|
|
|
|
|
Rules may have been bent to allot plot to Langah’s society
Cotton prices picking up
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
On Dasehra, Faridkot burns effigy of 'goonda raj'
‘Reunite the victim with her family’
Cong, Morcha likely to form
front
Despite ban, no end to stubble burning in state
10 dyeing units found flouting pollution norms
Patiala police sitting on molestation complaint
Ropar divided into 3 zones to enforce mining ban
At Nari Niketan, Shruti
to get special counsellor
Police told to act against encroachers
10 dengue cases reported in Patiala
5 die as truck collides with moving train
|
Rules may have been bent to allot plot to Langah’s society
Gurdaspur, October 24 Sources say he was allotted a plot measuring 5,300 square yards by the Gurdaspur Improvement Trust in 2010 in the posh IT (Scheme No 1) Colony at the 1999 rate (Rs 45 lakh).The plot was allotted in the name of Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College Society run by the minister and his family members in an auction.The amount was to be paid in instalments but when the society failed to do so, the Improvement Trust recommended that the plot be re-auctioned so that it could fetch a higher price. However, for some inexplicable reason, in February 2010 the civic body re-allotted the plot to Langah’s society at the 1999 auction price of Rs 45 lakh. Going by conservative estimates, the plot’s present value is Rs 10 crore. When the society successfully bid for the piece of land in 1999, it had no experience of running an educational institution (a mandatory condition). After Langah’s arrest in 2002 following a Vigilance probe, the society defaulted in paying instalments and the plot was cancelled. But after the SAD-BJP alliance returned to power in 2007, the former minister approached an arbitrator following which the plot was re-allotted to the society in 2010. Rules clearly state that an educational institution must be set up within three years of land allotment. However, with just four months to go before the deadline expires, there is no sign of a building coming up on the land. Langah could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. The then Gurdaspur Improvement Trust Chairman Ravinder Verma claimed that nothing wrong had been done. Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa demanded a CBI probe into the matter. “I do not have faith in the state Vigilance Bureau which is directly controlled by Chief Minister Parkash singh badal and Langah’s proximity to Badal is well-known. I want the CBI to go into the sequence of events leading to the bungling. The Improvement Trust authorities should also be pulled up because their officials seem to have bent rules to favour Langah,” he said.
|
|
Cotton prices picking up
Chandigarh, October 24 The farmers are getting Rs
4,200-Rs 4,400 per quintal for their produce, the same as last year, but much
lower than what they had got two years ago. In 2010, the cotton rates had
soared to Rs 7,000 per quintal. Rubhash Jakhar from Patranwala village near
Abohar said cotton arrivals had started picking up in the mandis. “Though we
are getting the same prices as last year, these are still very low. With the
input costs, like labour charges and cost of pesticides and fertilisers, having
shot up drastically this year, we were expecting the prices to be higher. I
have held back my produce and am waiting for the prices to improve before I
decide to sell it,” he said. The area under cotton cultivation has declined by almost 40,000 hectares this year, from 5.60 lakh hectares last year to 5.20 lakh hectares this year. Because of low returns last year, many farmers had diverted to growing guar, hoping that it would fetch them higher returns. But over-production of guar has sent the prices crashing this year. Rakesh Rathi, former president of the North India Cotton Association, said only private ginners were buying cotton so far. “Traders
who export cotton to China and Bangladesh have not started purchasing cotton as
yet. Some traders who export cotton to Bangladesh and Louis Dreyfus have
entered the mandis, but they are not buying much. This is mainly because
globally the cotton crop has been good and there is less demand in the global
market. We do not foresee higher returns for the cotton crop this year,” he
said.
|
||
|
On Dasehra, Faridkot burns effigy of 'goonda raj'
Faridkot, October 24 Among the protesters were farmers, students, labourers and shopkeepers. The protests burnt the effigy amidst sloganeering against the alleged nexus between the police, criminals and politicians. Also, Shruti's father Ashwani Sachdeva has demanded a CBI probe into the incident. "I have no hope of justice till the investigation is handed over to the CBI," he said. A police posse was also deployed at the spot to avoid any untowards situation. Addressing the protesters, Sachdeva narrated the incident how a gang of criminals, all facing serious cases, abducted his minor daughter after inflicting serious injuries on the family members. "After almost a month of anxious wait, I met my daughter in the court. Initially she agreed to accompany us home, but later changed her decision and demanded shelter in Nari Niketan," he said. Sachdeva claimed that the police and their political bosses apparently feared that Shruti would have exposed them all had she been handed over to her family. "There was sudden pressure on my already tormented daughter to change her statement," he said. From lower-rung policemen to higher officials, everybody was working towards keeping the crime under wraps in order to shield the accused, alleged Bhupinder Sangatpura, a member of the action committee formed to support Shruti. "The sequence of events over the past month has exposed the Punjab Police. There is no hope of justice. We will continue our struggle and a state-level meeting of various social organisations will be held in Bathinda on October 28 to work out the further strategy for justice," he said. Faridkot Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat, in an attempt to pacify the protesters, today visited the victim's family and put forth a proposal to the parents to meet Shruti at the Nari Niketan in Jalandhar. The parents, however, were yet to respond to the offer.
Minor and the mafia
Ashwani Kumar, a dealer in old cars and his wife Seema, an LIC employee, are devastated after their daughter Shruti tells them that she is being stalked by 19-year-old Nishan Singh Worried over his daughter's safety, Ashwani drops Shruti , a Class X student, to school everyday. But on June 25, 2012, she is abducted by Nishan Singh. The police registeres a case of kidnapping against Nishan Singh but there is no trace of the girl for a month On July 27, escaping from Nishan Singh's custody, the girl reaches Faridkot. Her medical examination shows that she has been molestated. On August 10, in her statement to the police, the girl describes the kidnapper as 'don' In her testimony to the police, the girl says she was physically, sexually and mentally abused by the accused during captivity (a month and two days) at different towns of Punjab “He abused me physically, kept me under lock and key without food. He is cruel and has no mercy. On July 27, I escaped and reached Faridkot on a bus”. Thus reads Shruti’s statement. However, the police claims that Shruti was found in Kharar and handed over to her parents. During the annual Baba Farid Mela in Faridkot on September 23, Nishan Singh is seen on dais with VVIPs on September 23 evening. The next day, he and his six accomplices, all history-sheeters, abduct Shruti from her house at 9.40 am after injuring her parents and firing into the air to scare away
neighbours. Though the police station is just 150 yards from the crime site, the police takes an hour to reach there and that too after being prodded by a young PCS officer, an eyewitness to the incident For the next two weeks, the police keeps taking of elopement and releases a fabricated letter and some photographs to support its claim. This triggers public anger and several political parities and social groups joined hands to form an Action Committee against the goonda raj The state government admits that the police had erred in releasing the photographs of the minor and that the police officers concerned would be dealt with as per the law Nishan Singh arrested from Goa on October 21 and Shruti recued. The police once again says that the case "is a love story that ended in elopement”.
Police can't escape blame
The police has committed an offence under Section 228-A of the IPC under which the disclosure of the identity of a rape victim where the victim is dead or a minor or of unsound mind, without the authorisation in writing of the next of kin of the victim, is an offence Under Section 12 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, the marriage of a minor is null and void where a minor is enticed away from the lawful guardian Section 2 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, describes a “child" as a person who, if male, has not completed 21 years of age, and if female, is not yet 18. Shruti is a minor as her date of birth is May 1, 1997. Nishan Singh's accomplices are guilty under Section 361(kidnappind) and for inflicting serious injuries on Shruti's parents
The Lawrence School Sanawar has clarified that Nishan Singh, the key accused in the Shruti case, had never been its student. Reacting to a report, "Shruti Case- A Love Story Gone Awry", published in The Tribune on Wednesday, dean of faculty Dr VK Sharma said, "To the best of our knowledge, Nishan Singh has never been a student of the Lawrence School Sanawar. So, there is no question of his dropping out from the school when he was not our student."
|
||
|
‘Reunite the victim with her family’
Barnala, October 24 Led by social outfit Jabar Virodhi Committee representatives, the local residents also burnt an effigy of the “mafia-police-politician”. The protesters criticised the police and the government for showing Shruti’s “abduction” by Nishan Singh as “elopement”. They demanded handing over of Shruti to her parents and arrest of the remaining two persons accused in the case. The residents had gathered at Chintu Park. Effigies of CM, DGP burnt Lambi/Barnala: “They are the modern-day demons. The rulers in Punjab are hand in glove with criminals and the police is always busy shielding the offenders,” remarked Lachhman Singh Sewewala, district president, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union. In Barnala, a large number of residents of the town today participated in a rally organised to protest against the alleged attempt by the Punjab Police and the state government to scuttle the agitation started in support of Shruti Sachdeva. Led by social outfit Jabar Virodhi Committee representatives, the local residents also burnt an effigy of the “mafia-police-politician”. The protesters criticised the police and the government for showing Shruti’s “abduction” by Nishan Singh as “elopement”. They demanded handing over of Shruti to her parents and the arrest of the remaining two accused in the case, including Nishan Singh’s mother.
|
||
Cong, Morcha likely to form
front
Chandigarh, October 24 The Sanjha Morcha, which includes the PPP as well as the CPI and the CPM, is likely to make a beginning in this regard by sharing stage with the Congress at the Maghi Mela in Muktsar. This could well turn out to be a show of strength for the new front with the Sanjha Morcha having a sizeable presence in the Malwa region. The Punjab Congress has held informal discussions with the Sanjha Morcha constituents, including the PPP and the Left parties. An electoral understanding in also on the cards for the 2014 parliamentary elections with the Congress agreeing in principle to leave the Bathinda seat for PPP chief Manpreet Singh Badal and the Faridkot (Reserve) seat for the Left. The Left parties had earlier evinced interest in contesting the Faridkot and Hoshiarpur (Reserve) seats.They are now ready to give up their demand for the Hoshiarpur seat, say Congress sources. The Punjab Congress feels that fielding Manpreet from Bathinda would tie down the Badal family to the constituency. It feels that having the Sanjha Morcha on its side would help consolidate the anti SAD-BJP vote bank in the state. The Morcha was able to poll six per cent of the total votes polled during the last assembly elections with the PPP alone getting a 5.1 per cent vote share. Sources said things were likely to take shape after the all-party meeting on November 20 that has been called by the PPP. Manpreet said it was too early to talk about a poll alliance and that no talks had been held with the Congress in this regard so far. He, however, said an alliance with the Congress was possible if the all-party meeting identified “common goals” and if there was a meeting of minds. Sources said if the November 20 meeting was successful, the Congress and the Morcha could start with holding joint dharnas against the SAD-BJP Government. This could then be extended to sharing dais on important occasions and even reaching a pact for the Lok Sabha elections.
|
||
|
Amarinder to Saini: Do not‘breach’ service discipline
Chandigarh, October 24 In a statement, Amarinder said Saini should leave politics to politicians and get down to his own business of maintaining law and order in Punjab, which was “deteriorating” with rampant crime and drug addiction. Reacting to Saini’s statement given to the Press yesterday, the Congress chief said, “Are you the chief minister or the Home Minister of Punjab to come out with political statements? The police officials have no business indulging in political posturing to please their political bosses. This neither goes with the discipline of their services nor the decorum of the office of the Director General of Police.” That the Punjab Police chief should comment on the functioning of the Congress, which represents millions of people across the state, and level “mindless” allegations against it was none of his business, he alleged. Amarinder said he himself had been the Chief Minister and Home Minister of Punjab for five years and knew well how the police functioned or should function. “You should refrain from making statements about the Congress’s functioning and leave that job to me,” he said. Reacting to the statement, Saini said Amarinder's statement was "distasteful". "I advise him to be ethical," he said.
|
|
Despite ban, no end to stubble burning in state
Fatehgarh Sahib, October 24 Smoke billowing from paddy fields is a common sight on the Chunni-Fatehgarh Sahib Road. Similar is the case in Sirhind, Mandi Gobindgarh, Bassi Pathana, Amloh, and Khamano. Unaware of its harms, a number of farmers could be seen burning stubble late at night and during the day. Even though the process is a major health hazard, the farmers term it as an easy method to clear the fields for the next crop. A farmer on the condition of anonymity said he did not see any harm in it and that every farmer does it. We have been following this practice for several years, he added. Both the district administration and the Agriculture Department claimed that its officials were spreading awareness among the farmers about the harmful effects of burning paddy. Deputy Commissioner Yashvir Mahajan said he had banned the burning of stubble under Section 144. He said they had already booked a farmer yesterday and added that he would enquire into the case and action would be taken against the guilty. Burning facts Smoke billowing from paddy fields is a common sight on the Chunni-Fatehgarh Sahib Road Agriculture Department claimed that its officials were spreading awareness among the farmers about the harmful effects of burning paddy
|
|
|
10 dyeing units found flouting pollution norms
Patiala, October 24 The surprise raids were conducted by the PPCB officials following a tip off that the dyeing units in Ludhiana were not adhering to pollution control norms. Board chairman Ravinder Singh directed the officials to raid the dyeing units to verify the information. Ravinder Singh said the raids were conducted in various parts of Ludhiana, including Tajpur Road, Focal Point, Industrial Area-A, Bahadur-Ke-Road, Jalandhar bypass, Rahon Road and Tibba Road. “The authorities verified whether or not the industrial units were operating their effluent treatment plants effectively. During the inspection, eight units were found flouting the various provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and two units were found violating the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981,” he said. Board member secretary Dr Babu Ram said 10 teams were constituted to conduct the raids. “While eight dyeing units were found discharging untreated effluents, two dyeing units were caught using pet coke and wheat straw as fuel in violation of the norms. The samples from the 14 dyeing units have been collected and sent to the central laboratory of the board for analysis,” he added.
|
|
|
Patiala police sitting on molestation complaint
Patiala, October 24 Two days after the incident, instead of apprehending the accused, the police are trying to reach a compromise between the parties. The SHO concerned said media had no right to ask any questions on the issue as it was a "personal matter". Despite a complaint to the police by the college authorities and the victim’s father, the district police had not taken any action against the accused. Meanwhile, the girl has refused to attend college, claiming that she fears for her life. The victim (name withheld) said a group of outsiders harassed her at her college while she was returning from the library. “The boys passed lewd comments. After I went inside the girls’ canteen, one of the boys barged in and started abusing me and slapped me twice. When I tried to defend myself, he punched and slapped me again, following which I fainted on the spot.” The girl’s father, who is a senior officer with the Punjab Government, said his daughter had refused to go to college until strict action was taken against the accused, who still continues to threaten them. “My complaints to the SHO concerned went unheeded, after which I approached senior officers but no action has been taken so far,” he added, preferring anonymity. Sources said even the college authorities had initially tried to suppress the issue but after the girl’s father protested, they shot a complaint. Meanwhile, the main accused, son of a Forest Department official, is roaming free. Government Mohindra College Principal Sukhbir Singh Thind confirmed that he had sent a written complaint to the police and had even identified the main accused. “We had submitted the complaint and had asked the SHO to take strict action against the accused, who is not our student and a habitual offender on our campus,” said Thind. The victim alleged that the accused and his accomplices have been involved in such incidents in the past also. When asked why no action had been taken two days after the incident, SHO Karnail Singh said nobody had the right to ask him this question. “The boy’s father wants to reach a compromise with the girl’s family and we are giving them time,” he said. Patiala SP (City) Daljit Rana said he would immediately ask the SHO to register an FIR.
|
|
|
Ropar divided into 3 zones to enforce mining ban
Ropar, October 24 Sub divisional magistrate Anandpur Sahib, local tehsildar, naib tehsildar of Nurpur Bedi, Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Nurpur Bedi along with other officers will ensure that no illegal mining takes place in zone one comprising Khera Kalmot, Nangran, Bhalan, and sub division Nangal. Two other teams comprising officers from the area have been formed for the other two zones. — TNS
|
|
|
At Nari Niketan, Shruti
to get special counsellor
Jalandhar, October 24 The aim is to help her overcome mental trauma that she may have suffered due to her interrogation by the police over the last three days. Shruti was sent to the shelter yesterday after she refused to accompany her parents. Though the Nari Niketan has a full-time counsellor for the more than 40 inmates, the new appointee would focus only on Shruti. Nari Niketan advisory board member Surinder Saini said efforts were being made to make her feel at home. "The new counsellor will join tomorrow. She will help Shruti regain lost confidence. The victim badly needs expert support as she may have faced tough grilling and adverse circumstances over the past few months." The shelter continues to be under heavy security ever since Shruti landed here. Policemen in civvies have been deployed on the compound. ADCP (headquarters) Navjot Mahal said nobody was being allowed inside the shelter. Asked whether Shruti was having food, he replied in affirmative. "She is comfortable and is interacting well with the other girls," he said. Located on the Nakodar road, the Nari Niketan has former Prime Minister IK Gujral as its patron and his son Naresh Gujral as its president. It also has a school on the campus for the inmates. Ex-minister Chawla visits Nari Niketan Former BJP Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla on Wednesday visited the Nari Niketan. She first called on Anjana Talwar, general secretary of the Trust running the shelter, and Trust member Gurjot Kaur. The trio later met Shruti. Chawla reportedly interacted with the minor for a short while.
|
|
|
Clubs of no use to aspiring pilots
Chandigarh, October 24 The Ludhiana and Jalandhar flying clubs have closed down.The Patiala club has just two aircraft and Amritsar three. These aircraft are barely put to use on account of the abysmally poor fuel supply. A student spending Rs 20 lakh to get a licence in two years here can get the same in a little more than six months from a flying club abroad. These clubs in Punjab don’t have more than 30 regular students. Patiala has 10 and Amritsar not more than 20. Most of them are fliers seeking a renewal of their licences. A one-hour flight on Cessna costs approximately Rs 10,000. A student needs at least 200 flying hours to get a licence. This means, he/she needs to spend at least 20 lakh on the training course that takes at least two years because of poor availability of octane. An out-of-job pilot said: “An aspiring pilot can get a licence within six months abroad by spending a lakh or two more than here.” Abhay Chandra, Adviser, Civil Aviation, Punjab, admitted that there was problem with availability of octane. “Indian Oil is the only company in the country supplying jet fuel. The UAVs in defence establishments are the biggest consumers. The Amritsar club has not had any flight for nearly two months now,” he said. Chandra said when the authorities pleaded with the headquarters in Delhi for fuel, “we were referred to Kanpur. In the process, the cost went up from Rs 200 per litre to Rs 220 per litre because of additional sales tax. A Cessna 152 flight costs about Rs 8,500 per hour and Cessna 172 flight Rs 10,000 per hour.” The officer said there were approximately 6,000 pilots without jobs. “The Kingfisher fiasco is going to make things worse. The state has already communicated to the Centre about the difficulty being faced by the state in maintaining its flying clubs because of paucity of aviation fuel.”
|
|
|
Police told to act against encroachers
Mohali, October 24 Balwinder Singh Multani, DRDP director, said the department had prepared a list of 12 encroachers with full details. The list has been sent to senior superintendents of police (SSPs) of areas concerned to initiate action against them under sections of the Village Common Land Act, Multani said. “We are also checking the role of panches and sarpanches in villages where land has been encroached. Action will be taken against the erring persons,” the official said. He said out of total 12 cases, four were from Patiala district while there were three and two cases from Ludhiana and Amritsar respectively. There was one case each from Faridkot, Kaputhala and Ropar districts.
|
|
|
10 dengue cases reported in Patiala
Patiala, October 24 These cases have been reported from different parts of the city. Residents of the city expressed their concern over the rapid spread of the tropical disease which can be deadly. However, Health and Family Welfare Department and Patiala Municipal Corporation officials claim to be fully prepared to handle any eventuality.
|
|
5 die as truck collides with moving train
Ferozepur, October 24 The deceased were identified as Billa, Hira, Ajay, Ravi and Nishan. They had reportedly gone to Saidawala village to buy buffalo. When coming back, the Tata truck they were traveling in collided with the Jaipur-Amritsar Express train as a result of which all of them died on the spot. Family members of deceased Billa and Hira, who were brothers, said they both took three of their friends along with them. Due to heavy storm and thunder showers, they had closed the windowpanes of the truck and could not spot the fast moving train. MP Sher Singh Ghubaya, MLA Joginder Singh, DC S Karuna Raju and other officials visited the mortuary of the civil hospital today where the bodies of the youths were kept.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Gurdaspur, October 24
Protesting against the "mishandling" of the Shruti abduction case under alleged political pressure, a large number of people from different walks
s of life today assembled at Kameana Chowk in the town and burnt an effigy of the "goonda" rule, instead of Ravana, to celebrate Dasehra.
Despite being banned by the district administration under Section 144, the practice of burning stubble goes on unabated in the state.
Smoke billowing from paddy fields is a common sight on the Chunni-Fatehgarh Sahib Road. Similar is the case in
Sirhind, Mandi Gobindgarh, Bassi Pathana, Amloh, and Khamano.
Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) officials today raided two dozen dyeing units in Ludhiana and found 10 dyeing units found violating the provisions of the pollution control norms.
The surprise raids were conducted by the PPCB officials following a tip off that the dyeing units in Ludhiana were not adhering to pollution control norms. Board chairman Ravinder Singh directed the officials to raid the dyeing units to verify the information.
