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Chief Wildlife Warden’s working under scanner
Padma Awards
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Sonia may nominate PPCC chief: Capt
Rubbishes claims of Sukhbir-Kalia report
Finally, 25 promoted as SMOs
Govt land in capital’s periphery decreases
Golden Temple to go green
Sikh clergy declares Sukhwinder a martyr
Lala Lajpat Rai remembered
Benipal sees threat to his life, says no to compromise
Sant Baba Khem Singh cremated
Net boost for govt school students
Accident Case
Prisoner escapes from hospital
Nursing student dies mysteriously in NRI’s house
Protest by unemployed Linemen, ETT teachers at Barnala
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Chief Wildlife Warden’s working under scanner
Jalandhar, January 29 Following allegations and reports regarding violations by the CWW, RK Luna, himself, the Secretary Forest, Punjab, RC Nayyar has marked an enquiry to HK Gujral, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCCF). Highly placed sources in the department said the enquiry report was submitted by the APCCF to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), BC Bala, on January 13. The report says that the CWW violated the Act by burning the plastic nets (found in Harike Wildlife Sanctuary) in the presence of his subordinates. By burning the nets, which otherwise were case property, the officer has destroyed the evidence. The report also says that Luna influenced his subordinate for recording false and fabricated statements in his favour. The officer is fully responsible for the “worst management” of the sanctuary. Luna even transferred Ajit Singh, an honest employee posted at Harike, for his vested interests and destroyed nets and other equipment, the report lists. The CWW also connived with certain fish contractors and allowed them fishing even in the prohibited area of the wetland. Interestingly, the Chief Wildlife Warden, instead of strictly enforcing the Act for the conservation of wildlife, claimed to have authority for destroying the seized nets and other equipment used by the poachers in the sanctuary. Sources in the department revealed that the PCCF had strongly recommended strict disciplinary action against the erring officer - R K Luna - and submitted the report to the secretary forest. Being out of station, Nayyar was not available for comments while Bala was out of station. The CWW, during his visit a couple of months ago, had found smany old and new plastic nets laid by poachers in the Harike sanctuary. The chief of the department had ordered his subordinates, accompanying him, to remove the nets and burn them. Some of the nets were even laid in common places with fish trapped in them.
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State govt hardly makes any recommendation
Prabhjot Singh Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 29 Two Padma awards the state got this year were more because of Central Ministries’ recommendations than those of the Punjab Government. Baba Sewa Singh of Khadur Sahib, for example, got the Padma Shri entirely because of the efforts of Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Manohar Singh Gill. Both Baba Sewa Singh and Gill come from the Tarn Taran border belt of Punjab. In fact, Gill had recommended his name last year but because of some technical snags and verifications that could not be completed in time, Baba Sewa Singh had to wait a year extra to figure in the Padma awardees’ list. “The Punjab Government hardly makes any recommendation. It is the duty of the state to recommend the names of eminent farm scientists, doctors, academicians, artistes, writers, sportsmen and women, captains of business, trade and industry besides those engaged in social service for the conferment of the Padma awards. Unfortunately, not many recommendations are made by the state though Punjab has rich talent in almost all streams in which the Padma awards are usually given,” adds Gill. There are some Babas like Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal and Baba Sewa Singh. They need to be encouraged so that others should also take to the eradication of social evils besides the conservation of the environment, empowerment of the girl child and the promotion of sports and extra-curricular activities in the rural and remote areas. Baba Sewa Singh’s work in the areas of environment, ecology, empowerment of the girl child and sports in general and hockey in particular are not confined to Punjab only. Baba Sewa Singh and his predecessor, Baba Uttam Singh, have done a wonderful job in the reconstruction of the historic Gurdwara Bandi Chorr in the Gwalior fort. Besides, Baba Sewa Singh and his men have done a lot of tree plantation in Madhya Pradesh and some other states. The most appreciable of his social activities, says Gill, has been the construction of a girls’ hostel in Khadur Sahib where 300 students can pursue higher education by staying in well-maintained hostel. “When I recommended his name for the Padma Shri, I wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to send a team to Khadur Sahib to see for itself what good work the Baba has been doing in the neglected border belt.”
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Sonia may nominate PPCC chief: Capt
Chandigarh, January 29 When questioned on the issue here, he said no contests had ever taken place for the Pradesh Congress presidentship and that the party could not afford divisions before the next Assembly elections. Former minister Lal Singh, former MP Rana Gurjeet Singh and legislator Kewal Singh Dhillon, who were accompanying him, said the PPCC was likely to pass a resolution giving party President Sonia Gandhi the authority to nominate the next PPCC president. When asked whether the appointment of the next PPCC president would be delayed now with the election process likely to be completed by July 28 only, he said the appointment could be done earlier also as the elections could be limited to the Block Congress only. The former CM, when questioned about claims that he remained absent from the state for long intervals, said this was not so. “I have toured 14 districts and I am doing the utmost for the party”. He said he would tour the remaining districts shortly. He also used political dexterity while replying to a question seeking his reaction to a statement made by Rajinder Kaur Bhattal that he should shift to Delhi. “Mrs Bhattal has remained Chief Minister, CLP leader, PPCC president and also a legislator many times. I am junior to her.So she should be the one who should go to the Centre. Ladies first!” Speaking on the SGPC poll, he said though the party did not intervene in elections to religious bodies, “we have a right to vote as Sikhs”. He said this fact was also admitted by the CLP leader who had earlier opposed his statement in which he had said he would ask Sikhs to vote for democratic fronts, including that of Delhi Sikh leader Paramjit Singh Sarna. When asked how he rated Sukhbir Badal as Deputy CM, he said the latter was “inexperienced”.The CM also failed his test. He said the CM had an “ancient outlook.
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Rubbishes claims of Sukhbir-Kalia report
Chandigarh, January 29 Addressing mediapersons here today, Amarinder Singh said the SAD-BJP government had performed dismally by taking up the revenue deficit from Rs 43,000 crore left by the last Congress government to over Rs 63,000 crore. “This deficit will end at around Rs 75,000 crore by the end of the SAD-BJP term in office, throwing Punjab into a vicious debt trap wherein the state will be unable to pay even the interest on the borrowed sum”. Terming the report as devoid of imagination, Amarinder Singh said no new avenue of revenue generation had been suggested. “On the other hand poor farmers and people below the poverty line had been taxed. The withdrawal of free power and the imposition of abiana (irrigation cess) would further make the lives of small farmers miserable financially”, he added.
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Finally, 25 promoted as SMOs
Patiala, January 29 A meeting of the DPC was held on December 23 under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Satish Chandra, in which cases of 55 doctors were presented. Orders of these promotions were issued on January 21. Incidentally, the 25 doctors are already posted and serving as SMOs for the past 10-25 years. The meeting of the DPC was first fixed for December 7 and then for December 21, but was cancelled on both occasions due to the absence of representatives of the state Personnel Department. There are 379 posts of SMO in the state Health Department, of which about 50 are lying vacant. On rest of the posts, PCMS-I doctors have been posted as SMOs on basis of seniority and without being formally promoted under service rules. However, now these 25 doctors will be the only SMOs formally promoted under the rules and entitled to the promotional increment. The state Health Department, after the implementation of the Third Punjab Pay Commission, did not promote PCMS-I doctors as SMOs under the rules and rather resorted to appointing SMOs on basis of seniority. The Punjab Civil Medical Service (PCMS)-I Association has welcomed the promotions. However, association general secretary DC Sharma said these doctors had been posted as SMOs for the past 10-15 years and are entitled to be promoted as SMOs from the dates they were actually appointed as SMOs. The association also demanded that over 20 posts of Deputy Director, which are lying vacant, must be filled.
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Govt land in capital’s periphery decreases
Chandigarh, January 29 The misuse of the area has already come under the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s scanner. An additional director-general of police is looking into the details of the assets acquired by top officers of his department in the locality. Quoting information supplied by the office of Mohali deputy commissioner, ADGP Chander Shekhar asserted “reduction to the extent of 16,312 acres and eight marlas in the area of mustarka malkan land (village common land) since 1966”. Before the special Division Bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice Nirmaljit Kaur, the ADGP added that the report summary of Dera Bassi tehsil shows “ the shamlat land (for common use as panchayat land) in 1966 was 8,580 acres, and in the current jamabandi (book of records) it is 7,218 acres. The difference of 1,362 acres has not been explained. Similarly, the mustarka malkan land in 1966 was 287 acres, and in the current jamabandi it is 254 acres. The difference of 33 acres has not been explained”. He said: “The statement of tehsildar of Kharar shows shamlat land in 1966 as 672 acres, seven kanal and 17 marlas, and in the current jamabandi it is 380 acres, four kanals and 11 marlas. The difference of 292 acres, three kanal and four marlas transferred in the names of private persons for seven villages has been shown, but the explanation has not been satisfactory.
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Golden Temple to go green
New Delhi, January 29 Officials from the Punjab Energy Development Agency on Wednesday discussed the installation of solar and other renewable energy sources at important places in the state with Minister of New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah. The Ministry, which reviewed its existing projects, also gave a go-ahead for renewable energy projects at Muslim shrines of Char-e-Sharif and Hazrat Bal and the state Assembly and Raj Bhawan in Jammu and Kashmir. The progress of bio-gas plant at Vaishno Devi, which will generate 250 units of power daily using four tonnes of mule dung, and installation of solar power generation plant for water heating and battery charging units, was also discussed. For renewable energy systems at Golden Temple, Durgiana Mandir, Jallianwala Bagh and Wagah Border, the Centre will provide technical and financial aid under its Special Area Demonstration Programme. For Golden Temple, two projects are under consideration - one for solar illumination of Darbar Sahib and Akal Takht and other for cooking and water heating requirements for langar, using bio-mass from kitchen waste.
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Sikh clergy declares Sukhwinder a martyr
Amritsar, January 29 “He (Sukhwinder Singh) deserves the honour as he displayed a rare courage and did his duty as a true Sikh,” said Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh. His act of bravery has already been lauded by Union Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare Manohar Singh Gill. The five Sikh high priests, led by Giani Gurbachan Singh, have also expressed happiness over state government’s decision to accord prizes in the Gurmat literature category. A resolution to this effect was passed by the Sikh clergy here today. On the other hand, the priests have criticised the Centre for the recent deportation of New Zealand-based Sikh woman Shubhnit Kaur and her two-year- old son Bachintbir Singh from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. “It is an inhuman act,” said the Jathedar. He said the Sikh high priests had directed the SGPC to initiate legal and other proceedings apart from taking up the matter with the Centre so as to put an end to a ‘black list’ of Sikhs.
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Lala Lajpat Rai remembered
Dhudike (Moga), January 29 The party constituted an annual award of Rs 21,000 to be given annually to those who would contribute towards keeping the memory alive and propagate his ideas among the coming generations. A seven-member panel comprising local leaders of the party and members of the Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial was also constituted for this purpose. The first annual award was given to Comrade Satnam Singh Sandeshi. Meanwhile, addressing a gathering, Jagmeet Brar said the Sukhbir-Kalia panel has exposed “farmer-friendly face” of the SAD by imposing abiana and electricity charges on farmers.
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Benipal sees threat to his life, says no to compromise
Ludhiana, January 29 Knocking at the doors of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to help him save his life, Benipal has written a letter to the Chief Justice of the high court that he was getting veiled threats that he would soon be eliminated. Tehsildar Benipal was allegedly stripped and assaulted in his office in June last year and the police had registered a case of launching a murderous assault on SAD councillor, Simarjit Singh Bains, his close aide Kamaljit Singh Karwal and their several associates. The duo were arrested and are still in judicial custody at Central Jail. ‘‘After the fruitless efforts of the police to constitute another Special Investigation Team to help the release of the SAD leader and his aides, I am being conveyed by different people that my days are numbered now. I may be killed and all accused in my case should be held responsible for any eventuality of this kind,’’ said Benipal, while talking to The Tribune today. He claimed that he was being offered a compromise pact by several persons but he had refused to budge from his stand to take the case to a logical conclusion. ‘‘This has made matters worse,’’ he said. Showing a copy of the letter, he has shot off to even the police and district administration, Benipal said he had no confidence in the police as it was working under political pressure. ‘‘I have been conveyed that I may be killed in a road accident or through a hired assassin or by my revolver that was taken away by assailants during the assault. Even my family is under a threat,’’ he said. SSP, Ludhiana, Dr SS Gill said the police had already provided Benipal with two security guards. The police was duty-bound to protect his life. If he felt any threat to his life, he was most welcome to contact any police offcial at any time, he said.
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Sant Baba Khem Singh cremated
Bathinda, January 29 Among prominent personalities who attended the cremation included Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, former MP Jagmeet Singh Brar, Kotkapura MLA Ripjit Singh Brar and Nathana MLA Ajaib Singh Bhatti. Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, then media adviser to former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, laid a wreath on the body on behalf of Capt Amarinder Singh. The body of Sant Baba had reached Bhucho Kalan from Delhi in a caravan last evening. The body had been kept at the dera for paying tributes by the followers to the late Sant. The whole night, Gurbani kirtan was organised. The late Sant had got various social and development works done in the area, including construction of buildings of government high school, power house, Patwarkhana, post office and a chowk in Bhucho. Baba Khem Singh, who was born on March 15, 1905, became the chief of Dera Rumi Wala in March 1970 and headed the dera till his demise.
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Ranjodh cremated with honours
Nabha, January 29 Hundreds of people from villages located around Nabha bid a tearful adieu to Ranjodh. The Patiala DC and SSP, the SDM, the Nabha DSP and SAD leader Maaninder Singh also attended the funeral. The pyre was lit by Ranjodh’s brother Satnam Singh. His body was received by his family at New Delhi airport yesterday. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Preneet Kaur laid a wreath on his body on behalf of the Centre. She expressed deep solidarity with the aggrieved family. Meanwhile, one more person was arrested in Australia for Ranjodh’s murder. Yesterday, an Indian couple was arrested for the death of Ranjodh. His family members have urged the Indian government to start dialogue with the Australian government for taking stern steps to send the culprits behind the bars.
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Net boost for govt school students
Patiala, January 29 The Education Department has placed an order to BSNL for connections in this regard. The project is expected to start soon. It has gained tremendous support from schoolteachers and students. Giving thumbs up to the project, Talwinder Singh feels that Internet now days is an important part of the education system because of its reach and easy access. “Course books provide limited knowledge. Internet not only provides extra knowledge but also enables them to understand things in a better way. This helps students to get acquainted with modern education techniques.” Students are equally excited about the project. Surinder Singh, a student, opines that it would be good for them as using Internet in cyber cafes was expensive. “I cannot afford to buy all books related to my course. Moreover, using Internet in cyber shops is expensive. Often required information regarding various topics that was not available in my course book. I am happy that now I will be able to use Internet for free.”
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Accident Case Chander Parkash Tribune News Service
Ferozepur, January 29 The police authorities declared Sandhu as innocent after conducting an inquiry into the FIR registered against him at Mamdot police station, after he allegedly crushed five persons to death near Lakho Ke Behram village, 22 km from this town. A case against Sandhu was registered under Section 304, IPC (committing culpable homicide), on the complaint of Joginder Singh, a kin of one of the victims of the accident, on the same day. However, Sandhu could never be arrested by the police despite the fact that he allegedly committed the heinous crime. Interestingly, Jasbir Singh, DSP, who conducted the inquiry and exonerated Sandhu from the crime, did not bother to ask Joginder Singh to join the inquiry so that he (Jasbir Singh) could gather information about the incident. Those who were crushed to death after Sandhu ran over them with his speeding Scorpio were identified as Balbir Singh, his wife Pritam Kaur and son Gurnaib Singh, alias Nabby, and another couple Kikar Singh and Manjit Kaur. Jasbir Singh said a case against Sandhu was registered by the police official concerned under pressure as the kin of victims held out a threat at that time that they would jam the traffic if Sandhu was not implicated into a criminal case. He added that he had exonerated Sandhu after recording the statement of people of the surrounding areas, where the accident took place. He added that Bohar Singh, who was working as a driver with Sandhu, was the actual culprit who had caused the deaths due to negligence and hence he had been named as an accused in the case. He said Bohar Singh had been booked for the offence of causing death due to negligence instead of committing culpable homicide and hence the offence against him was made out under Section 304-A instead of Section 304 of the IPC. When asked why he did not ask Joginder Singh to join the inquiry, he said he did not remember whether Joginder Singh participated in the inquiry or not. On the other hand, Kashmir Singh, brother of Balbir Singh, one of the victims of the accident, today alleged that police authorities had acted under pressure of ruling politicians and hence exonerated the main accused in the case despite the fact that Sandhu had taken five lives and ruined a number of families. He said they were left with no option other than staging a dharna in front of the offices of civil and police officials to get justice. SPS Parmar, SSP, said as he was busy at a meeting in Amritsar, so only the DSP could comment on the issue.
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Prisoner escapes from hospital
Nabha, January 29 It is learnt that he was brought from Sirhind on December 16, 2009, to the local jail and subsequently admitted to the hospital for a slipped disc. He was arrested by the Sirhind police in 2004 for offences of forgery and cheating. The court had awarded him five years’ rigorous sentence. Two constables, Makhan Singh and Bara Singh, were also not traceable till the filing of this story. Surprisingly, the prisoner was admitted to the hospital for an ailment for which only rest is advised. Though the jail has its own hospital, then why he was admitted to the Civil Hospital for such a long duration, said one of the doctors, pleading anonymity. A case has been registered.
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Nursing student dies mysteriously in NRI’s house
Moga, January 29 The post-mortem examination of the body could not be conducted on Friday due to some technical problems. The Chief Medical Officer has constituted a medical board to conduct the post-mortem examination, which would be conducted on Saturday, said an official of the Health Department. According to the details available, Virpal Kaur, daughter of Sukhdev Singh, a resident of the nearby Mahesari village, was doing the GNM course of nursing from the Indo-American School of Nursing, owned by a renowned local medical practitioner, Dr HS Sandhu, and was in the second year of the course.Last evening, she left the college at about 4 pm after the classes but did not go to her village. She was found dead in the bathroom of a nearby house owned by USA-resident Jagsir Singh. Her body was recovered late in the night on Thursday. The Assistant Sub-Inspector, Hakam Singh, who is investigating the case said preliminary investigations revealed that the student could have committed suicide. At the same time, he did not rule out the possibility of a suspected murder. “We are waiting for the post-mortem report, which can give some vital clue on her death,” he said. Meanwhile, when The Tribune reporter reached the spot, the house was found locked and the whereabouts of the owner were not known to the neighbours as well as his family members. Nahar Singh, uncle of the NRI who recently came from Washington DC to visit his parents, admitted that a few criminal cases were registered against Jagsir in California and he was asked by the US Government to maintain good conduct for three years, otherwise he would be expelled from that country. Therefore, he came to India and started living here so as to avoid any confrontation in the eyes of the US government.
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Protest by unemployed Linemen, ETT teachers at Barnala
Barnala, January 29 Sources said a case had been registered against 17 accused at the Dhanola police station on a complaint by hawaldar Manjeet Singh, who had alleged that while he was performing his duties near the venue, about 16-17 persons ried to create obstruction. Meanwhile, a local court sentenced 10 activists of the Unemployed Linemen and ETT Teachers Unions, who were arrested, to 14 days’ judicial custody.
— TNS
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Bathinda, January 29
