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SGPC Elections
majha
doaba
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mohali
Headgear aplenty outside polling booths in ludhiana
61.2% polling in Patiala; Capt fails to turn up
Badal should
apologise: Capt
SAD alleges Congress interference
SAD heavyweights retain their seats
Poll in Haryana peaceful
CM must resign, says Manpreet
Morcha candidate’s son booked for poll code violation
Dangerous portends for SAD, despite win
Candidate KS Manan argues with the presiding officer in Jalandhar on Sunday. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh
3 lakh babies die of asphyxia in India
Medical assn comes out in support of quota in PG courses for rural docs
Firemen fume at long duration of traffic lights in Bathinda
Refinery staff get training in safety
Workshop for CAT aspirants
Jail inmate dies, top cop rules out laxity
Tota Singh’s man loses by 73 votes
HC sets aside appointment of lecturer
Bikers’ gang drives cops to launch Op Night-Dominance
Ghudda road mishap: Owner of transport company booked
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SGPC Elections
Muktsar, September 18
Gidderbaha SDM Pushpender Singh confirmed that the election at Karaiwala village had been cancelled and the Election Commission would fix the date for repoll. He said the firing incident took place elsewhere in the village and not in the polling station. The police said the incident was being enquired as supporters of both the ruling SAD and PPP were accusing each other of having fired gun shots due to which a local, Charanjit Singh, suffered bullet wounds on his arm. An angry mob blocked the Bathinda-Muktsar highway for several hours to protest against capturing of two booths at Buttarshree government school. They raised slogans against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and the SAD candidate Kauni. Independent candidate Roop Singh alleged that a police squad led by a DSP was involved in booth capturing. His polling agent Gurcharan alleged that some unidentified persons forcibly carried him away in a vehicle and let him free at Bhaliwana. The returning officer of the segment, Kamal Garg, District Transport Officer, confirmed that the election in the two booths had been cancelled and a FIR has been registered. Upkar Singh, presiding officer of the Booth No. 23, said about 20 unidentified persons forcibly entered the booth and snatched 116 ballot papers and fled to the other booth after putting these in the ballot box after stamping. Ram Chand, presiding officer of the Booth No. 24, said the group stormed there and forcibly stamped 117 ballot papers and escaped after putting these in the ballot box. Both presiding officers denied that any DSP was accompanying the miscreants who stormed the two booths. They said that a police team deployed for security duty was standing outside the booths. Meanwhile, polling in other areas remained peaceful but reports of booth capturing kept pouring in from different areas. However, most of these proved false when media teams visited there. It was not only in this village of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal but in most places of the Malwa region that electorate with shorn hair (Sehajdharis) turned out today in large numbers to cast their vote for the SGPC elections. Those with shorn hair are not eligible for voting in the SGPC elections. There were several shorn-haired menfolk standing in queue outside the polling booths to cast their votes in the districts of Muktsar, Bathinda, Moga, Faridkot, Mansa, Fazilka, Barnala, Ferozepur and Sangrur.
majha
Amritsar/Tarn Taran, September 18 One of the SAD activists, Jeet Singh, received two bullet injuries. Sukhdev Singh and Baljeet Singh were also seriously injured. The other two sustained minor injuries and were discharged after first-aid. SSP (Rural) Gurmeet Chauhan said they had recording the statements of the injured. Meanwhile, the voting for the SGPC polls was largely peaceful in Amritsar district with no untoward incident coming to light from any of the constituencies. However, a booth capturing bid and a scuffle was reported from Tarn Taran district. The average polling percentage was 51 pc in Amritsar. It was 55 pc in Baba Bakala, 55 pc in Ajnala, 54 pc in Chogawan, 54 pc in Guru Ka Bagh, 53 pc in Jandiala, 52 pc in Verka and 33 pc in Amritsar (West). The electorate in the only urban seat which went to polls, Amritsar (West), didn’t turn out in large numbers to exercise their franchise. SAD candidates were elected unopposed from two other urban seats -- Amritsar (East) and Amritsar (Central). A number of ‘patits’ (apostates) were spotted casting vote at various polling stations. They had simply tied a ‘patka’ on their head to hide their shorn hair, but there was no way that they could conceal their clean shaven face, which left them exposed.
doaba
Jalandhar, September 18 Doaba repeated its electoral history as this NRI belt has largely been a peaceful zone as far as polling to Assembly as well as SGPC polls were concerned. This time also, unlike Malwa and the Majha regions of Punjab, no incident of violence was recorded in the region where disciplined voters started lining up in front of polling booths peacefully right from 8 a.m. in the morning. Though initially only a few voters turned out in the morning, later on they started swarming the polling booths participating in the poll process with enthusiasm. Women displayed zeal in Banga township in Nawanshahr district which witnessed voting in two constituencies - Nawanshahr and Balachaur (general). Gurbax Singh Khalsa of SAD (Badal) was already declared as elected unopposed from the third Balachaur (reserve) seat as all other three candidates had withdrawn in favour of Khalsa on August 26 - the last date of withdrawal of papers. Fate of as many as seven candidates has been sealed from the Nawanshahr and Balachaur (general) seats, where no untoward incident was reported at these two seats. “No violence has been reported from any quarter in the Doaba region. Polling has been absolutely peaceful in Doaba region,” said officiating Jalandhar I.G. Gaurav Yadav who was also the Jalandhar Police Commissioner. Voters of Jalandhar city virtually cold-shouldered the voting process for the apex Sikh body. Just about 35 per cent of Sikhs ventured out to exercise their franchise. It was a different matter that the exact reason behind the lukewarm response of voters could not be ascertained. Poll pundits attributed the marginal voting to a growing secular outlook of people in general and of Sikhs in particular.
mohali
Mohali, September 18 It rather appeared that the police and the polling staff acted as facilitators. At the Landran and Kumbra polling booths, some clean-shaven youths with their heads covered with a cloth were seen casting their vote. When approached on the matter, musclemen reportedly engaged by the ruling party tried to whisk away the “ineligible” voters. At polling booths, there were complaints of bogus votes having been cast in the morning hours. The polling staff, on noticing mediapersons, stopped some apostate Sikhs from entering the polling booth, only to be allowed inside after the mediapersons had left. With no objection by the polling staff and polling agents of different candidates in the fray, non-eligible voters had easy access to the polling booths.The policemen posted in and outside the polling booths remained mute spectators to the glaring violation. The District Electoral Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Varun Roozam had said the election staff had been categorically instructed not to allow Sehajdhari Sikhs to cast their vote. But those in charge of polling booths at various places said they were allowing all those whose name figured in the voters’ list to cast their ballot. In Chandigarh, over 68 per cent polling was recorded from the lone Chandigarh seat As many as 10,962 voters of the total of about 16,000 voters cast their vote. Former Mayor Harjinder Kaur of the ruling SAD(B), Gurnam Singh Sidhu and Rajinder Singh Badheri are in the fray.
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Headgear aplenty outside polling booths in ludhiana
Ludhiana: Hundreds of people with hair and beard cut cast their ballot in SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar’s hometown on Sunday. Such voters were provided with a headgear outside polling booths by supporters of candidates. Manpreet Singh (vote no 518) of Dashmesh Nagar and Gurjeet Singh, of Bachittar Nagar at Elementary School in Shimlapuri were detained by Navdeep Singh Hadiwal, coordinator for the Ludhiana (South) constituency, for the violation. The situation was more or less the same at almost all the polling stations in the district. Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tewari said there were no clear instructions to the polling staff on the issue. A senior police official of the district said at Daddahoor village near Jagraon, candidates of the SAD (Badal) as well as Panthic Morcha decided against videography of the election process. — Puneet Pal Singh Gill
2 Maur villages boycott SGPC poll in bathinda Bathinda/Mansa: Two villages under Maur area boycotted the elections. While villagers of Mandi Khurd protested against dumping of solid waste in 36.8 acres of the village land, those from Yatri demanded canal water for irrigating their fields. Mandi Khurd villagers have been on a warpath for the past one year protesting against village land to be used as filling ground for 250 tonnes waste per day that would be produced from the Bathinda Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) garbage treatment plant. Of the 548 SGPC voters registered at Mandi Khurd, only 20 persons cast their votes, while all others sat on a dharna opposite the voting centre. During public hearing of Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) held on July 25, villagers had duly registered their protest with the government. — Megha Mann Several Cases of Bogus voting reported in Moga Moga: Thousands of Sehajdhari Sikhs reportedly cast their vote in all the nine constituencies of the district. In a majority of villages, polling agents of candidates unanimously decided to allow those in turban to cast their vote. In the Dharamkot, Moga, Ghal Kalan and Baghapurana constituencies, Sehajdhari Sikhs were seen at the polling booths. The policemen on duty said they could not interfere in such matters and their job was to ensure maintenance of law and order alone. Presiding officers and supporting staff were seen at some booths explaining to the Sehajdhari Sikhs that they were barred from casting their vote but in vain. There were also instances of bogus voting. For example, Jagdish Kaur and Baljit Kaur of Janer village in Dharamkot were told that their votes had already been polled. Tense moments were witnessed at Baddowal, Kishanpura and a few other villages, but there was no violence. — Kulwinder Sandhu 65% polling in Malerkotla Malerkotla: The SGPC elections saw 65 pc polling at 96 booths in Malerkotla subdivision here today. SDM Bhupinder Mohan Singh said the polling was conducted peacefully even though supporters of various parties reported stray incidents of violence in a few villages. At some places, Sehajdhari Sikhs tried to cast votes but they were stopped by the administration and the polling agents of opposite political parties. — Vikrant Jindal Violence, ‘fake’ voting in Fatehgarh Sahib Fatehgarh Sahib: An average of 70 pc polling was reported in three constituencies of Fatehgarh Sahib amid several incidents of violence and complaints of “fake” voting. The supporters of SAD (A) and Panch Pardhani held a dharna and blocked traffic against the “partisan” role played by the district police. Notably, Fatehgarh Sahib DC had asked the Gurdwara Election Commission to deploy Central forces, but the Principal Sec (Home) had later said there was no such requirement. Of the 70 pc voting, the percentage in Bassi Pathana was 72.4, 67 pc in Amloh and 72 pc in Fatehgarh Sahib. — Aman Sood Amarinder, Preneet fail to turn up for polling Patiala: Except stray incidents of verbal duel and minor scuffles at some of the polling booths between the supporters of the candidates of SAD (Badal) and other political parties, the polling for the SGPC seats in the Patiala district was peaceful. Interestingly, both - PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh and Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur did not cast their vote. As per the figures available, for the 10 SGPC seats, the Patiala district recorded 61.2 pc polling. Maximum voting was recorded in the Bhadson segment, where the poll percentage was 73. — Umesh Dewan/Gagan K Teja
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61.2% polling in Patiala; Capt fails to turn up
Patiala/Fatehgarh Sahib, September 18 During his interaction session with the students organised by the NSUI in Patiala on August 12 and during a state-level Congress rally held in Patiala on August 20, Amrinder had announced that he would certainly cast his vote in the SGPC elections against the Akali candidate as a mark of protest against the “corrupt” SAD-BJP Government. Meanwhile, almost all the senior leaders of the SAD (B) from Patiala district exercised their right to franchise. As per the figures available, for the 10 SGPC seats, the Patiala district recorded 61.2 per cent polling. Maximum voting was recorded in the Bhadson segment, where the poll percentage was 73. Notably, main candidates from Patiala include Kuldeep Kaur Tohra (Sanaur constituency), foster daughter of former SGPC president late Gurcharan Singh Tohra, and SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann’s son Emaan Singh Mann (Bhadson). In the rural areas and villages, the poll percentage was quite high. In wake of the fact that Patiala is mainly a Congress stronghold, the enthusiasm for the SGPC election was not much among the people here. “For us, it is Sunday - holiday to spend some time with the family,” said majority of the city residents. A round of the several polling booths in the city brought to light that splinter Akali groups, Panthak Morcha, SAD (Amritsar) and other political outfits, who had fielded their candidates, even failed to set up the polling booths on account of scarcity of the party workers. “It is pretty clear that the election is a one sided affair with SAD (Badal) all set to make a clean sweep in the elections,” said Surjit Singh Rakhra and Prem Singh Chandumajra, both senior Akali leaders. An average of 70 per cent polling was reported in the three constituencies of Fatehgarh Sahib amid several incidents of violence and complaints of “fake” voting in the district. The supporters of SAD (Amritsar) and Panch Pardhani also held a dharna and blocked traffic against the “partisan” role played by the district police. Notably, Fatehgarh Sahib Deputy Commissioner had asked the Gurdwara Election Commission to deploy Central forces, but the Principal Secretary, Home, had later said that there was no such requirement. Of the 70 pc voting, the percentage in Bassi Pathana was 72.4, 67 pc in Amloh and 72 pc in Fatehgarh Sahib. Bassi Pathana was considered an important seat with former minister Randhir Singh Cheema, SAD (A) president Simranjit Singh Mann and Panch Pardhani leader Harpal Singh Cheema locked in a triangular contest. In Bhadson, Simranjit Singh Mann’s son Emaan Singh was fighting Satwinder Singh Tohra, a close confidant of former SGPC chief late Gurcharan Singh
Tohra.
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Badal should apologise: Capt
In a statement here today, Capt Amarinder said the reign of terror let loose by the Akalis reminded one of the violence during the panchayat and civic elections four years ago. He said the violence today was a blot on the face of the Akali Dal leadership. “They created such a hype about these elections that at the end of the day they started feeling insecure and, thus, used and abused all resources available ,including the government machinery, particularly the Punjab Police, for the elections.” Capt Amarinder said, as a devout Sikh, he had seen several SGPC elections, but it was for the first time that violence had occurred. “These elections were never made a prestige issue as made by the Badals this time”, he pointed out. “Watching the images of violence and booth-capturing during the SGPC elections, for a while it felt as if one was living in some part of Bihar ”, he said, while regretting, “the elections which were always fought in a cordial, congenial and harmonious atmosphere have now been turned into a blood feud owing to the unbridled ambition of the Badals to grab everything, including the SGPC, for survival”.
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SAD alleges Congress interference
Chandigarh, September 18 In a statement released from the party head office here today Cheema said that this was another conspiracy of the Congress party to defame the apex body for the management of the Sikh shrines. He said that fearing humiliating defeat the Congress party managed some ‘patit sikhs’ to poll their votes in front of the media so that it can find a way out from this crushing defeat. But, he said that the sikh masses are well aware of the Congress designs to malign the image of the SAD and SGPC. Cheema said that it seems that Congress party has no other agenda for the welfare of the people of the state and it is only confined to work against the SAD in general and Sikh masses in particular.
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SAD heavyweights retain their seats
Chandigarh, September 18 The alliance is leading in most of the constituencies where counting is still on. However, its candidates were trailing in Sri Hargobindpur, Baba Bakala, Jandiala, Phillaur and Ropar till the filing of the report. The combine has so far lost one seat each in Punjab and Haryana and has won the lone seat in Himachal Pradesh as well as that of Chandigarh. SAD secretary and spokesperson Dr Daljit Singh Cheema claimed the alliance candidates had won with “very comfortable” margins. Out of the results declared so far, the SAD-Sant Samaj candidates have won two of the 10 seats in Amritsar (five of its candidates were earlier elected unopposed), five of the nibe seats in Bathinda, one out of the four seats in Barnala, one seat in Fatehgarh Sahib and eight of the 10 seats in Gurdaspur. In Jalandhar, the alliance candidates have won three seats out of nine. In Tarn Taran, it has won one seat unopposed and is trailing on another. In Ropar, the aliance has won two seats and on the remaining two, a rebel and a Panthic Morcha candidate are giving a tough fight. In Haryana, the SAD-Sant Samaj alliance has won two seats of the 11, losing the Sirsa seat. The Congress-supported candidate Jagdish Singh Jhinda has lost the Karnal seat. According to preliminary report, about 60 per cent polling was recorded across the three states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. There were reports of non-Keshdhari Sikhs casting their votes at some places. Reportedly, the Sehajdharis who voted today had given an undertaking that they were Keshdharis. Barring two incidents of firing at Gidderbaha and Jandiala in Amritsar, the polling was by and large peaceful.
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Poll in Haryana peaceful
Chandigarh , September 18 Nearly 60 per cent voters exercised their franchise in Panipat district. In Yamunanagar, 67.68 per cent voters exercised franchise . The lowest polling of 47.3 per cent was recorded at Ganeshpur village (Ambala) and the highest of 92.05 per cent at Jadauda village (Yamunanagar).
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CM must resign, says Manpreet
Chandigarh, September 18 In view of the lawlessness that prevailed during the SGPC elections, the presiding officer at Buttar had deferred the elections. In
Kurianwala village of Gidderbaha, the Chief Minister’s home
district, a PPP member protesting against booth-capturing, was shot at
and rushed to hospital. His condition was stated to be critical. Disgusted
at the “jungle raj” in the state, Manpreet said the Chief Minister
should resign immediately. “If anarchy is a virtue, then Parkash
Singh Badal’s Government is its incarnation. I am disgusted to learn
that to win the SGPC elections, the government has left no stone
unturned to abuse the law. This clearly proves that the Badals are
certain about their forthcoming shameful defeat in the Vidhan Sabha
elections. With such hooliganism, I don’t foresee their party even
obtaining ten seats in the elections,” he said. “Punjab is going
to the dogs because its administrators, the Badals, want a piece of
flesh of victory from the SGPC elections. Unfortunately, they are
blissfully ignoring the fact that wining SGPC elections will not
ensure their return to Punjab as winners. Such abominable conduct will
ensure their shameful exit”, Manpreet said.
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Morcha candidate’s son booked for poll code violation
Amritsar, September 18 In a surprise development, the E-division police yesterday registered a case under Section 171-G of the IPC, 68-E of the Police Act against Simrandeep. Simrandeep was later let-off after some hours. Police Commissioner RP Mittal told that Simrandeep was held guilty of violating the SGPC code of conduct by tearing off the posters of some SAD leaders, who were in the fray for SGPC elections, and also he was found to be inserting leaflets in support of his father in the newspapers, yesterday morning, whereas the code of conduct prohibited this type of campaigning beyond September 16. It was then that they had an altercation with some men, apparently, belonging to opposition group. Walia, in a complaint submitted with the Kotwali police station, had alleged that his son was abducted on the instance of some SAD leaders with a view to demoralise him in these elections. It is to mention that Walia was earlier a District Working Committee member of the SAD, but he raised a banner of revolt when he was denied the party ticket. Nonetheless, confirming the recent development, the investigation officer Kuldeep Singh told that a case has been registered against Simrandeep on the basis of a complaint submitted by one Sukhpal Singh, who had spotted him tearing off the posters of leaders, who were contesting the SGPC elections opposite to his father. However, Anil Kumar, an Oserver for the SGPC elections here said it was sheer violation of code of conduct as the SGPC polling has been scheduled for September 18 and this kind of campaigning was beyond permissible limits since September 16. “Yet he can appeal against this decision before the court after the election process completes,” he
said
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Dangerous portends for SAD, despite win
Chandigarh, September 18 For the first
time in 85 years, when the SGPC elections were first (1926) held, the
SAD has had to face a serious opposition. The runup to the poll was
neither smooth nor without resistance. The mood of jubilation in the
Akali camp notwithstanding, realisation must have dawned on Sukhbir
and his father Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal that the assembly
elections are going to be no cakewalk. For the SGPC poll, the SAD
faced limited opposition (fringe Akali elements), but for the assembly
elections, the opposition would be larger and stronger. However, the
SGPC elections have certainly helped the Akalis mobilise their cadres
for the big fight. A momentum has been set in motion within the party,
which the Congress lacks so far. The sole activity visible in the
Congress camp is Amarinder meeting party men and addressing
gatherings. At several places, these meetings have seen ugly
intra-party feud. What will be of concern to the Badals is not the
number of votes that their candidates secured in the SGPC elections,
but the number of votes they did not. The Opposition vote in these
elections is extremely significant, especially in places like
Gidderbaha.
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3 lakh babies die of asphyxia in India
Bathinda, September 18 Under this programme, First Golden Minute course, 40 doctors from the state represented different districts. They were given a special training to deal efficiently while handling newborns in order to prevent asphyxia and other complications. Dr HS Narang, president of the IAP, Punjab, and the course coordinator, said about one million babies die every year worldwide because of asphyxia, out of which about 3 lakh die in India. — TNS
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Medical assn comes out in support of quota in PG courses for rural docs
Patiala, September 18 Ridiculing the statement given by the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association, opposing the proposed move to reduce the 60 per cent quota for the PCMS doctors in the PG (MD/MS) course, chairman of the ISDW of IMA Dr DS Bhullar said the demand of the rural doctors was justified. “At present, the PG seats are kept reserved for the PCMS doctors, serving at least three years in the rural areas, whereas RMOs, working under the zila parishad, are also looking after the dispensaries in the rural areas. Furthermore, when the rules for keeping 60 per cent quota in PG (MD/MS) courses for the PCMS doctors were framed, there was no RMO cadre. Hence, the rules need to be amended to accommodate the RMOs as well in the quota for the PG courses,” said Dr Bhullar. “In reality, the RMOs are serving the poor people in the villages, as the PCMS doctors posted in the rural dispensaries are often assigned the emergency and medico-legal duties in the primary health centres as well. On the one hand, due to shrinkage of the PCMS cadre, even the less competent PCMS doctors, who earlier were not able to join the PG (MD/MS) courses, are now easily being accommodated in the same. On the other hand, more deserving and competent doctors (RMOs) are being denied the benefit of reservation in the PG (MS/MD) course in the state medical colleges,” said Dr Bhullar, while urging the state government to accept the demand of quota fixation for the RMOs without any delay.
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Firemen fume at long duration of traffic lights in Bathinda
Bathinda, September 18 The firemen complained that the extended duration of red lights, especially near the Hanuman Chowk has taken its toll on the speed of fire tenders. “We are always in a hurry to reach the place where fire breaks out. But to wait for a green signal at traffic lights is irritating,” said Baldev Singh, Assistant Divisional Fire Officer. He said letters in this regard had been written to senior traffic police officials, who had been reminded umpteen times, but nothing had been done so far. He added that the green light remains for few seconds but the duration of red light is quite longer. “Green light should stay for at least 18 to 20 seconds so that most of the vehicles could cross the chowk,” he said. He added that 172 fire incidents had been reported in the past six months and fire tenders had got stuck at various traffic lights while on their way to the accident site. Firemen also rued that iron pillars fixed at various entry points in the city, residential areas and main markets also cause hindrance in the way of fire tenders. “We have to take longer routes due to iron pillars near Veer Colony, Railway road, Dhobi Bazaar, Amrik Singh road, Post Office market, Sadar Bazaar and various other places,” said one of the drivers of the Fire Department. No senior police official was available for comments. However, Bathinda traffic police in-charge Jagdish Kumar said efforts were made to approach the contractor, who was assigned the task of maintaining the traffic lights, but in vain. “While the timing of the traffic lights in cities like Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Mohali is arranged in such a manner that commuters maintaining a particular speed get green signal at all traffic lights, nothing has been done to streamline the traffic lights in Bathinda,” he said.
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Refinery staff get training in safety
Bathinda, September 18 Nearly 60 participants from various establishments, including the NFL, the Hindustan Insecticides Ltd, the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, the GHTP, Lehra Mohabbat, also took part. Those who spoke on the occasion included RK Mahotra, manager (Fire & Safety), NFL; Sanjeev Verma, senior manager (Environment and Safety), Siel Chemicals, Rajpura; and Ian Thorpe, HMEL; besides Gill. A mock drill on emergency response procedures in the crude tank area was also carried out. — TNS
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Bathinda, September 18 Harpreet Singh (IIM Ahmedabad), who is the president of the JRE Group of Institutions, Pawan Gupta (IIM Kozhikode), Sony Goyal (IIM Ahmedabad), stressed upon the need for proper guidance. Ishant Goyal (IIM Ahmedabad), a gold medallist of his batch, shared his experience. — TNS
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Jail inmate dies, top cop rules out laxity
Ferozepur, September 18 Jail Superintendent Capt LS Jakhar said Madhu has not been well since the time she was lodged in the prison. He stated that earlier also she was sent to the civil hospital twice during her stay in the jail. Jakhar said Madhu underwent treatment in the hospital from August 24 to September 2. “Yesterday, her condition deteriorated again and she was immediately rushed to the civil hospital. However, she died on her way to the hospital,” he added. Jakhar claimed that there was no laxity on part of the jail authorities. — OC
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Inside Babudom
Chandigarh, September 18 In fact, Pruthi is one of the 30 senior Indian Revenue Service officers, who got their promotion as Chief Commissioner, Customs and Central Excise, last week. He was one of 17 officers in the panel of 2010-11 approved for promotion. Of the remaining 13 officers promoted, three belonged to the 2009-10 panel and remaining 10 to the 2011-12 panel. Last week, the Ministry of Finance had posted Baldip Singh Sandhu as Commissioner, Income Tax-II, Chandigarh. Incidentally both Pruthi and Sandhu have so many commonalities. They both had, in the recent past, served the Punjab Government on deputation from the Central Government. Pruthi headed the Punjab Alkalis and Chemicals, while sandhu was the Income Tax Adviser to the state government. If Sandhu came from a family of bureaucrats, Pruthi, too, has strong connections both with this city and the bureaucracy. He is a close relation of Jivtesh Singh Saini, who recently retired as Secretary to the Government of India. Pruthi has also been associated with the Chandigarh Golf Range for a long time and is keen sports promoter. Immediately after taking over as Chief Commissioner, Customs and Central Excise, he not only visited the new terminal building of the Chandigarh Airport, but also held a meeting with the Airport Authority officials to discuss modalities for setting up Customs clearance facilities there. Going by indications, international flights are expected from this terminal by either end of October or early November. Other than Pruthi, Harjinder Singh, who also figured in the 2010-11 panel for promotion, has been elevated as the Chief Commissioner, Customs and Central Excise. He goes to Nagpur as Chief Commissioner, Customs and Central Excise.
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Tota Singh’s man loses by 73 votes
Moga, September 18 Though Akali stalwart Tota Singh won by a margin of 5,300 votes from the Moga constituency, he has lost the ground in Dharamkot from where he is aspiring to contest the forthcoming assembly elections. The jathedar had fielded his confidant Gurmail Singh against Kaka and carried out an aggressive campaign against Kaka, making all-out efforts to win the seat. The Chief Minister and his son Sukhbir had both campaigned against Kaka. Delighted over his win, Kaka said: “The people of my area love me. They expressed their sympathy with me when I was shunted out from the SAD after being denied the party ticket. They asked me to contest as an Independent. They have given me respect and I will serve them throughout my life.” When the counting of votes in Randial and Karial was on, an attempt was made to capture the booth in connivance with the polling staff which was foiled by vigilant policemen. Recounting was held in the presence of the candidates and finally kaka won with a margin of 73 votes. On the other seven seats, all the SAD candidates Resham Singh from Moga (SC), Jugraj Singh Daudhar from Badhni Kalan, Gurmail Singh Sangatpura from Nihalsinghwala, Tarsem Singh Rattian from Ghal Kalan (general), Jaswinder Kaur from Ghal Kalan, Narinder Kaur Rania from Badhni Kalan and Sukhharmanpreet Singh Rode from Baghapurana have won the elections.
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HC sets aside appointment of lecturer
Patiala, September 18 She had moved the court alleging that she was shortlisted along with Dipan Wita but the university authorities ignored her merit while making an appointment despite the fact that she had better academic record than Dipan Wita. As per petition, Dipan was appointed by the university on February 27, 2009, as a lecturer in Department of Dance. "Mickey Verma did her graduation with music and dance as an elective subject scoring 58 per cent marks and got 82 per cent in MA (classical dance), besides having a PhD degree and various gold medals in national and international level events. On the other hand, Dipan Wita secured only 40 per cent marks in BA with English honours, 76.93 per cent in MA and 85.33 per cent in Sangeet Prabhakar in Kathak from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad", the petitioner had pleaded before the court. The petition further mentioned that four candidates had appeared in an interview for the said post on February 25, 2009. The selection committee recommended the names of both Mickey Verma and Dipan Wita. Dipan Wita was already working on the said post as on ad hoc basis and later given regular appointment", the plaintiff stated. Counsel for the petitioner, KS Kang had stated in the court that selection and appointment of Dipan was wrongly made with a view to favour her by ignoring the rules and guidelines framed by the university. He argued before the court that Dipam did not have the diploma in Sangeet Parbhakar and did one-year certificate course. Justice Daya Chaudhary in her order said “The respondent has done only one-year course in the field of music/dance, which is as per the prospectus /brochure of the university, is only a certificate course and not diploma course.” Passing the strictures against the university, the court order mentioned, “It is well settled proposition of law that once it is detected that the irregularities in selection have been committed, then the selection qua the ineligible candidate can be quashed”. The court has directed the university to hold the selection afresh for the aforesaid post by considering all the candidates except
Dipan.
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Bikers’ gang drives cops to launch Op Night-Dominance
Jalandhar, September 18 Police strategy n
Nakas were laid from 11 pm to 2 am in various parts of the city n
42 mobile motorcycle parties also patrolled the city n
Several suspects rounded up n
Most of them were let off after verification As many as 200 police personnel were deputed at 28 special nakas laid from 11 pm to 2 am in various parts of the city. Besides, 42 mobile motorcycle parties also patrolled the city. The city was divided into two parts, comprising the areas falling under ADCP I and II. A total of 14 special nakas were laid, where 100 police personnel were deputed in each of the two parts. Similarly, 21 mobile motorcycle parties also patrolled each of the areas falling under ADCP I and II areas, respectively. Several policemen also patrolled the city in mufti. The ADCP (crime) Rajpal Singh Sandhu and ACP crime RS Cheema supervised the special nakas laid in the areas falling under ADCP I areas, Sandhu issued special directions before dispatching the police personnel at special nakas from police division number three near Lav Kush Chowk. Sandhu directed those in charge at the nakas that the motorcycle-borne youths should be searched thoroughly to check if they were carrying any weapon. Sandhu said a number of suspects were rounded up at special nakas but most of them were let off after their preliminary verification. The bikers’ gang remained calm on Wednesday night. There was no recent report of robbery by them. However, they had already struck at various areas, including the locality near Guru Gobind Singh Stadium, Kapurthala Chowk, New Grain Market, Mai Hiran Gate and Vikash Puri, making nine persons their victims within the past seven days.
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Ghudda road mishap: Owner of transport company booked
Bathinda, September 18 The bus driver has been identified as Amrik Singh of Mehna village of Bathinda while Pal Singh and Rashpal Singh are the manager and the owner of the transport company
—Ahluwalia Company — respectively. Earlier, the Bathinda police had refused to register a case due to lack of a formal complaint against the transporter or the bus driver even as villagers protested against the transporter for plying overloaded buses with worn out
tyres. The bus driver was allegedly driving an overloaded bus (PB-03-S-8611) recklessly despite the fact that one of its rear tyres was punctured. The bus overturned after one of its worn out tyres burst as it approached Ghudda village on Monday afternoon. While a DAV College student was killed in the accident many other passengers received serious injuries. A girl student had lost a limb in the accident. Passengers undergoing treatment at various hospitals had said the bus was overloaded and many passengers were sitting atop the vehicle. The relatives of the deceased, residents of Kotli Sabo village to which the deceased belonged and its Sarpanch Sukhmandar Singh alleged that it was the negligence of transporters who put the lives of many passengers at risk by ferrying them in a bus whose tyres were worn out. They demanded stringent punishment for the negligence causing loss of a precious life besides injuries to many others.
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One person was injured in firing during the SGPC polls at Karaiwala village of the most sensitive Gidderbaha segment, the stronghold of People's Party of Punjab chief Manpreet Badal.
Chandigarh, September 18
Chandigarh, September 18
Inside Babudom
Jalandhar, September 18
In another incident, SAD candidate from Dodha segment Navtej Singh Kauni was allegedly manhandled by the supporters of Independent candidate Roop Singh Gurisanghar in a polling station in his native Kauni village. Roop Singh was being supported by Manpreet Badal. The SGPC election, particularly in Gidderbaha and Dodha segments, is considered politically significant due to a proxy fight between Deputy CM and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and Manpreet Singh. Repeated attempts to reach the election observer, Mahabir Prasad, on his mobile phone to enquire about the violence remained futile as his liaison officer every time said he was busy on the other phone.
Chandigarh, September 18
Among the important winners are SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekwan and Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langah and Chandigarh’s former Mayor Harjinder Kaur. 
Manpreet Singh Badal, president of the People’s Party of Punjab,
said in a statement that the Parkash Singh Badal Government had
indulged in booth-capturing, bloodshed and violence. “This was a
veritable demonstration of the selfish attitude of the government to
obtain petty gains.” He said a PPP activist was shot at and
critically injured by the Akalis.
