Ludhiana, September 22
Panic has gripped the municipal corporation’s accounts branch after reins of it were taken away from Zonal Commissioner BK Gupta and was handed over to Assistant Commissioner Kamalpreet Brar.

According to sources, Brar raided accounts branch office on Sunday and confiscated all blank cheques. The action has come following alleged approval granted to the backdate bills and cheques that was brought to her notice. They revealed that even mayor had told municipal commissioner to keep a tab on bills and payments issued by his predecessor.

Confirming the development, DCFA SK Gupta said: “We were told to reach the office and she asked us to present cheque and cash books. She took away the blank cheque and cash books of the current fiscal quarter with her.” She, however, left those cheques that were filled, he added.

This has left many employees of the accounts branch perplexed, as they fear wrong actions and decisions taken by their seniors. “Many a times we are asked to obey the orders. We were left with no choice but to be mute spectators. Now, if inquiries are ordered many irregularities are likely to crop up and that can even role some heads,” said a worried officer.

Notably for the past more than five years, the accounts branch is being looked after by Zonal Commissioner BK Gupta except for a few months when the department was given to Zonal Commissioner Vinod Sharda. It is one of the most important branches in the corporation as it deals with sanctioning of payments to contractors for undertaking various works. Despite repeated attempts assistant commissioner Kamalpreet Brar was not available for her comments.

Ludhiana, September 22
A youth, who claimed himself to be an aide of dreaded terrorist Balbir Singh Bhootna, was nabbed by division No. 8 police last night.

The youth identified as Parveen Kumar, alias Rahul, a resident of Kirpal Nagar Basti Jodhewal, turned out be a chronic drug addict and a habitual hoax caller, who was arrested earlier also for similar offence by the Basti Jodhewal police.

Giving details about his arrest, SHO Maninder Bedi said the accused had called the police control room on several occasion following the arrest of Bhootna from railway station on September 25.

Bedi added that the accused went to the extent of threatening the police that he was in possession of truckload of RDX and would explode a city bridge if the Bhootna was not let off.

The threat created ripples in the police department and combine team of the CIA and the division No. 8 police was formed to nab the caller.

According to Bedi, Parveen, who was presently staying near Rarrah Sahib Gurdwara was calling from PCOs and even used call from mobile phones procured after submitting fake documents. According to the police, after making a threat call he used to break the sim.

Last evening, the police received a tip-off that Parveen was trying to obtain another sim card for making hoax calls. The cops laid a trap and nabbed him from the Kailash Cinema Chowk.

During the interrogation Parveen cracked and confessed having committed the crime. He said he was a chronic drug addict and used to call the police control room in ecstasy caused due to drug overdose. The cops found needle marks on Parveen’s forearms.

According to the police sources, he declared proclaimed offender by a local court in a similar case of hoax call earlier as well.

Ludhiana, September 22
The thieves struck at the district transport office (DTO) and decamped with hundreds of blank registration certificates (RCs’) and other stationary items after breaking a lock of a store in the mini secretariat here today.

Though, the DTO tried its best to suppress the matter, but its broken lock caught the attention of the visitors and the employees of various other departments.

The news of theft spread like wild fire. Later, MS Chatwal, district transport officer, reached the spot and conducted a thorough check of the store. He further informed the police about the theft.

Though, officially only 110 RCs were reported to have been stolen. But, sources claimed that more than 400 RCs had been stolen from the store. Besides this, the stationary material was also stolen from the store.

If sources are to be believed then the thieves have got hold of original stamps used for issuing RCs as well.

The theft of RCs from the DTO office has raised concern among the police department. In the past many such gangs have been busted by the police, which were indulged in the dirty business of making fake RCs’.

A senior police official said the theft might had been carried out by an organised gang of vehicle thieves. He said they always look for an opportunity to procure original RC in order to sell their stolen vehicles.

MS Chatwal said: “At least 110 blank RCs’ have been stolen and I am conducting a physical check to ascertain if something else have been stolen or not.”

He further said he had enlisted the details of the stolen items and further informed all the DTOs’ concerned not to issue RCs in the following serial numbers.

However, the police was tightlipped about the entire incident. The department source said a theft in the heart of administrative office has caused major embarrassment to the police as well as the administration authorities.

Ludhiana, September 22
Despite having given 35 representations to the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences the teaching faculty of the Lord Mahavira Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, are getting meager salaries.

All teachers are qualified homeopaths with a vast experience as educationists. But they have not been given any increment since 2007.

In complete paradox to their seniority in service and pay scales recommended by the 5th pay commission, the teaching staff, including the principal of Lord Mahavira Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital is getting inadequate money in the name of the monthly salary.

Dr Ravinder Kochhar, college principal, is drawing Rs 18, 476 per month, which is 35.32 per cent less than the recommended salary of Rs 52, 308 per month. Similarly, the salary given to the senior most professors Dr SK Chalotra (Rs 16,313) and Dr VK Thukral (Rs 15,063) working in the college for the past two decades is much less than the recommended salary of Rs 49, 729 and Rs 48,461.

Even Homeopathy Medical Officers Dr Monika and Dr Naveen Sharma, respectively, are receiving a scanty amount of Rs 5,450 and Rs 5,010 in the name of monthly remuneration.

The college management has failed to implement the recommendations of the Central Council of Homoeopathy, University Grant Commission and the Punjab government.

Teachers rued that the management had ignored the directions of the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences and the state government to give stipulated salaries to them.

Hira Lal Jain, president of the college management, said the teachers in the Lord Mahavira Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital were getting more salaries as compared to those in other homoeopathic colleges. “I am with the teachers but we are not getting enough number of admissions which is why it is difficult to give increments with existing funds. We don’t receive a single penny grant from the government as it is a self-sustained institution,” added the management president.

Ludhiana, September 22
There is unrest among taxpayers as the Income Tax department has failed to pay their refunds till date. Taxpayers have not received their refunds even for the financial year 2007-08.

The department has not even started processing the cases. Taxpayers have been left in a lurch by the department because they fail to get back their due after paying tax to the government.

Harsimran Singh, a taxpayer, said the department slaps a fine and also interest on them if they fail to submit their IT return on time. “While there is no check or the rule to watch that the department gives the refunds to the tax payers on time,” he added.

Jatinder Khurana, president, Taxation Young Lawyers Association, said: “That the department has not released the refund from the past one-and-a-half year. The money of the tax payers in the form of refunds has been blocked by the department.”

Adding another taxpayer from the city Satish Dhand said if they pay their Income Tax on time, it becomes the duty of the department to release their refunds well in time.

Thousands of taxpayers are in a dock due to the department’s casual attitude. “We are facing financial problems as the department has failed to return our refunds,” he added. 

Ludhiana, September 22
Development works in a few villages of 12 blocks in the district would soon see the light of the day with the Zila Parishad distributing grants worth Rs 5 crores for the projects.

Representatives of all blocks reached the Zila Parishad office here today. They were handed over cheques so that various development projects, including the cleaning up of drains, ponds, installation of submersible pumps, and pipeline for supplying potable water to the villages.

Zila Parishad chairman Manpreet Singh Ayali directed all representatives to start work in their respective villages on the priority basis so that the funds could soon be utilised.

He handed over cheques for Rs 50,74,133 to Ludhiana-I, Rs 58,90463 to Ludhiana-II, Rs 36,38,774 to Pakhowal, Rs 47,18,289 to Dehlon, Rs 32,00,228 to Doraha, Rs 47,01,090 to Jagraon, Rs 41,47,709 to Sidhwan Bet, Rs 23,10,534 to Sudhar, Rs 26,70,751 to Samrala, Rs 31,41,400 to Machhiwara, Rs 36, 90,468 to Khanna, Rs 33,16,161 to Raikot blocks and Rs 35 lakh for sanitation.

Ludhiana, September 22
Resentment continues to prevail among employees of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) with regard the long-pending demands for the revised pay scales.

To discuss the agenda of the revision in pay scales, a meeting of members of the PAU Employees' Union was held here today.

The meeting was attended by members of various trade unions and associations of the PAU employees. They discussed the long-pending demands of employees and the prevailing anomalies in the salary structure.

Former president and general secretary of the PAU Employees' Union DP Maur and Amritpal Singh emphasised on the need of implementing the new pay scales for the PAU employees.

They said while employees of the Punjab government were given salaries in accordance with the new pay scales, the university employees were deprived of the same.

“Strong resentment is brewing among the PAU employees, as they have not been given revised salaries even for the current month," said Maur.

He added that there were many anomalies in the pay scales, which needed to be reviewed.

On the occasion, former senior vice-president PS Gill and Dr Gulzar Pandher evaluated the activities of the existing leadership, which could not achieve new pay scales for the PAU employees in time.

Employees urged the government to immediately fulfill their demands, failing which they would be forced to lodge a protest. 

Ludhiana, September 22
A team of University Institute of Laws, Panjab University Regional Centre, has secured the overall first position in the "National Trial Advocacy Moot Court" competition hosted by University Institute of Legal Studies, PU, Chandigarh, on September 18 and 19.

The team comprising Silky Avasthy, Disha Arora, Neelam Sharma, Zorabar Singh, Kanika Sachdeva and Sahil Verma, was trained by Dr Shiv K Dogra and Dr Rattan Singh.

Silky Avasthy was adjudged the best speaker in the final round. Disha Arora was declared the second best speaker of the competition, while in best research memorial (writing skills), Zorabar Singh and Neelam Sharma were placed at the third position, respectively.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 22
Mysterious death of another Sikh youth in the Austrian police custody, recently, has triggered outrage Punjabi youths seeking political asylum in that country.

If disclosures made by affected youths are to be believed, over 1,220 Sikhs, languishing in Austrian Jails, were being treated in an inhuman manner. While a few of them had fallen ill due to starvation other were on fast unto death.

Accusing the Austrian government of torturing them physically and mentally, the stranded youths have sought the International Human Rights Organisation’s and the United Nations intervention in protecting their fundamental right of practicing religion of their choice.

Sukhminder Singh Grewal, president, BJP Investor Cell, has urged the Union government to impress upon the Indian High Commission to come to rescue of the youths who had shifted to that country in search of livelihood and unfortunately applied for political asylum for obvious reasons.

Jagdev Singh Mann of Payal and Gurdeep Singh of Bilga alleged that Gaganpreet Singh of Batala, who had allegedly gone on fast unto death after being arrested by the Hernalser Gurtel police station on August 7, had died due to callousness on the part of Jail authorities yesterday.

“Violating directions of the apex court of Austria, the Jail authorities did not bother to shift Gagan Preet Singh to hospital even after his condition worsened due to fasting for over five weeks,” alleged Jagdev Singh and Gurdeep Singh. An Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung had reported that Gagan Preet Singh was found dead by a guard in the jail on Monday morning.

Earlier, Amarjit Singh of Hoshiarpur had died in custody of the Leobon Police in the similar manner.

The stranded youth alleged that the Austrian government had turned hostile to Punjabis in general and Sikh in particular after the Vienna episode. Youths who had been staying in Austria for over five years were being allured to deposit their passports on pretext of granting them asylum. A few lawyers, who had been engaged by the Sikh youths to fight their cases, were acting on behest of the regime there. “Think positive Singh, is the only answer, our counsels’ give when we enquire about the fate of our applications,” rued Gurdeep Singh apprehending he would also be put behind bars due to the alleged dishonesty of his lawyer. 

Ludhiana, September 22
A one-day CME on “Depression: An Update”, was organised at the department of pharmacology, Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) here today.

Inaugurating the CME, Dr Kim Mammen, acting director, CMCH, emphasised the need for updates on depression. He said the condition was common among people these days due to changing and stressful lifestyle.

Dr SM Bhatti, CMCH principal, welcomed the delegates. Dr Balbir Singh Shah, member of the Punjab Medical Council, lauded the efforts of the organisers in updating the knowledge of doctors.

Debasish Hota from the PGI, Chandigarh, and Dr Rupesh Chaudhry from the DMCH highlighted the factors behind the prevalence of depression in younger age and drugs that were available for the treatment.

It was stated that drugs took time to develop their action, hence patients should be monitored in the initial stages of depression.

Dr Arun Sood, Dr Dinesh Badyal and Dr Arvind Sharma focussed on psychological issues, new discoveries in treatment and also managing different types of depression.

Dr RS Deswal, professor and head, psychiatry department, CMCH, while chairing the sessions said all patients should be assessed individually and then a treatment plan should be designed for each patient.

Around 25 per cent patients did not respond to standard drugs and in such cases new drugs should be tried, observed Dr Ranjiv Mahajan from the DMCH.

Dr Dinesh Badyal, organising secretary of the CME and head of pharmacology department, said over 100 doctors from all over the state, including medical colleges attended, the CME.

Ludhiana, September 22
Members of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Employees’ Union held a demonstration in front of the office of the general manager, telecom, on a call given by the United Forum of BSNL Unions here today. They protested against the payment of reduced bonus to non-executive workers of the BSNL.

Addressing the gathering, Balwinder Singh, district secretary, said the BSNL management had taken a unilateral decision of paying reduced bonus to workers on the plea that the profit of the BSNL had fallen during the past financial year whereas the department of public enterprises had awarded fair grade status to the BSNL for the period.

“The unions are concerned at the declining profit of the organisation. It is, however, felt that the profit is declining due to the wrong policies and mismanagement of top-level officers. The management is adopting unfair labour practices in the organisation and is responsible for labour unrest in the industry,” he added.

Ludhiana, September 22
To initiate discussion with entrepreneurial personalities of the region and to obtain their perspective on the roadmap the state needs to chart out for the growth of industry, a business guidance camp was organised by Punjab Infotech in association with The Indus Enterprises (TiE) here today.

Around 100 delegates, including final-year students of management and engineering colleges, took part the camp.

Dr SS Channy, Principal Secretary, industries and commerce, Punjab, assured industrialists and entrepreneurs that an industrial policy was being notified shortly. He said it was with Cabinet for the final nod.

On power situation in the state, Channy said efforts were being made at various levels to bring back the power situation on track.

He said the best investment in the state was now in the power sector as investors didn’t have to bother about its marketing.

On the business guidance camp, Channy said such camps gave an opportunity to young entrepreneurs to put doubts in their minds to rest.

TiE president Puneet Vatsayan said the state government had initiated steps to facilitate business and investments.

In the direction, the state government had adopted a four-pillar approach of infrastructure, human resources, policy framework and investor relations.

The government had enacted the Industrial Facilitation Act and notified regulations that provided deemed approvals after the stipulated time.

“TiE endeavours to energise the entrepreneurial atmosphere in the region. These camps are part of nationwide campaign to provide help, support and guidance to entrepreneurs under TiEs ‘Enterprising India’ initiative. This initiative will reach a high note at the TiE summit in December at Mumbai, Asia’s largest conference for the entrepreneurial community,” he added.

Ludhiana, September 22
In order to speed up the disposal of pending cases before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has set up an additional bench.

According to sources, the sitting president of Consumer Forum, Tarn Taran, Luxmi Narayan Sharma, will head the bench.

The bench will work for two days a week. On the remaining three days, Sharma will head the consumer forum at Tarn Taran.

Jagjit Kaur Mander has been appointed member of the additional bench.

She was working as a member at Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Nawanshahr.

She will attend the proceedings of the additional bench at a makeshift arrangement on Monday and Tuesday. Initially, the bench has been entrusted with around 150 pending consumer forum cases.

Staff of three employees from Ropar has been deputed here. They had been rendered without work after the retirement of president of Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Ropar, MR Batra.

The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission had earlier too set up an additional bench in the city. But the bench was withdrawn following difference of opinion between the then president of additional bench and its member.

The two had given dissenting views in several judgements, which had irked the state commission.

In certain cases, where the judgement of the additional bench was not final, the state commission had to remand back the case for fresh disposal to another bench.

District Bar Association president Parupkar Singh Ghumman has welcomed the setting up of the additional bench. He said it would be help consumers whose cases had been lying pending in the consumer forum for a long period due to heavy pendency of cases.

Raikot, September 22
Four desk computers and four batteries worth Rs 80,000 were reportedly stolen from a government school at Burj Nakalian village near here on the intervening night of September 19 and 20.

Upkar Singh, headmaster of the school, alleged that thieves had broken the lock of computer lab and had decamped with four computers and four batteries.

Upkar Singh, along with Kuldeep Singh, sarpanch of the panchayat, informed the police about the theft. A case under Sections 457, 380 of the IPC has been registered against the accused. — OC

Jagraon, September 22
The Sidhwan Bet police yesterday unearthed two illegal distilleries involved in extracting country-made liquor at Akkuwal village.

On a tip-off, a police team led by SI Bawa Singh raided two premises at the village and unearthed two illegally-run distilleries.

The police team destroyed the distilleries but could not arrest anyone as the unidentified suspects fled the scene on seeing the police.

The police seized raw material enough to make 300 litres of illicit liquor along with 55 bottles of liquor.

Last week, a similar distillery was unearthed at Parjian Biharipur and 25 kg of raw material along with four litres of country-made liquor was seized from Satnam Singh, alias Satti.

The police has registered cases against the accused under Sections 61, 1, 14 of the Excise Act.

Raikot, September 22
The Sudhar police has booked three youths on charges of assaulting another youth of Aitiana village.

Sumanpreet Singh of the village in his complaint stated that he along with his friend Amanpreet Singh was returning home after attending a religious programme at the village last night.

When they reached the Tugal Chowk, Jagjit Singh of Chakar village along with Bittu and Gurdeep Singh, alias Deepa, of the same village, travelling in a jeep obstructed their way.

When they asked for passage, Gurdeep started abusing them.

On their opposition, Jagjit armed with a sword and Gurdeep carrying a bar attacked him, leaving him seriously injured.

Sumanpreet Singh was admitted to the Sudhar civil hospital in a critical state.

The police has registered a case against the three accused under Sections 323, 324, 341, 506 and 34 of the IPC. No arrest has been made so far.

Jagraon, September 22
A youth was waylaid, assaulted and robbed of his belongings after being kidnapped due to some old enmity. Gagandeep Singh (18) of Virk village in a complaint lodged with the Sidhwan Bet police yesterday alleged that his brother was getting married to a Jagraon-based girl at her residence at Kukkar Bazar.

While he was returning with Gurmeet Singh and Davinder Singh of the same village, he was waylaid, assaulted and robbed of three mobile phones and Rs 3,000 in cash.

After this, the attackers identified as Binni of Moga, Mohinder Kaur of Virk village, Karamjit Kaur of Hissowal and five other unidentified persons kidnapped him, thrashed him in a moving car and then dropped him near Nanaksar.

Balbir Singh, SHO, Sidhwan Bet, however, said Mohinder Kaur is the sister of the complainant’s mother, who lives at Virk village. Her elder daughter Karamjit Kaur is married at Hissowal. Her younger daughter Gaggi used to visit her sister at Hissowal village. Binni, a relative of Kamaljit Kaur’s husband Avtar Singh, also used to frequent the place.

Both developed came close and Binni started visiting Virk too. Mohinder Kaur never objected to this relationship. When Gagandeep Singh’s friends started taunting him for relationship between Gaggi and Binni, he along with his friends had thrashed Binni about a month and a half ago.

His family even severed relationship with Mohinder Kaur. After Mandeep Singh’s marriage, the elder brother of Gagandeep Singh, the family of Mohinder Kaur, was not invited. This irritated her. She along with Binni, her sisters and other persons attacked Gagandeep Singh and his friends out of frustration and for avenging attack on Binni. Sidhwan Bet police has registered a case against the accused.

Khanna, September 22
The police today claimed to have solved a case involving the murder of an octogenarian with the arrest of two persons.

Mahinder Kaur was found murdered in her house at Rabbon Neeche village falling in the Payal police station area on September 14.

A case against some unidentified persons was registered at the Payal police station.

Mahinder Kaur was putting up alone in her house as her husband had died three years ago and their children and grandchildren were married.

One of her granddaughters, Jasvir Kaur, used to visit her off and on and stay with her for some days.

However, Jasvir’s husband Shamsher Singh Soni objected to her staying with her grandmother.

He had had heated argument with his wife and her grandmother over the issue a number of times in the past.

On September 14, he along with his friend Gurpreet Singh Gopi, a resident of Longowal village in Sangrur, allegedly murdered the woman by piercing a sword in her neck over the issue.

Her body remained lying in a pool of blood for three days as the house was on the outskirts of the village.

During investigation and recording of statements of the relatives and friends of the victim, the police zeroed in on Shamsher and arrested him due to his conflicting statements. He later admitted to the crime during further investigations.

Police officials investigating the case said Shamsher was not just upset over the staying of his wife with her grandmother but was also eying land and money that were to be given to his wife after the death of the grandmother.