Chandigarh, January 17
The Punjab Government today announced the launch of the Unique Identification Number (UID) project Aadhaar in the state. Likely to be implemented in the middle of February, this would make Punjab the first state in the country to implement the Government of India project to the village level in the entire state.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon while announcing this today said this would also check the problems arising out of inter-state migration.

He said Punjab has told Nandan Nilekani, chairman, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) that the state will comply with the mandate of the UIDAI to “issue every resident a unique identification number linked to the resident’s demographic and biometric information, which they can use to identify themselves anywhere in India.”

The project will allot a unique identification number to every resident of the state from a newborn to the eldest in the family, he said. The entire population of the state is expected to be given the 12 digit UID by the end of September, he added.

Kairon said the number will remain with the person for life, even if the address and other particulars change.

The UID is based on a similar logic as the social security number adopted in the Western countries.

The UID card will carry biometric or iris scan, finger prints and photographs besides the name, address, date of birth, etc. of the person. This card will be given free of cost.

The cards will be produced on the spot with the help of special machines. The work has been outsourced and 2,000 machines will be brought to complete the work by end of September.

The Punjab Government has appointed Alkananda Dyal, Director, Food and Supplies, Punjab, as Registrar for the UID project. Kairon said the UID card would also be linked to the blue cards for BPL families, the ration card and the LPG connections. This he said would give the state exact number of people in various socio-economic categories. The card will act as card for identification throughout the country. 

Malerkotla, January 17
The state-level function to commemorate the death anniversary of 66 Kuka martyrs here evoked a lukewarm response due to the non-participation of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Interestingly, the head of the martyr Kuka sect, Satguru Jagjeet Singh Ji, also failed to attend the function. Even the SAD’s probable candidate from Malerkotla, Izhar Aalam, did not come.

Two ministers, state Tourism Minister Hira Singh Gabria and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon, who attended the function, recalled the supreme sacrifices made by the Kuka martyrs in 1872, which had laid the foundation for the freedom struggle of India. While Kairon announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh for the development of the memorial in Malerkotla, Gabria said he had granted Rs 5 crore for the development of a memorial at Bhaini Sahib in Ludhiana district. Out of this, Rs 3 crore had already been received by the authorities there, he added.

Addressing a gathering, MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder thanked CM Parkash Singh Badal for getting the picture of the Kuka martyrs displayed at Parliament complex in Delhi.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and former minister Jasbir Singh, while recalling the supreme sacrifice of the Kuka martyrs, praised the former CM and senior Congress leader, Beant Singh, for allocating grants judiciously for the development of the memorial at Malerkotla.

Bathinda, January 17
Surinder Jakhar, who met with a tragic end on Monday, was well known in the world of cooperatives who made a significant contribution to accelerate agricultural and rural development.

A graduate from DAV College in Abohar and alumnus of Panjab University, Jakhar was actively involved with cooperatives for about three decades. Born on April 5, 1953, in Panjkosi village, he was also a keen cricketer and was the captain of the first college cricket team when he graduated in 1974.

He was elected the sarpanch of his village in 1980 and was first elected the Managing Director of the Fazilka Central Cooperative Bank in 1987. He held this position till his death.

His zeal in improving the financial position of people in the rural areas, particularly farmers, and augmenting their incomes through cooperatives was lauded even by his detractors. Surinder Jakhar was the youngest Chairman of the world’s fertiliser giant, Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO). He was elected its Chairman for four terms and held the prestigious position till his death.

Under his leadership, IFFCO created a new record of sales of 112 lakh MT of fertiliser in 2008-09 and also achieved a record turnover in 2008-09. IFFCO earned a net profit of Rs 360 crore in 2008-09.

During his tenure, IFFCO successfully forayed into the rural telecom sector by forming IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Ltd. IFFCO Chhattisgarh Power Limited was formed to foray into the power sector and it also became the first company in India to make an SEZ for farmers, IFFCO Kisan SEZ.

IFFCO also ventured abroad as a partner in Legend International, Australia, re-structured ICS Senegal, bought Baylis Generators — -a UK-based company — to help Indian farmers by introducing alternative energy lanterns and torches.

He was twice elected the Director, International Cooperative Alliance, and was the founder-Chairman of IFFCO TOKIO General Insurance Company that introduced free insurance cover for the farming community. Recently, due to his efforts, IFFCO had signed global ventures for the manufacture of fertilisers, phosphates and generation of power. He also served as Director, Markfed, and KRIBHCO. A recipient of the Best Cooperator Award in 2001, Surinder Jakhar won fame as one of the best progressive farmers who used to spend quality time looking after his farms in his native village Panjkosi and Maujgarh.

His elder brother, Sajjan Kumar Jakhar, was twice a member of the Punjab Cabinet. His younger brother, Sunil Jakhar, now represents Abohar in the Punjab Assembly. His son, Sandeep Jakhar, heads the district unit of the Youth Congress. Together, they contributed to making the area a family bastion, so assiduously nurtured by his father, Balram Jakhar, himself a Congress stalwart.

Fatehgarh Sahib, January 17
The newly-introduced fleet of Scorpio vehicles in the Punjab Police has started showing results as a liquor smuggler was dramatically chased for up to 25 km and was finally nabbed.

The police laid a naka on a tip-off near the Madhopur Chowk on Sirhind-Patiala road at 2.30 am. “We signaled a speeding SUV to stop but the accused turned around his vehicle with a sharp turn and fled back. We immediately chased the vehicle for more than 20 minutes and finally overpowered the accused,” said Sirhind SHO Sukhdev Singh.

He pointed out that earlier similar chasing was a Herculean task as the police was not equipped with such SUVs. The force is recently provided with four Scorpios for Fatehgarh Sahib police stations. Senior police officials said the functioning of the police, especially the night patrolling had been improved with these vehicles. “Besides increasing the comfort level, these vehicles have reduced the risk while chasing criminals during night. Now cops delightfully sit in these vehicles to wait for an opportunity to chase criminals,” said a Scorpio driver Gurpreet Singh of the Fatehgarh Sahib Police.

The cops pointed out that the traditional vehicles, including the gypsies, trax jeeps and Enfield motorcycles, which are still in the police fleet, always pose a risk for us to chase thieves and hardcore criminals.

Unlike the Scorpios, these traditional vehicles fail to pick up speed and stops abruptly, especially during the winter season and while chasing criminals. The officials said, “While criminals are very hi-tech, the police is still trailing much behind. Still there is a need for overhauling and more such vehicles and modern gadgets are needed for the police force.”

Sharing today’s chase, cops at Sirhind police station said the accused was driving at a break neck speed of more than 100 km per hour. After dodging the police at the Madhopur Chowk in Sirhind-Patiala road, he banged the barricading near Badali village on Landran-Sirhind road. The engine of their vehicle exhausted after it got damaged near the barricade and continuous chase by the cops.

While two of them managed to flee due to dark one of them was arrested with 43 illegal liquor boxes being smuggled from Chandigarh to Patiala. The confiscated vehicle bears registration number of Chandigarh and the police is trying to verify its credentials. The arrested accused has been identified as Shyam Kumar, a resident of Patiala. Criminal cases have been registered against the accused and efforts are on to nab the absconding.

Chandigarh, January 17
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal yesterday approved a plan to spend Rs 17 crore for the development of Samana constituency in Patiala district.The Chief Minister took the decision at a high-level meeting with the officers of the district administration, Patiala, and the Patiala Development Authority. The meeting was held to review development projects.

Badal also asked the authorities to develop Kheri Gujaran, Sullar and Bir Khari villages in the periphery of Patiala city as modern villages. He said the villages will be provided facilities such as water supply, sewerage, cemented streets and streetlights etc.

Badal also approved a grant of Rs 5.25 crore for the project to modernise these villages.

The Chief Minister directed the departments concerned to complete the water supply and sewerage work in Samana town within the next six months. He approved sanction of Rs 6 crore for the project. He said Rs 5 crore would also be spent on the construction of roads in the constituency.

Badal asked the Secretary, Punjab Mandi Board, to construct a Mandi at Talwandi Bhai village to facilitate farmers of the nearby villages. He also sanctioned two tubewells at the cost of Rs 30 lakh for Samana.

He said youth in the villages would also be provided equipment for gym and Cricket. He also sanctioned Rs 25,000 each for the village Mahila Mandals.

Amritsar, January 17
Seeking Indian citizenship, 50 families hailing from Pakistan submitted a representation in this regard to the Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, KS Pannu, today.The families say they want to escape the discrimination against minorities in Pakistan. President, All-India Hindu Shiv Sena, Surinder Kumar Billa, led the delegation.

As many as 200 Pakistani Sikh and Hindu families live in the Chheharta area in Amritsar and do petty jobs to make both ends meet.

Facing alleged social discrimination and economic hardships, they migrated to the border over a decade back. Now, they want to live here permanently and adopt Indian citizenship.

As per norms, they would have to go back after every five years to get their visas for stay renewed.

Class XII students Jaswinder Kaur and her friend Niranjeet Kaur, hailing from Peshawar in Pakistan, say their studies get affected everytime they have to go back to their country or visit their Embassy in New Delhi to get the permit for stay extended.

“Life in Pakistan was hell, especially for girls. As Pakistani nationals we have go back once every five years and to our Embassy in New Delhi every two years to get our stay permit renewed. We are scared to go back because of the harassment meted out to the members of the minority communities,” they said.

Naam Singh, hailing from Peshawar, says he was forced to leave their country or origin due to the prejudice against the minorities.

Deputy Commissioner said several cases of Sikh and Hindu families from Pakistan and Afghanistan have been forwarded to the state Home Department after verification of records. “The cases too would be recommended to the state government after the formalities get completed,” he said.

Hoshiarpur, January 17
Just 32 days after poachers allegedly killed a male leopard in Madariwala choe near Dholbaha, another male leopard fell prey to them in Bhera village, the last village of Punjab on the Himachal Pradesh border, last night.

Ironically, both animals (endangered and protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act) were killed in the home district of state Forest Minister Tikshan Sud.

Sources said some villagers noticed the leopard trapped and informed the Range Officer, who further gave this information to Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife), Hoshiarpur, Satnam Singh.

They said the three-year-old leopard had reportedly died due to the “negligence and mishandling of forest officials” as when they give it a doze of tranquiliser manually, it did not regain consciousness.

The DFO said the animal was tied with a steel wire around its waist thus damaging its main nerves along the spinal cord.

“To rescue it safely, we put a net on its face and injected a tranquiliser manually, but it did not regain consciousness,” said Satnam Singh. The carcass of the leopard was shifted to the Takhani Wildlife Sanctuary last night.

Since state Chief Wildlife Warden Gurbaz Singh is in Delhi to attend a meeting of the Central Zoo Authorities, he directed Conservator of Forest and Wildlife Rattna Kumar and his subordinates to rush to the spot and take stock of the situation.

Gurbaz Singh also denied it to be a case of poaching. He said a post-mortem examination of the leopard was conducted late this evening. He, however, admitted that the department was functioning with a skeleton staff, adding that the department had written to the state government seeking training for the staff so that wild animals could be handled properly in such situations.

Coming down heavily on the state government, Gunraj Singh, former honorary wildlife warden (Hoshiarpur), alleged that the forest and wildlife authorities had gone in a deep slumber while poachers were busy eliminating such beautiful animals.

Moreover, the department had been implicating innocent villagers in poaching cases while the actual poachers were enjoying political patronage, he alleged.

Meanwhile, state Forest Minister Tikshan Sud has marked an inquiry into the incident. He, however, expressed ignorance about the incident and said a transparent probe would be conducted.

Chandigarh, January 17
To give a facelift to the Golden Temple’s entrance, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has given an in principle approval to the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board to work out modalities for the construction of the state-of-the-art Golden Temple Entrance Plaza.

Presiding over a high-level meeting with the Principal Architect of the upcoming Khalsa Heritage Centre, Moshe Safdie, at his residence on Sunday, Badal asked Principal Secretary (Tourism & Cultural Affairs) Geetika Kalha to closely monitor the Golden Temple Entrance Plaza project from its stage of conception to the completion as per the approved design prepared by Noida-based firm, Design Associates Inc - the design consultant.

Kalha informed the Chief Minister that a redesign and refurbishment of the public space available in front of the main entrance of the Golden Temple complex had been proposed.

It was realised that it was the role of architects, urban designers and planners to recreate it keeping in mind its historic and religious background and to suggest means of redesign and redevelopment that would retain its traditional character.

Sangrur, January 17
A scheme launched 13 years ago by the Umeed Khanna Foundation to provide health services to the elderly has helped many in the rural areas.The foundation during the last 13 years has helped in the treatment of 4.5 lakh persons, mostly from rural areas.

Behind the success of the scheme was concern for the elderly in the heart of Sangrur entrepreneur, Arvind Khanna.

“I asked how can an elderly person take care of take care of his health and then decided to take healthcare services to the doorstep of the elderly who need it in the villages of Sangrur.” — TNS

Chandigarh, January 17
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that the non-examination of a shadow witness, especially when “tainted money” is not recovered from the possession of an accused during a raid, is fatal to the prosecution case.

The ruling came as the High Court gave benefit of doubt to an Assistant District Food and Civil Supplies Officer before acquitting him in a corruption case. But justice came too late for accused Bihari Lal. During pendency of his appeal, Bihari Lal expired on July 3, 2006.

The Bench of Justice Jitendra Chauhan made the assertion after the counsel for accused-appellant Bihari Lal contended that the prosecution “withheld” the shadow witness even though he was “important” to the case. Counsel RS Bajaj suggested maybe “no such incident, as alleged by the prosecution, had taken place”.

In his appeal against the State of Punjab, Bihari Lal had challenged judgment dated July 17, 2000, pronounced by the Hoshiarpur Special Judge convicting him under Section 13(2) read with Section 7 of the Prevention and Corruption Act. He was sentenced rigorous imprisonment for a year and a fine of Rs 5,000 was also imposed on him.

Complainant Surjit Singh, a depot holder, had earlier alleged demand of Rs 400 as a bribe for the grant of permit for supplying kerosene. The prosecution had claimed that Surjit Singh contacted the DSP (Vigilance) and a raid was arranged. As the accused demanded the money, Surjit Singh gave currency notes to him while shadow witness Resham Singh watched the proceedings.

Appearing before Justice Chauhan, counsel Bajaj submitted that there was no direct evidence to connect the appellant with the alleged offence. Resham Singh, shadow witness whose deposition was crucial, was withheld by the prosecution for the reasons known to it.

Justice Chauhan concluded: “I am of the considered opinion that the prosecution has failed to prove its case by leading any cogent evidence. Resultantly, this appeal is allowed, the judgment of conviction and sentence is set aside.”