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Funds Misuse: Ranike in the dock |
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Consumers powerless in face of meter
shortage
Govt okays funds to resume ‘dal’ scheme
Will arrest Ranike’s PA soon: Police
Khanna Factory inferno
Illegal mining
Another probe by Finance Dept
Pakistan Minister comes hunting for his roots
No lessons learnt from Sheetal Fibres mishap
Cement import from Pak back on track
Bhagat Chuni Lal gets stuck in hospital lift
Dr SS Johl is Central varsity Chancellor
Gikki’s
Murder
Father, uncle held for honour killing
Sex offender arrested for 11-year-old boy’s murder
Rs 2 crore and homemade tablets seized
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Funds Misuse: Ranike in the dock
Chandigarh, September 13 Animal Husbandry and SC/BC Welfare Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike is in the eye of the storm with his aide accused of misappropriating funds meant for the welfare of weaker sections. Official sources said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, taking cognisance of the massive “misappropriation” of public funds, had decided to entrust the case to the Vigilance Bureau to ensure transparency and accountability. The case had been transferred from the Punjab Police to the Vigilance Bureau to ensure that the investigation was conducted in a free, impartial and transparent manner. The investigation would be supervised by the Chief Vigilance Director, Suresh Arora, who would submit a report within four weeks. The Chief Minister said the law would take its own course and any person found guilty would not be spared. Nabha: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh has demanded immediate dismissal of Animal Husbandry Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike for his alleged involvement in the embezzlement of rural development. "The inquiry ordered by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is a mere eyewash," said Amarinder, while addressing a "rosh rally" at Nabha grain market today. He said: "The order of an inquiry against Ranike by a DSP appointed by the minister himself suggests that the SAD-BJP government wants to hush up the matter. Ranike must be put behind the bars immediately," he asserted. Meanwhile, in a press note, Congress Legislature Party Leader Sunil Jakhar, rejecting the Vigilance probe, demanded a CBI inquiry into the scam. He also demanded Ranike's ouster from the state Cabinet.
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Consumers powerless in face of meter
shortage
Patiala, September 13 Sources said the shortage of three phase meters was not acute, but there is a huge backlog for single phase meters. The stock position as on September 7 shows the corporation had just 1,888 single phase and 2,193 three phase meters whereas the demand is quite high. The sources said from 10,411 pending applications for new connections as on March 31, the number rose to 27,233 by June 30. Inquiries reveal that the widening demand and supply gap has resulted into such a situation. The PSPCL authorities claim after receiving an application from a general category consumer for a new connection, the meter is installed in a week's time. However, in some areas, if any additional infrastructure (system augmentation) is required, the deadline is one month. PSPCL Director (Distribution) Arun Verma said: "The corporation purchases single/three phase meters on a regular basis. However, to meet the rising demand and to clear pending cases, a tender has been floated while another is in process. We are at an advance stage of getting the supply of meters." Consumers who have submitted applications for the replacement of their defective meters have been facing a raw deal. They say the corporation is violating the norms by taking unreasonably long time in replacing defective meters. The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) guidelines state the defunct meter has to be replaced within five days of the receipt of a complaint. However, a PSPCL report mentions till June 30, 13,044 complaints regarding defunct meters were not redressed within five days. "Non-replacement of defunct meters beyond five days causes financial loss to the corporation. Since billing is done on the basis of previous year's average, there is every possibility that the consumer might have installed new appliances that consume more power. In that case, the PSPCL suffers a loss," said a power official. Likewise, till June 30, PSPCL failed to replace 57,769 defective metres which were to be replaced within 10 days from the date of complaint. long wait The stock position as on September 7 shows the corporation had just 1,888 single phase and 2,193 three phase meters whereas the demand is quite high From 10,411 pending applications for new connections as on March 31, the number rose to 27,233 by June 30 PSPCL is violating regulatory guidelines by taking unreasonably long time in replacing defective meters
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Govt okays funds to resume ‘dal’ scheme
Chandigarh, September 13 Sources in the Finance Department said the state government had decided to immediately release Rs 20 crore to Punsup (Punjab State Civil Supplies Corporation), the agency entrusted with the job to make pulses available to the poor under the “atta-dal” scheme. The Tribune was the first to highlight the issue after the scheme was snapped. A family of five members is given 2.5 kg of pulses, apart from free wheat. Sources said Rs 30 crore will be made available to the Punsup this month, which will be enough to procure pulses for four months. About 31,500 quintals of pulses are required each month. On an average, the pulses cost the Punsup Rs 43.65 a kg. Punsup Managing Director PS Shergill said he had instructed his officials to make pulses available to the eligible families by September-end. Earlier, the state government had released Rs 190 crore for purchasing wheat under the scheme. Food for the poor Govt to give Punsup Rs 30 cr to procure pulses The amount will fund the scheme for 4 months A family of five gets 2.5 kg (pulses) a month 31,500 quintals of pulses are required each month
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Will arrest Ranike’s PA soon: Police
Amritsar, September 13 Three persons have been arrested in the RDF scam and one in the BADP fund scam. Interestingly, two DSPs have been shifted out of Attari ever since the BADP fund scam came to light in May last year. The FIR in the case has been lodged against unidentified persons. Though the case was registered in the city, the probe was shifted to the Attari DSP. In both the scams, the modus operandi was the same. Bogus bank accounts were opened. The minister’s staff would deposit the cheques procured through the Block Development and Panchayat Office (BDPO) in these accounts. The impersonating account-holders would then withdraw the money through ‘self’ cheques. In the RDF scam, an FIR was registered on June 25, 2012. While the police is looking for the minister’s PA, three persons, identified as Baljeet Singh, Amit Kumar and Om Parkash, were arrested. Baljeet and Amit allegedly worked as conduits between the PA and the bank. Om Parkash was the Manager of the Bank of Maharashtra, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar. Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural) Preet Pal Singh Virk said the police had confiscated Amit’s properties, including two houses and a car. The embezzlement under the BADP head surfaced during 2008-09. An FIR in the case was registered on May 22, 2011. Only one person, identified as Maninder Singh, has been arrested in the case. Modus Operandi Bogus bank accounts were opened The minister's staff would deposit cheques procured through the BDPO in these accounts Money was then withdrawn through 'self' cheques minister speak I am ready to face any inquiry. The truth will come out only when Sarbdyal is caught. Let the law take its course — Gulzar Singh Ranike, Animal Husbandry Minister
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Khanna Factory inferno
Khanna, September 13 The police had decided to conduct DNA tests as the bodies of three migrants, Chottu, Bhagirath and Davinder, were burnt beyond recognition. DIG (Ludhiana range) MF Farooqui said, "The trio were standing close to the hexane gas chamber when the explosion took place. They were reduced to skeletons and their identity could only be established through DNA test." He said the police wanted to avoid handing over wrong bodies. The police said the test was to be conducted keeping in mind the emotions of the family who lost their loved ones in the incident. However, the family members of the deceased who assembled at the Civil Hospital in Khanna in the afternoon decided to collect the bodies by measuring their frame. "My relative Chottu was shorter in stature whereas that of plant operator Davinder was broad. So, I and Ajay's father measured the size of skeletons and took respective bodies after a mutual understanding," said Satish from Rae Bareli in Uttar
Pradesh. Jakhar seeks more compensation Khanna:"Congress Legislature Party Leader Sunil Jakhar on Thursday claimed that Rs 1 lakh compensation, as announced by the state government for the next of those killed in the factory blast, was "too less". Demanding an impartial probe into the incident and a hike in relief, Jakhar said efforts should be put in to ensure that such incidents do not recur. The Congress leader today visited the mishap site in Khanna. He also met the relatives of the deceased labourers. Jakhar lashed out at the state government, saying the coalition regime had levied heavy taxes on all walks of life and was allegedly discriminating against the industry, which had no option but to shift base to other states. — Gurminder Singh Grewal
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Illegal mining
Chandigarh, September 13 This, and much more, was revealed during the hearing of a petition alleging Punjab’s failure to take necessary steps for stopping illegal mining in the drain. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has called for a report on action against officials failing to check the menace. As the petition filed by Virsa Singh came up for hearing, the Secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce, Vikas Pratap, said in an affidavit that action as per the law had been initated against those carrying out illegal mining in the area by registering FIRs. Recovery certificates too had been issued against the offenders.
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Another probe by Finance Dept
Chandigarh, September 13 Official sources said the physical verification of all development works would be undertaken in at least one block of each border district. The utilisation of funds would also be probed. Officials concerned would be directed to submit a separate funds utilisation certificate (UC) for each of the works carried out in the border belt. There have been allegations that funds meant for development projects have been embezzled from the Rs 60-crore special border area development fund in connivance with influential politicians. Sources said a consultancy firm of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) would conduct the inquiry. Money is allocated for rural areas under the Rural Development Fund, Punjab Infrastructure Development Fund, MPLAD Fund, Kandi Area Development, NAREGA, Sarb Sikhsha Abhiyan and discretionary grants.
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Pakistan Minister comes hunting for his roots
Fazilka, September 13 Joginder Singh, son of daily wager Taro Bai, who resides in a portion of the house, said as residents climbed the roof of the nearly 80-year-old house to have a glimpse of the departing dignitaries, two wooden logs and some bricks crumbled. Nobody was hurt. A disappointed Joginder said his family members, who were leading a life of penury, were expecting a gift from Pakistan’s minister.
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No lessons learnt from Sheetal Fibres mishap
Ludhiana, September 13 A blast in a gas tank at Sanjiv Agro Solvent Plant in Khanna yesterday left six workers dead while as many have been battling for their lives in hospitals. In a similar incident in April, eight workers were killed when the four-storey building of a blanket manufacturing unit in Jalandhar, Sheetal Fibres, collapsed. Apart from the Industries Department, factory owners too were to blame as they do not care two hoots about safety regulations and only pursue profit path, a resident said. "It’s shameful that industrialists put the lives of those workers at risk who help them earn their profits," said Jasbir Singh, a senior citizen. Deputy Director (factories) Jatinder Singh Bhatti said industrial units were checked on a regular basis and violators, if any, were penalised. He, however, said the department was facing staff crunch, which at times made it difficult for them to conduct routine checks and maintain data. Officials said units making use of boilers were prone to mishaps. Despite that, there is only one designated authority --- Director (boilers), stationed in Jalandhar --- to check and renew the licences of boilers annually in the entire state. Director (boilers) Satbir Singh said, "Licences of boilers are renewed after an on-the-spot visit.” However, the owner of a dyeing unit at Tajpur Road claims otherwise: "Licences are renewed without a visit to industrial units. Checking is done only on papers.”
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Cement import from Pak back on track
Amritsar, September 13 The move followed after the Pakistan Customs authorities initiated measures to resolve the issue. The Indian traders had stopped cement import from the neighbouring country last month in view of three instances of heroin seizure in the rail cargo arriving from Pakistan. All-India Cement Importers Association president MPS Chatha said they resumed the import after Pakistan custom authorities started putting up bottle seals, which are tamper-proof, while locking up the bogies loaded with cement. The Pakistani authorities also assured their cement exporters that they will take extra caution at the time of loading the cement into the wagons to avoid any such incident, which may threaten trade. Chatha said the move came following the intervention of Pakistani traders who, alike their Indian counterparts, were suffering losses due to the suspension of the trade. He said now they would receive 50 to 60 wagons of cement from Pakistan on a daily basis. The traders, however, said they were disappointed with the Indian government as it didn’t pay heed to their demand to ensure foolproof security network with scanners and other required system to curb smuggling of heroin in rail cargo. “We’ve long been seeking a complete overhaul of rail cargo facility, which is open from all sides and is, therefore, vulnerable to vagaries of weather as also any mischief.
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Bhagat Chuni Lal gets stuck in hospital lift
Patiala, September 13 The minister took the lift to go to the first floor but the lift didn’t open after reaching there. Many police personnel unsuccessfully tried to open the doors of the lift. So, the lift was brought back to the ground floor where the mechanic opened it. Lal then took the stairs to go to the Department. Of late, the media had been criticising the hospital for the poor facilities available there.
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Dr SS Johl is Central varsity Chancellor Ludhiana, September 13 A former Vice Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, and Punjabi University, Patiala, Dr Johl is a litterateur who has been active in research and planning. He joined PAU as an assistant professor and later served as Head, Department of Economics and Sociology, and as Director of Research. “The Central University is meant for education as well as research. We will strive to make it a leading university of the region. Our emphasis will be to focus on basic research, which unfortunately is lacking in our country,” Dr Johl said. Dr Johl served as Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices,; Member of Economic Advisory Council for four Prime Ministers; Director of the Central Governing Board of the RBI and Vice-Chairman of the Punjab Planning Board. —TNS
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Country’s shortest bodybuilder dies
Phagwara, September 13 He suffered from a brain haemorrhage and was taken to a private hospital in Jalandhar last night. Sharma died today morning after grappling with his injuries for 12 hours. At just 2ft 9inches, Phagwara born Sharma was India’s shortest bodybuilder. He is survived by his parents, a brother and a sister. Several people from the political and sporting fraternity attended his funeral at Bhua Dhamrri crematorium here today evening. Born on February 6, 1989 Aditya was only six inches long and weighed 850 gm at the time of his birth. The doctors had no hope that the baby would survive. But the indefatigable Romeo lived on till he was 23 years old. At the age of 17, Romeo quit school as he wasn’t developing mentally or physically and joined the famous bodybuilder Ranjit Pal, who ran the Leo Health Club in Phagwara. Ranjit, who was a runner up at the Mr India contest trained Aditya. Pint-sized Romeo was well-known in his hometown for his ability to lift 1.5kg dumbbells - despite weighing a mere 9.25kg. Romeo holds the Limca Book of Records for being the shortest bodybuilder in the country. Romeo was popular and was invited to many TV shows. He hoped to make a career in entertainment. He liked flying kites and watching movies.
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Gikki’s
Murder
Chandigarh, September 13 Refusing to pass a favourable order on accused Amarpreet Singh Narula alias Prince Narula’s bail plea, Justice Ranjit Singh has also asserted that “the trial has to be insulated from outside interference as one of the eyewitnesses has turned hostile.”
The Murder According to the prosecution, Gikki’s father Rajbir Singh saw his son standing near the main road along with Sukhdev Singh as he reached Baba Rasoi Dhaba in Jalandhar’s Model Town at about 12.45 on the intervening night of April 20 and 21 last year. The prosecution claimed Amardeep Singh took out his revolver and picked a fight with Gikki. Goaded on by Amarpreet Singh and Jasdeep Singh, Makkar took out his revolver and fired at Gikki in his back. The latter did not live long to reach the hospital. Prince Makkar was Gikki’s close friend since childhood. An FIR in the case was registered on April 21, 2011, for murder and criminal conspiracy under Sections 302, 34 and 120-B of the IPC. The accused were also booked under the provisions of the Arms Act.
Proceedings “The petitioner has now again taken courage to file this second bail application by pleading some change in circumstances, where there is hardly any such change noticed or seen,” Justice Ranjit Singh added. Referring to the trial court proceedings, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted one of the witnesses had not supported the prosecution case. “It is the responsibility of this court to ensure that trial is held in a fair manner. Where attempt is seen to win over the witnesses by making them turn hostile to the prosecution, the court has to remain alert and on the guard so that any undue influence over the course of trial is checked and nipped in the bud at the appropriate stage only. For this purpose, this court has not to wait for the trial to end and then intervene”.
The verdict “This court would not be sitting as a silent spectator, if it is noticed that the trial is going astray in any manner. For this purpose, I would require the Registry to place this order before the Administrative Judge of Gurdaspur district for any action as deemed appropriate”.
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Father, uncle held for honour killing
Amritsar, September 13 Accused Balwinder Singh and Baldev Singh have been arrested under Section 302. The girl, studying in BA, belonged to a well-off Mazhbi Sikh family. She was reportedly in love with a Jat Sikh boy. The lovers wanted to tie the knot but this was opposed by the girl’s family. Jandiala SHO Arun Sharma said the lovers had been seeing each other for the past eight months.
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Sex offender arrested for 11-year-old boy’s murder
Kotkapura (Faridkot), September 13 Investigations revealed that the accused was a victim of sodomy. Gurinder Singh Dhillon, Senior Superintendent of police (SSP), Faridkot, said the person who had sodomised Satnam had been identified too. Husanpreet had gone missing on Tuesday afternoon. The family received a phone call, demanding a ransom of Rs 1 lakh. The police was informed and the caller traced. Satnam lived in Husanpreet’s neighbourhood. He would lure children with candies and gifts. Satnam allegedly offered a ride on the bike to Husanpreet on Tuesday afternoon. He took him near a canal on the Kotkapura-Muktsar road and tried to sodomise him. The child resisted. Satnam allegedly strangled him to death and threw the body into the canal, the SSP said. To mislead the police, the next day he made a call from a PCO, demanding a ransom. The medical report of the victim was awaited, the SSP said.
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Rs 2 crore and homemade tablets seized
Patiala, September 13 Gurpreet Singh Gill, Patiala SSP, said the house owner Amandeep Singh Yogi could not satisfactorily explain why he had so much cash lying around the house. “Suspecting the seized medicines to be laced with psychotropic substance, we have informed the health department to examine the tablets,” said Gill. Sources said the currency notes were bundled together in old rubber bands and kept inside briefcases.
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Government today ordered a Vigilance inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of public funds meant for social welfare in the Attari constituency.
Patiala, September 13
While the police was in the process of collecting DNA samples of factory workers charred to death in an explosion at Sanjiv Agro Solvent Plant here yesterday, the relatives of a few deceased today collected the remains of their kin by measuring the size of skeletons.
Federal Minister of Pakistan on Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, who visited his birthplace Mauzam, 4 km from here, last evening, had a providential escape.
Ludhiana, September 13
