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Zonal Commissioner caught taking bribe
Ludhiana, April 19
Gurcharan Singh said Ravinder Singh, the complainant, was a resident of Kot Mangal Singh and was running a press tool unit at Sua Ganj, Dhandari Kalan, for the past one year. About three months ago, Ravinder Singh got a house tax notice from the C-Zone office, wherein he was required to deposit Rs 38,140. Ravinder Singh told the Zonal Commissioner that the amount was inflated as he had started the unit only about a year ago. On April 15, the complainant again went to Sekhon to ask if the amount could be reduced. Sekhon told him that the amount was for the previous year and more would be charged for the current year. The DSP said Sekhon reportedly told the complainant that it was not his prerogative to remit the amount as the house tax committee decided on the matter, but he could get the amount reduced. He said he would also ensure that tax for the current year was not levied if Ravinder Singh gave him Rs 20,000. The deal was struck at Rs 15,000. “Ravinder Singh lodged a complaint with us and we raided Sekhon’s office. The amount was recovered from him. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against Sekhon,” the DSP said, adding that Sekhon would be produced in the court tomorrow.
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MC staff rally behind Sekhon
Ludhiana, April 19 Vijay Danav, chairman of the Punjab State Ministerial Karamchari Dal, along with a delegation of officials and employees of the Municipal Corporation, met Mayor Hakam Singh Gayaspura and the DSP Vigilance in this regard. Danav claimed: “It is a conspiracy against the Zonal Commissioner who is an honest official. Sekhon told me that he had been receiving threat calls from unidentified persons for the past several days. He was being pressured to do something wrong, but he refused. Sekhon had asked the caller to meet the inspector concerned instead.” He added that the Zonal Commissioner had also informed the Mayor and MC Commissioner AK Sinha about the threat calls. Danav alleged that vigilance officials shook hands with Sekhon after entering his office and threw a bundle of notes at him. They also slapped him and removed his turban, he stated. The employees, officials and councillors will meet the Mayor tomorrow.
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Offices deserted
Ludhiana, April 19 Rued a woman who had come to the zone D office: "For the past two months I’ve been making the rounds here to get my house map approved. According to the officials this formality had to be completed today, but no employee was present in the office”. |
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Leave church land alone, orders HC
Ludhiana, April 19 The orders were issued following a land dispute case between two factions that were staking claims to the land belonging to the Christ Church Cemetery. Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tiwari said the court order clearly stated that it was the duty of the DC and the Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, to ensure that the land of the Christ Church Cemetery was not used for residential, commercial or industrial purposes. The orders stated that no instrument creating any interest or incumbrance with regard to the property should be executed. Some members from the Christian community had filed a civil writ petition in the High Court against the present caretaker of the cemetery, Daniel Das, alleging that he had sold a piece of land for commercial purposes. A senior member of the Christ Church Cemetery stated: “The land in the cemetery has become a bone of contention between various factions of the land mafia who are eyeing the property for commercial gains. The district administration must investigate into the matter as a shopping complex is already under construction on the land.” The DC has written to the Commissioner of Police, asking him to direct the SHO concerned to paste a copy of the order on the property and serve a copy of the order to the respondent (no. 6) through a notice. He said the police must also check the spot regularly to pre-empt any violation of the court order. A copy of the order has also been sent to the Municipal Corporation Commissioner and the district town planner. The tehsildar (east) has been directed that no instrument creating any interest or incumbrating the property is executed till the disposal of the writ.
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50-yr-old woman dies in brawl; 3 booked
Ludhiana, April 19 According to Meharbaan police station SHO Gurjeet Singh, Pritam’s son Hazara Singh, who is an autorickshaw driver, got into a heated argument with another auto driver Gurnam Singh over a passenger in Basti Jodhewal on Monday evening. “The two exchanged accusations following which Gurnam, his brother Dev and an unidentified man attacked Hazara. Fearing for his life, Hazara fled the scene”, Gurjeet stated. "In his complaint Hazara alleged the three men again attacked him near his home in Ekta colony late in the evening. When Pritam, a heart patient, came to know about the fight she rushed to the scene where she was punched in the stomach by the attackers. She fell unconscious and was taken by her son to a nearby hospital where she was declared dead on arrival", said Gurjeet. He added a postmortem examination on Pritam’s body was conducted later and the viscera sent to Patiala and Kharar for chemical analysis at. "There were no injury marks on the victim's body. We’ve filed a case under section 302 against Gurnam Singh, Dev and the unidentified man. However, we’re waiting for the postmortem report after which we’ll investigate the matter", said Gurjeet. The police has not made any arrests in the case so far.
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Snatchers arrested
Ludhiana, April 19 On April 16, Gurmeet Singh, alias Rahul, of Guru Nanak Colony was arrested and the laptop was recovered from his possession. After his interrogation, two of his accomplices -- Niraj Kumar Bobby and Prince Kumar, both of Shimlapuri, were arrested today. An expensive camera, gold ornaments and eight mobile phones were seized from the accused. Another gang member, Pradeep Kumar, is still absconding, the ADCP said, adding that the gang was responsible for several incidents of snatching. The accused had committed about a dozen crimes in the past two months. They mostly targeted women, who were either alone or commuted with small kids in rickshaws.
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Quack gathers junkies to attack complainants
Ludhiana, April 19 The quack, Jasmel Singh Gill, along with about 50 “supporters” - all of them said to be drug addicts - attacked a village resident, Harkomal Singh, as well as his family members and friends on Monday evening for having filed a written complaint against him (Gill) to health officials. Parminder Singh, a village youth and a friend of Harkomal, was injured in the attack and is undergoing treatment for a dislocated shoulder at the city’s Dayanand Medical College & Hospital. Though the Sadar police station had dispatched a police team to the scene of the incident on Monday evening, instead of arresting the suspects the cops urged the villagers and Harkomal and his associates to “restore peace”. However, Sadar police station SHO Paramjit Singh said: "We’ve noted down a complaint filed by Harkomal and his associates alleging violence and vandalism at his house on Monday evening. The ADCP concerned will visit the village on Tuesday to ascertain the facts, following which we’ll take action against the suspects”. "Gill managed to gather about 60 drug addicts in the village, who have been regularly buying habit forming drugs from him, and they attacked my house. We immediately called up the police but the latter blamed the health department for not sealing the quack’s clinic," Harkomal alleged. On the other hand, a team of health officials which had visited Gill’s clinic on Monday reportedly did not find any “relevant documents” including medical degrees and registration certificate. However, instead of sealing the clinic, the officials gave Gill time to submit the documents at the Sahnewal Civil Hospital. Harkomal and his associates Parminder, Narwinder Singh and Aman Brar (all residents of Lalton Kalan) had filed a written complaint to the district health & family welfare department against Gill who, despite not having any recognized medical degree runs the "Gill clinic" in the village. Meanwhile, Sahnewal senior medical officer Dr Amarjit Kaur said: "Gill has submitted the relevant documents and I’m forwarding them to the civil surgeon’s office for verification. The documents include a diploma in alternative medicine awarded by an institute in Amritsar and a Punjab Medical Council registration number, both of which have yet to be verified”.
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Central excise supdts facing stagnation
Ludhiana, April 19 He said most superintendents who had joined as inspector of central excise were retiring from the post after only one promotion in their service of 33- 35 years in comparison to IRS officers and ministerial staff in the same department of CBEC who got four to five promotions. In the CBDT, under the same ministry, officers recruited as inspectors were retiring after five promotions, which went up to the level of additional commissioner. Three officers had already been promoted as commissioners and 17 were on the verge of promotion to the same rank, he added. Sharma added that these issues were raised earlier too and a peaceful protest was held at Jantar Mantar in November, 2009. A memorandum to this effect was given to finance minster Pranab Mukerjee. Boota Singh, general secretary of the association, said the All-India Association of Inspectors had joined hands with them on the issue and would be present in the “Shantigoshthi” to be held at Jantar Mantar on April 34. The Confederation of All-India Government Employees is also observing the
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Books distributed among needy
Ludhiana, April 19 The president of the council, Monika Khurana, speaking on the occasion said the main aim of the council was to make the fairer sex independent. “From time to time, we keep making efforts to help them in little ways”, she added. "We regularly distribute books and other stationery items to girls while workshops in stitching and embroidery are also held on a regular basis for women," said Monika. Some children want to study but do not have money to buy books and other stationery. "From time to time our council provides them with the basic facilities like books, uniform and stationery so that they can continue their studies," said Taxation Young Lawyers Association president Jatinder Khurana.
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BCM students vote for child rights
Ludhiana, April 19 WCPRC is based on the UN Child Convention and strengthens the voices of children, connecting them together across countries and continents and helps them to demand respect for the rights of the child. It holds and annual vote for global candidates who have made magnificent contributions to protecting and promoting the rights of the children. It is a unique voting event for 24 million children in 53,000 schools and 101 countries are behind the WCPRC. Cecilia Flores Oebanda from Phillipines; Monira Rahman from Bangladesh and Murhabazi Namegabe from Democratic Republic of the Congo, have been nominated for the World's Children Prize 2011. The vote day was observed with bright decorations and high spirits on the campus of BCM Arya today. The day was celebrated with a view to educate and empower children and young people on the rights of the child and to contribute to their humanitarian growth as global citizens with regard to human rights, democracy, environment, global friendship and peace - giving them hope for future and the chance to demand respect for their rights. It provided an opportunity to young minds to get sensitised about deprived children. Millions of children will participate in this year's global vote to decide who will be the Child Right Hero. Two million students from India are expected to participate in the vote. The winner will receive a prize money of US$ 1,00,000 at a glittering award giving ceremony at Gripsholm Castle in Mariefield.
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Seven-day NSS camp concludes
Mandi Gobindgarh, April 19 Speaking on the occasion, Khanna said that the SOI has provided grants for more than Rs 2 crores to different schools and colleges on behalf of the Punjab government. He further added that he would soon raise demand for more grants from the government because more than 1.5 lakh students were connected with NSS and in such type of camps.The students are inculcated with a sense of discipline, cleanliness and social reforms. Group Institutes Director General Prof. Shalini Gupta, motivated the students and the residents of Sounti village to rise beyond the social evils and follow the principle of "Service Above Self". She said by holding such camps one could eradicate social evils. Principal Dr. Surjeet Patheja, welcomed all the guests and praised the efforts of students. She further said that during the seven-day camp, the students visited door-to-door and spread awareness among the residents about maintaining cleanliness, providing education to their wards, doing plantation, doing away with drugs and female foeticide and right to education, family planning and not causing any type of pollution. The students of NSS undertook cleanliness campaign in the streets and the cremation ground.As many as 50 students participated in this camp.
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PAU Notes
Ludhiana: The second day of the “Third Congress on Insect Science,” underway at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), witnessed deliberations by experts on a host of topics such as agrochemicals, bio-pesticides and transfer technology, genetically modified (GM) crops and integrated pest management (IPM) etc. Organised by the Department of Entomology, PAU, in collaboration with the Indian Society for the Advancement of Insect Science (ISAIS), four technical sessions were held, in addition, to the poster session.
Technical session on "agrochemicals", chaired by Dr AK Dikshit, shed light on the crop protection chemicals for food security, food safety and their residue management, safe and judicious use of crop protection products, integrated crop management (ICM) systems approach challenges and issues of pesticide industry in India, need for innovation in agrochemicals for sustainable agriculture and new chemistry in pest management. Chaired by Dr P Jayanth, the scientists, in another technical session on ‘Bio-pesticides and Transfer Technology,’ laid focus on a novel insecticide from anthranilic diamide class, the role of industry in promotion of bio-control agents and pheromones in India, public private partnership for technology transfer and judicious use of agro-chemicals for better yields in rice. Various models of partnership with farmers in technology transfer programmes were discussed. The strategies on pest management in oil palm, IPM in coconut, insect pests of oilseed crops and soybean with emphasis on present management, strategies and future thrusts, were the highlights of the technical session. The organising Secretary, Dr. AK Dhawan said that the conference would have its plenary session on Wednesday. MoU with Old’s College To promote teaching, research, technology transfer and exchange of information in wide ranging agricultural areas, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), today inked an academic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Olds’ College, Alberta, Canada. PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Manjit Singh Kang and president of the Olds’ College, Dr Herbert John Thompson, signed the MoU in the presence of PAU Registrar Dr RK Mahey and Dr Abimbola Abiola, Chairman School of Innovation, at the Olds College. Speaking on this occasion, Kang said that the new framework of cooperation between the two institutes with emphasis on education, research and technology transfer in the areas of agriculture, agricultural engineering and allied fields, would benefit immensely the researchers, academicians and the students. The MoU will be valid for five years and provide increasing opportunities to the students to study, train and work in each other’s countries. Calling PAU a renowned agricultural university and lauding its contribution to the food grains production and the farmers, Thompson, in his remarks, said that their institute was committed to forging international partnerships in developing quality manpower and research collaborations. He said that purpose of this accord was to work together in specific research projects, to develop effective mechanism in the transfer of technology involving enhanced communication through electronic and print media, to provide quality education in the areas of agriculture and allied sectors and to focus on extension, instructional design, support for faculty teaching and learning and online course developments.
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Green light to pvt sectors to provide health services
Ludhiana, April 19 Patil said, “our country supports the population of 120 crore and it was not possible for the Centre and state governments alone to provide health services to every individual.Therefore, it is necessary to open more and more private hospitals to provide them better health services,”. At the same time he emphasized upon "free and subsidised treatment" for the economically weaker section at private hospitals. “Blindness and visual impairments are one of the major public health problems in our country, causing significant suffering, disability, loss or productivity, and diminished quality of life for millions of people. The unfortunate part is that a significant part of the visual impairment is curable,” said the Governor. He said that the need of the hour was to generate awareness about various eye related disorders amongst the general masses by conducting various eye check-up camps in various areas, particularly in rural and slum areas, publishing regular articles in newspapers and magazines, delivering lectures and conducting various health talk shows, video shows to enable them to get treatment timely and to educate them regarding various ailments. Dr. Mahipal Sachdev said that out of an estimated 15 million blind population, 80 per cent were suffering from cataract, the major cause of curable blindness. The cataract surgery has made tremendous advancement in the last two decade and had become the most predictable of all surgeries with very high success rates. He said the “Centre for Sight” is offering the state of the art, no injection, no stitch, no pad, walk in, walkout out after the cataract surgery to residents of Ludhiana. He said the “Centre for sight”, was introducing blade-free Lasik, which is first of its kind in Ludhiana. It is 100 per cent blade-free procedure where no blade touches the eye; it is most advanced and clinically proven technology which helps the patient to achieve 20/20 vision.
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Remarks Against Martyrs
Ludhiana, April 19 However, the Congress, which was asked to tender an apology to the nation for showing the martyrs trio - Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, in bad light, turned a blind eye to the agitation and failed to respond in any manner. Mahant Narayan Puri, along with SDM Manjit Singh Chhatwal, deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly Sat Pal Gosain and some other prominent residents prevailed upon the functionaries of the Trust to end their fast in view of their deteriorating condition. Even as the leaders kept persuading the duo to end their fast at a meeting which continued for well over two hours, others present at the ancestral house of martyrs Sukhdev, raised slogans against the Congress for showing disrespect to the martyrs, to whom the nation owed its independence. Ashok Thapar, who was being maintained on intravenous fluids since yesterday, said although they were ending their hunger strike for the time being, their fight against the Congress would continue till the party regretted its action and came out with an apology for carrying objectionable remarks against the martyrs. Close family members of Thapar disclosed that after the city based Congress leaders - Harnam Das Johar and Surinder Dawar visited the ancestral house of Sukhdev in Naughara, the deteriorating condition of the duo was conveyed to senior Congress leaders, including Praneet Kaur, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Vijayinder Singla, MP from Sangrur. "But there has been no official response from the Congress till now which is most regrettable."
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Former VC honoured
Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 19 Paying gratitude for the gesture shown by the organisers Johal said efforts should be made to enable the younger generation learn from practical experience of those whose observations went unrecorded. "It is high time to understand significance of education and planning for success of all professions including agriculture and trade," maintained Johal while interacting with office-bearers of the Grewal Educational Society
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ICAR pleased with GADVASU work
Ludhiana, April 19 Dr Deva Kumar was on a visit to GADVASU to study the impact of the ICAR development grant. He said the veterinary hospital and laboratories of GADVASU had state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. “It is contributing to the animal health of this region in a positive manner,” he said. He added that the veterinary university had been using development grants in a rational way in the right direction. He visited all three colleges of the university, the School of Animal Biotechnology, the library, the veterinary hospital, the biogas plant, the poultry farm, the milk processing plant and student hostels. Dr SNS Randhawa, dean postgraduate studies, coordinated the visit. Dr Deva Kumar also held a meeting with the GADVASU Vice-Chancellor, Dr VK Taneja, to discuss the development of the university in a more structured manner. They were of the opinion that better infrastructure at the university could provide more advanced facilities to farmers. Dr Deva Kumar asked GADVASU to submit more projects to address local and realistic problems of the region. “This will improve the quality of livestock, with enhanced milk yield,” he said.
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Ministerial staff protest against government bias
Ludhiana, April 19 Addressing the rally, Harjit Singh Grewal, president, Iqbal Singh, press secretary of the union and other trade union leaders slammed the government for denial of revised pay scales to clerical staff, which were to take effect from April. As if to rub salt into the wounds of the aggrieved employees, the government had come out with its policy of hiring workers on contract basis, they said. Claiming that there was widespread resentment among the ministerial employees, the union functionaries served an ultimatum to the government to concede all pending demands, including grant of revised pay scales by April 24, failing which the state committee would chalk out further course of action to intensify the agitation. "The government employees will continue their stir by holding protest rallies till justice is dispensed to them and the government relents by way of giving what is due to its employees," the union functionaries added.
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Advancement in nursing education discussed
Ludhiana, April 19 Chief guest Dr Kim Mammen, associate director, CMCH, highlighted the importance of advancement of educational technology. He also emphasised on traditional methods of imparting education. The programme commenced with invocation led by Rev Rogers and the College choir. Triza Jiwan, principle of the college extended a warm welcome to the chief guest and other dignitaries while assistant professor and co-ordinator Glory Samuel introduced the theme in an elaborative manner. The workshop discussed in details the methodology to enhance the knowledge regarding advancement in the field of nursing education so that quality education could be rendered to the nursing students which further led to upgrading of nursing profession. The delegates were from among the tutors and clinical instructors from various government and private nursing institutions of Punjab. In her concluding remarks, Triza Jiwan highlighted the latest means of educational technology and emphasised upon the use of various teaching methods to keep the students attentive, interested and motivated towards learning. The workshop had several interactive sessions with the help of tele-conferencing, microteaching, debates and simulation as well as field trip as teaching methods.
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Nepal eyeing Indian tourists
Ludhiana, April 19 Ujjwala Dali, Manager, Nepal Tourism Board, who was in Ludhiana said they had marked year 2011 as Nepal Tourism Year and were expecting nearly 1 million tourists this year. "India forms a major part of tourists in Nepal since there are no visa formalities. We are expecting 2 lakh tourists from India this year while 30,000 tourists from India have already visited Nepal this year. Maximum number of tourists is received during the festivals of Dusehra and Diwali. We have also launched discounted packages especially for Indian tourists visiting Nepal," added Dali. From China they are expecting nearly 1 lakh tourists. "Other countries from where Nepal is successful in attracting maximum number of tourists include USA, UK and Europe. "People from these countries usually come for adventure activities," she said. A pristine place for meditation and salvation, Nepal is attracting a huge number of Indian tourists to places of worship like Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Muktinath Temple in Jomsom, Ram Janaki Temple in Janakpur, Manakamana Temple in Gorkha. Nepal is also the gateway to holy region of Kailash Mansarovar. Thousands of pilgrims from India travel to Kailash Mansarovar through Nepal during the summer season. The other major attraction in Nepal is city's night life. Visitors have a choice from a potpourri of amusements. They can partake in cultural shows that include theater and local art; wine and dine at premier hotels that provide excellent service; enjoy music and dance at five-star discotheques; try luck at rummy or blackjack at one of our casinos; or just watch a movie in one of the movie theaters.Nepal has more than 500 events and festivals taking place in a year.
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Woman robbed of gold, cash
Ludhiana, April 19 Satish’s wife Usha, who was alone at the time of the incident, asked the
youths to check the meter installed outside the house. The unidentified youths
pushed Usha and entered the house. They took away gold and Rs 5,000. A case has
not been registered. — TNS
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