Jain.
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Man hacks wife to death
Ludhiana, December 7 The accused Harjinder Singh ran away after killing his wife Manju Bala in his dairy . They had a fight over some difference of opinion last night after which he allegedly took her to his dairy and hacked her to death.
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State may soon have
another political outfit
Ludhiana, December 7 The Panthic groups which have formed the gurdwara Sudhar Lehar - It comprising the Akali Dal (Amritsar), the Akali Dal (Longowal), the Khalsa Panchayat, the Dal Khalsa International, and the Akali Dal 1920 will be a part of the proposed Punjab front. Besides, the two Left parties, the CPI and the CPM, the Lok Bhalai Party headed by Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia and the Bahujan Samaj Party will also be a part of the front. Prof Jagmohan Singh, general secretary of the Akali Dal (Amritsar ) said here today that these parties would have seat adjustments and they would put up three cornered fight on all 117 Vidhan Sabha seats. Prof Jagmohan Singh claimed that the Punjab front would be a force to reckon with and the next popular government in Punjab would be formed with the help of this front only. He disclosed that Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra was already in dialogue with these parties and the talks centred round the seat adjustments only. The CPI has already announced that it would contest the Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections in alliance with the Jan Morcha led by Mr V.P. Singh and the Lok Bhalai Party would also be part of this conglomeration. Meanwhile, the reported moves of Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra's return to the Akali Dal led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal have been stalled by his partymen. The sources close to the Panthic groups revealed today that it was almost decided that Mr Chandumajra would go back to the Akali Dal (Badal) and he was promised three Vidhan Sabha seats and his own nomination to the Rajya Sabha. But Mr Parkash Singh Badal was not keen to take back Mr Inderjit Singh Zeera in the party as he had opposed him in the SGPC elections two years ago. The partymen of Mr Chandumajra are also understood to have told him that he could not wind up the Akali Dal (Longowal) and he should resign and go back to Mr Badal. They have also reportedly threatened to remove him from the presidentship if he tried to betray the party. The threat worked and Mr Chandumajra has been restrained from changing his party, the sources said.
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EO served notice for denying info under RTI Act
Doraha, December 7 The Deputy Registrar of the commission in a letter dated November 2 has asked the Executive Officer here to appear before the commission on December 11 either personally or through an authorised representative who is well conversant with the facts of the case. The letter further states,"In case no appearance is made on your behalf the case will be decided ex-parte in your absence." The orders had been issued on the basis of a complaint filed by Mr Pawan Kumar Kaushal of Kaushal street, here. He had alleged that the Executive Officer of the Municipal Council had not given the information under the RTI Act in which he had questioned the repair done in the street and Ward No 9 and 10 Baina Wali Gali in the past seven years. He had demanded adequate information on the above issue with the fee for the same. The complaint was filed to the Chief Information Commissioner of Punjab when no response was received. According to Mr Pawan Kumar Kaushal,"After a week of my filing of the complaint, the commission asked the EO to file his response within 15 days for consideration of the commission. It had also asked the Public information officer (EO) to endorse a copy of response to me i e the complainant. since no response came, the SIC has now asked the EO to appear before the former and justify his position." Mr Jagjit Singh, Executive Officer, here said the ME of the council will be appearing before the commission and will make the necessary amends.
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Tax plays wet blanket
Ludhiana, December 7 “The demand this year is half of what it was last time. It is primarily on account of higher manufacturing costs in Punjab in comparison to neighbouring states. The government, despite repeated assurances to abolish VAT, has not done anything so far and the non-clarity on this issue is proving harmful for the industry," said Mr Kamal Kwatra, president, All-India Blanket Manufacturers and Suppliers Association. Blanket dealers said most of their major customers had shifted to Panipat as the cost of blankets manufactured in Punjab was at least 10 per cent higher. Declining temperature had only generated demand from local buyers, they added. The steep fall in orders over the past two years has forced many manufacturers to reduce production. About tax, Mr Kwatra said it was 4 per cent while Haryana had no VAT on blankets which caused a gap in the cost. Earlier, Punjab had almost 70 per cent share in the total demand of roughly Rs 400 crore every year. However, this share had significantly declined in the past two years. The state generated major demand from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar, but customers were now shifting to Haryana. "If this situation continues, the industry would be forced to shut down or shift to some other state," the dealers said.
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'IT Settlement Commission committed to speedy and just disposal'
Ludhiana, December 7 Mr Singh, along with Mr J.G. Pendse, Mr B.P. Sah and other senior officials of the Principal Bench of ITSC, was speaking at a camp at Aaykar Bhavan here yesterday to decide the cases at the doorstep of assesses to save the bar members and tax payers from the inconvenience of appearing before the bench at Delhi. Later, speaking at an interactive session organised by the District Taxation Bar Association (DTBA) and Taxation Bar Association (TBA), Mr Singh stated that the commission provided an equitable and final settlement of pending cases. The assesses could come to the commission at any stage of the case, which were pending before Income Tax authorities except those pending with the Tribunal. "The ITSC makes the assessments final for ever, eliminates protective assessments with the sole exception of writ petition lying against the order of the commission. Further, the proceedings are strictly confidential and held in-camera and the contents of proceedings are not admissible in a court of law." The Chairman maintained that ITSC was a forum for statutory arbitration where assesses surrendered voluntarily to have peace of mind and sought final disposal of the pending matters. He said if proper infrastructure and facilities were provided for hearing of cases and the tax bars extended their full cooperation, then such settlement camps could be organised at different places in the country at regular intervals. Taking part in the discussion, Mr Ashok Juneja and Mr Subhash Jain, presidents of TBA and DTBA, respectively, appreciated the step of ITSC in organising the settlement camp here, which, they said, would be helpful to both the members of the bars and the tax payers. Mr Juneja and Mr Jain, while expressing their gratitude to the Chairman and senior officials of the ITSC, as also IT authorities under the Chief Commissionerate here, for providing the members of the bar with an opportunity to apprise themselves with the working of the commission, expressed the desire that more such interactions be arranged at regular intervals so as to ensure smooth working of the network of direct taxes. Mr Ajay Pal Singh, Mr Pawan Garg and Mr R.K. Kapoor, among others, also took part in the deliberations.
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Purses snatched from 2 women
Jagraon, December 7 Meanwhile, some unknown persons stole a 10 HP Lister engine worth Rs 7,000 fitted on the land of Surjit Singh of Sidhwan Kalan on
Wednesday. The police has registered a case under Section 379, IPC.
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Zen Estilo, new magnet on road
Ludhiana, December 7 “The new car, which is more spacious and taller than the original Zen, boasts of a 1061 cc engine, and a low end torque, thus making it even more suitable for Indian roads”, the company reported. "Maruti Udyog stopped production of the original Zen about eight months ago, to prepare for this car. The initial response has been overwhelming”, Dr Naresh Malhotra of Stan Autos said. The new car comes in eight brilliant colours, including fresh innovative ones like purple fusion, champagne beige and virgin blue. At a function at Swani Motors, Mr Gagan Singh, employed with Swani said that the car will cater to those who are looking for one that is spacious, as well as compact. Its brilliant features; such as power windows on all four doors, power lock system, internally-controlled engine, rear view mirrors and speakers on each door; make the new car very attractive.
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