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Another chapter of 1857 uprising unfolds
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Sarna claims false cases against ‘sewadars’
Cancer incidence in state not so alarming, claims survey
6 killed, 20 injured in Sangrur road accident
The mangled remains of a car that collided with a bus near Dirba village in
Sangrur district on Sunday. A Tribune photograph Australian leader at Golden Temple
Bid to gherao Finance Minister’s house
Members of the teachers union try to break a police cordon in Sangrur on Sunday. A Tribune photograph
Power corporation seeks 700 Suvidha centres in rural areas
PSPCL to purchase power worth Rs 8,680 crore this year
Faridkot police recovers 4 cell phones from
jail
University job: SC candidate cries
foul
Patiala MC fails to shut down illegal slaughterhouses
A view of the unauthorised slaughterhouses situated close to the Patiala bus stand. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar
Absent for years, 197 govt teachers shown the door
48,571 children get pulse polio drops in Ropar
Badal assures of cane price hike
Moga girl abducted, raped and dumped
6 kg heroin worth Rs 30 crore seized
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Another chapter of 1857 uprising unfolds
Ajnala, January 20 The committee members claim that around 500 soldiers had raised a banner of revolt at Mian Mir Cantonment in Lahore as part of the 1857 uprising and swam across Ravi to reach Ajnala. Of them, 218 were killed by the British colonialists at Dadian Sofian village near here. The remaining 282 were incarcerated in a cage-like room. While many of them died of asphyxiation, the rest were shot dead and their bodies thrown in a well, which later came to be known as 'Kalianwala Khu'. While 'khu' means a well, the word 'kalianwala' has been derived from 'kale' (Blacks), as the British colonialists used to call the Indians. Excavation began
in December 2012 Committee chief Amarjit Singh Sarkaria says, “We decided to excavate the area around the gurdwara in December last year. The aim was to zero in on the location of the well. We discovered the outer
structure of the well at the very first spot where we began the excavation work. As we continued digging deep, we found the well was situated exactly beneath the spot where the Guru Granth Sahib had been installed inside the gurdwara building." Sarkaria says the locals were aware that the well was somewhere on the gurdwara premises, spread over 2 kanals and 8 marlas of land, but nobody had an idea about its exact location. He says even the elderly in the town were asked, but they were clueless.
Digging work put on hold temporarily However, the committee has stopped the excavation work now as it intends to have a new gurdwara building constructed prior to resuming the digging work. "We will first build a multi-storeyed gurdwara complex worth Rs 1.5 crore as our priority is to have an alternative place for the gurdwara, the building of which will have to be demolished to take the excavation work to its logical end. We may shift the gurdwara once the basic structure of the new building comes up," he says. The existing gurdwara was constructed around 40 years ago. The committee plans to unearth the entire 'Kalianwala Khu' and also construct a memorial so that the countrymen could pay tributes to the martyrs.
Plan to connect the site with main road Sarkaria says they are also planning to connect the historical site with the main road. "We will like to have a proper road leading to the premises, for which we have already purchased adjoining land and buildings from private parties," he says. At present, a narrow lane adjacent to the main road leads to the site.
Well renamed as
‘Shaheedan da Khu’ The committee says it has renamed the site as 'Shaheedan da Khu' (Well of Martyrs). The committee also claims to have found the remains of the buried soldiers which, it says, will be immersed in the Ganga once the excavation is complete. The committee reached a unanimous decision in this regard as most of the martyrs were Hindu. It says the remains of the martyrs will be taken for immersion in the form of a procession so that the people can pay homage to the martyrs. District Tourism Officer Balraj Singh says he has already written to the higher authorities to promote the place as a major tourist spot as it is probably the only memory of the 1857 uprising in Punjab.
Historians skeptical Guru Nanak Dev University Professor Harish Sharma, who is also the former head of the university history department, says there is no documentation of the incident associated with 'Kalianwala Khu'. “It is a popular belief, but there is no proper account of what exactly happened. Also, there is nothing to authenticate whether the well in question is actually the 'Kalianwala Khu'. Even the state government has not included the episode in the freedom struggle memorial, which it plans to construct in Jalandhar," he says. Sharma, who is part of the government project and has prepared its concept paper, says, “A committee of high-profile historians had unanimously resolved not to include it in the memorial.”
About ‘Kalianwala Khu’ While ‘khu’ means a well, the word ‘kalianwala’ has been derived from ‘kale’ (Blacks), as the British colonialists used to call the Indians. It is said that during the 1857 uprising, at least 500 soldiers had revolted at Mian Mir Cantonment in Lahore. They swam across the Ravi to reach Ajnala. Of them, 218 were killed by the British colonialists at Dadian Sofian village near Ajnala. The remaining 282 were incarcerated in a cage-like room. While many of them died of asphyxiation, the rest were shot dead and their bodies thrown into a well, which later came to be known as ‘Kalianwala Khu’.
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Sarna claims false cases against ‘sewadars’
Chandigarh, January 20
Sources here said members of the task force, who were mostly from Punjab, were now “unable” to reach Delhi to help Sarna’s Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) in the DSGMC election campaign. While cases have been registered against some Task Force members, others have been reportedly “persuaded” to keep off the campaign. The 60-member Task Force led by Charanjit Singh Channi of Ludhiana, Manjit Singh of Amritsar and Devinder Singh of Moga had been brought together by the Sarna group for the much-needed muscle power. All Task Force members are from rural Punjab recruited on a monthly salary of Rs 5,000. Brandishing sticks and swords, the Task Force had in November last year prevented SAD leader Manjit Singh GK and his supporters from barging into DSGMC’s executive body meeting. GK had suffered a head injury. The fact that the Task Force members are based in Punjab has proved to be Sarna’s undoing. Sarna, when questioned on the issue, said: “I have not created any task force.The youth recruited from Punjab are ‘sewadars’ entrusted with the day-to-day management of prominent gurdwaras in Delhi.” He alleged that the SAD-BJP Government had taken the help of the police to conduct raids at the residences of the “sewadars” to pressure them into quitting their duties. He alleged that cases had been registered against 20 youths and that the family members of other “sewadars” were also under pressure. He said cases had been registered against senior “sewadars” Charanjit Singh Channi of Ludhiana and Devinder Singh of Moga. The Moga Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) was not available for comment. The Gurdaspur SSP denied that any Task Force member had been targeted. Daljit Singh Cheema, SAD spokesman, said if anybody was a rapist or a proclaimed offender (Charanjit Singh Channi), he would be hauled up by the police. He said that Sarna had created the Task Force to instil fear in his opponents and it was also being used to shelter illegal activities.
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Cancer incidence in state not so alarming, claims survey
Chandigarh, January 20 The survey findings assume significance as the “high” occurrence of the disease in Punjab, especially in the Malwa belt, had become a cause for concern in various quarters. As the Health Department had no exact figures to depend upon, it ordered the survey. The aim was to collect primary data about cancer patients and deaths caused by the disease in the past five years. Survey coordinator Dr Pyara Lal Garg said, “On the basis of the survey, we can say that current cancer incidence (live cases) is not disturbingly alarming in Punjab. In fact, the rate is below the national average and that in neighbouring states.” Against the national average of 98.5 per lakh population, the cancer rate in Punjab stands at 88.29 per lakh population, said Dr Garg. The incidence rate at the international level is 180 per lakh population, as per figures compiled by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Among men, the incidence of cancer is less in Punjab as compared to neighbouring states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. But, the scenario is opposite as far as women are concerned. Only Himachal fares worst than Punjab in this segment. Most deaths in the state are caused by breast cancer whereas the main killers at the national level are lung and cervical cancer. However, as far as cancer prevalence (live cases plus the deaths recorded in the past five years) is concerned, Punjab almost matches the national average of 211 per lakh population. The international prevalence rate is 586 per lakh population. In the past 18 months in Punjab, the state government has provided Rs 65 crore to 6,027 cancer patients for treatment. Besides, the government has plans to set up radiotherapy units at various places in Malwa, Majha and Doaba belts for cancer patients.
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6 killed, 20 injured in Sangrur road accident
Sangrur, January 20 Bus passenger Mohinder Kaur (65) from Hodal Kalan village near Bhikhi in Mansa district was also killed as the bus overturned after the collision. As many as 15 injured passengers were admitted to a private hospital in Dirba and five were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Sangrur. The car was going towards Sangrur from Laad Banjara village (near Dirba) while the bus was on its way to Patran from Sangrur. The injured persons who were admitted to the Civil Hospital in Sangrur were identified as Jango Ram (60) and his wife Ram Ratti (60) from Sunam, Naib Singh (35) and Gurjant Singh (65) from Banawala village (Mansa) and Gurdial Kaur (50) from Sheron village. When contacted, Dirba Station House officer (SHO) Krishan Kumar Panthey said the Dirba police had registered a case against the bus driver under Sections 304-A, 279 and 427 of the IPC. However, the driver had absconded. The bodies had been handed over to the families.
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Bid to gherao Finance Minister’s house
Sangrur, Januray 20 Thwarted, they then staged a dharna on the main road. Some of them tried to break the police barricade to reach Dhindsa’s residence. They raised slogans against the Punjab Government and in favour of salaries on a par with regular teachers as well as regular jobs. Daljit Singh said those in the master cadre were being paid a mere Rs 9,000 per month and those designated as lecturers Rs 10,000. They wanted salaries on a par with regular teachers in pursuance of the principle of equal pay for equal work, he said. The Sangrur Tehsildar, Saroj Aggarwal, reached the protest site at about 2.10 pm and held talks with union leaders Gurwinder Rattan, Navdeep Samana, Parvinder Singh, Baljit Singh and Sapinder Singh Brar. She also approached Dhindsa’s assistant after which she assured the protesters that the Deputy Commissioner had been asked to arrange a meeting between union leaders and the Chief Minister in the first week of February. Pacified, the protesters lifted the dharna at 2.30 pm.
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Power corporation seeks 700 Suvidha centres in rural areas
Patiala, January 20 While confirming the same, power corporation Chairma-cum-Managing Director KD Chaudhri said, “We have sent a formal request in this regard to Anirudh Tiwari, Secretary, Power. Once the centres are established, consumers won’t have to travel long distances to pay their bills at PSPCL offices.” Chaudhri also said that they might outsource the PSPCL cash counters. “The proposal is not yet finalised but this move would provide efficient management and improve consumer services,” he said, while adding that the final decision in this regard would be taken after considering all the aspects. At present, there are around 1500-1600 PSPCL cash counters in Punjab. The PSPCL authorities have also taken serious note of the fact that power consumers were being charged at Suvidha and Easy Bill outlets across the state. In year 2012, M/s Suvidha Infoserve (P) Limited, Mumbai, and M/s Easy Bill Limited, New Delhi, had begun operating 188 and 433 outlets all over the state. “At the Suvidha and Easy Bill franchise outlets, the power consumers should be able to deposit their power bills without paying any additional charges. But we have got complaints that power consumers are being charged Rs 5 to 10 for the service,” said Chaudhri. A system would be put in place so that these franchise outlets could be monitored in the future, he added.
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PSPCL to purchase power worth Rs 8,680 crore this year
Patiala, January 20 For the fiscal year 2012-13, PSPCL had demanded approval to power purchase worth Rs 5,866 crore
but because of the unprecedented increase in power demand, the power corporation ended up purchasing power worth Rs 7,207 crore. Summer season in the last year was one of the worst for the PSPCL. Just before the start of the paddy season (June 10), Punjab witnessed a major power crisis. While four-day weekly-offs on the industry were imposed, 12-hour power cuts in the domestic sector during the month of June and July last year were routine. Despite overdrawing heavily from the Northern Grid, the PSPCL could not even provide 8-hour power supply to farmers. The situation was so bad last year that even the Northern Grid had tripped twice in the last week
of July. The unrestricted and restricted peak power demand recorded last year was 11,520-MW and 9,074-MW. Power demand is unrestricted when weekly off is imposed on the industry and no power cuts are made for power consumers. Moreover, Punjab had also drawn power from the Northern Grid through Unscheduled Interchange (UI) during the summer season - the bill for which touched Rs 265.57 crore. Power corporation Chairman-cum-Managing Director KD Chaudhri said purchasing power worth Rs 8,680 crore would ensure there is no power cut during the summer season. “However, in case there is hardly any rainfall in the monsoon, then power scenario may change. But we expect 2013 to have a power cut-free summer,” he said. Steep Demand
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Faridkot police recovers 4 cell phones from
jail
Faridkot, January 20 The four unclaimed cell phones, four SIM cards, two mobile charges and more than 500 sedative pills were found abandoned at different locations in the jail. The jail authorities had claimed to have searched all inmates a day after the threat calls were made. On the complaint of Jail Superintendent PK
Garg, the police has now registered a criminal case against unidentified persons. The police was verifying the international mobile equipment identity
(IMEI) and SIM cards to trace the calls, said Jaswinder Pal Sharma, Deputy Superintendent of Police
(DSP). The police believes that after a case was registered against accused Nishan Singh last Wednesday for making threat calls, some jail officials and inmates, who were hand in glove with him, had dumped the phone sets, lest they ran into trouble. This is not the first time that cell phones have been recovered from the Faridkot jail. Some time back, when the district police held an inquiry on the directions of the District and Sessions Judge, it found that an accused, facing 12 criminal cases, had made 603 calls from the jail to police officials, advocates and witnesses. Three of the calls were made to an advocate in
Faridkot, now a defence counsel for Nishan Singh. Nishan Singh is booked in as many as 21 criminal cases.
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University job: SC candidate cries
foul
Patiala, January 20 Documents available with The Tribune show that as per the Punjab Scheduled Caste and Backward Class Reservation in Service Act (2006), 50 per cent of the vacancies of the quota reserved for Scheduled Castes in direct recruitment should be first offered to Balmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs among the Scheduled Castes. Instead of making the merit list for all the candidates, who had appeared in the interview, the authorities made a list of only the selected candidates, Maninder said despite filing repeated RTIs with the university, the authorities did not answer any query following which he had to get the information through the State Information Commission. “The selection committee did not select any candidate from Mazhabi
Sikh/Balmiki category even though four candidates were present from the same and fulfilled the requirements. According to the Act, two out of the four candidates should have been selected. “Even though I have written to Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Patiala Welfare Officer, Director SC/BC, Punjab, Secretary SC/BC Punjab, Principal Secretary, Higher Education, Punjab, Governor of Punjab and Punjab Chief Minister, no action has been taken against the selection committee members,” said
Maninder. Punjabi University Registrar Dr AS Chawla said, “A member of the Welfare Department, who was part of the selection committee, has endorsed the selection process. So I think the selection has been fair.”
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Patiala MC fails to shut down illegal slaughterhouses
Patiala, January 20 Despite the fact that the problem has been highlighted several times, the Patiala Municipal Corporation has failed to take any action against the offenders. "Foul smell emanating from the area is very disconcerting for the shopkeepers, commuters and other passersby," said Satinder Singh, a student, who boards a bus from the area everyday. “The civic authorities have not bothered to take cognisance of the matter till date," said a shopkeeper Pawan Kumar. A Patiala based NGO - Patiala Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had raised this issue some time ago but the MC failed to take any action against the illegal slaughterhouses. Patiala Mayor Jaspal Pradhan said he had taken note of the matter and would move all the slaughterhouses outside the city. "We will also take action against the unauthorised slaughterhouses," he claimed.
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Absent for years, 197 govt teachers shown the door
Chandigarh, January 20 Maluka said the Director-General School Education (DGSE) had been directed to prepare a strategy to tackle absenteeism. He said a special cell had been established in the DGSE office to inquire into the complaints against teachers and other employees. DGSE Kahan Singh Pannu said almost 1,100 complaints had been received, which would be securitised and the guilty, if any, would be penalised. He said it had come to the department's notice that several teachers had proceeded on unauthorised leave 10 years ago and had subsequently moved abroad. Pannu said strict action would be taken against other teachers and employees who failed to resume their duty. He said before sanctioning ex-India leave, an affidavit would be taken from the applicant to the effect that his services would be dismissed in case he failed to resume his duty on time.
Cracking the whip
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48,571 children get pulse polio drops in Ropar
Ropar Civil Surgeon Rajnish Sood said the highest number of children administered medicine was at Kiratpur Sahib with the figure standing at 11,065. As many as 8,859 children were given pulse polio drops at Bharatgarh, 7,377 at Nurpur Bedi, 7,843 at Chamkaur Sahib, 4,168 at Ropar, 2,849 at Anandpur Sahib, 1,355 at Rajnagar, 2,698 at BBMB Nangal, and 2,362 in Morinda urban. A total of 318 booths manned by 1,272 health workers were set up on the first day. The health workers will administer the medicine to children in their houses during the next two days, he added. Changing lives:
A total of 66,800 children up to the age of five will be targeted during the 3-day campaign
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Badal assures of cane price hike
Chandigarh, January 20 This was stated by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) president Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, who, along with a delegation of cane farmers, met the Chief Minister in Delhi. "Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has asked the officers concerned to prepare a proposal in this regard. He will take a decision on his return to Chandigarh," said Lakhowal. The delegation pointed out to the Chief Minister that if cane prices were increased and its timely payment to farmers ensured, the move would give a boost to crop diversification plan and also lead to increase in cane acreage. — PTI
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Moga girl abducted, raped and dumped
Bathinda, January 20 She was taken to the Civil Hospital here by a Rajasthan resident, identified as Rohtash. He and his friend were on their way to attend a wedding when they saw the girl being thrown out of a Swift car. The girl, who was brought to the Civil Hospital in a semi-conscious state, narrated her harrowing tale to doctors and policemen. Enrolled in a nursing course with a Gidderbaha institute, she had gone for an interview at a hospital in Mohali when she was kidnapped by a middle-aged man, who was later joined by more men and a woman. The Superintendent of Police (SP-City), the SP (Detective), the Deputy SP (City) the Station House officer (SHO) of the local Canal Colony and Intelligence officials rushed to the Civil Hospital. The girl was given a cell phone so that she could contact her family. The SP (City), Dharampal, said the girl’s statement had been recorded and a case would be registered on the arrival of the girl’s family members.
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6 kg heroin worth Rs 30 crore seized
Bathinda, January 20 The accused has been identified as Malkit Singh. During interrogation, the accused revealed he was in touch with a Pakistani smuggler, Shera. He told the police that 20 packets of heroin worth Rs 100 crore were smuggled from Pakistan through Ferozepur on December 17. AIG, counter intelligence, Ajay Maluja said Malkit was earlier arrested with 15 kg of poppy husk in
Fazilka.
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Sangrur, January 20
Amritsar:
Eric Abetz, Leader of Opposition in the Australian Senate, on Sunday visited
the Golden Temple. Addressing a press conference, he said India and Australia
were strategic alliance partners who helped each other in promoting business
interests of the either side. He said since India was a mature democratic
country, Australia could not refrain from selling uranium to it. Eric was
accompanied by Sanjay Sharma who is associated with an NGO, India-Australia
Strategical Alliance Group. Sharma said he was planning to set up a unit in
Delhi to manufacture bullet-proof jackets for the Indian Army. — TNS
Sangrur, Januray 20
Patiala, January 20
The study covered 2,68,91,585 persons in 51,38,521 houses across Punjab. It found 24,460 confirmed cancer cases whereas 87,060 persons were kept in the suspected category. In the second phase of the survey, the confirmed as well as the suspected cases will be re-examined and provided with appropriate treatment.
Ropar, January 20