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United Sikhs’ team in Philippines
to help typhoon victims
BHOLA’S DRUG RING
‘Ram-Leela’ producer, cast booked for obscenity
Cong committee to be announced after Rajasthan elections
Litigants flock to Lok Adalats, hundreds of cases solved
UK recognises contribution of Sikh war veterans
Patiala docs flouting prescription norms
Rs 7.5 cr released for Sangrur students
Sikh clergy welcomes yatra
Trade unions to protest
on Dec 12: Dasgupta
Woman raped in Tarn Taran, accused on the run
Prominent Gurdaspur doc ends life
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Waterlogging victims reduced to penury
Muktsar, November 23 Though the administration claims to have distributed adequate compensation to the victims, the latter have a different story to tell. Gurnam Singh and Mukhtiar Kaur, an elderly couple of Haraj village, feel cheated as the administration gave them Rs 11,000 as compensation. They owned a three-room house in a low-lying area, which collapsed due to waterlogging. They said: "We have lost both our sons. One died serving the police during the militancy period and another due to some ailment. We have just one acre of land and our house is totally damaged. We cannot even construct one room with Rs 11,000." At present, they are spending nights at the house of a neighbour and working as labourers during the day. Gurpayar Singh, sarpanch's husband, said: "Since we support the Congress, we were not involved in assessing losses and making lists of victims. Some rich people have got Rs 70,000, but a majority of the poor have got Rs 1,250 to Rs 1,900." Joga Singh and Goni Kaur of Udekaran village, whose elder son is mentally challenged and younger a drug-addict, are waiting for compensation to reconstruct their two-room house. "Not a single penny has so far been disbursed in the village. Only canopies and grocery items were distributed once," said Joga Singh, a landless man. He and his four family members are spending nights under two canopies. "During the rainy season, a brick fell from the roof and broke my leg, which is yet to heal. I am unable to work. We don't have enough to eat. There is no work in the fields and my wife is also unable to earn money by picking cotton balls," he said. "We are now dependent on some kindhearted villagers who often give us food," Joga Singh said, adding that the temperature was dipping by the day and if they did not get compensation for a few more days, their chances of survival were bleak. Udekaran was the worst affected village. A huge chunk of agricultural land is still waterlogged and the farmers are unable to sow their next crop. Jugraj Singh, village chowkidar, said: "The administration must immediately disburse compensation so that the poor like us can start reconstructing or repairing their houses." Future tense
Officialspeak Nearly 50 per cent of the compensation cheques have been distributed. The remaining will be handed over to the villages soon. Not a single affected person will be devoid of
compensation
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Faridkot admn forces a day’s closure on schools for thermal plant’s opening
Faridkot, November 23 The buses of these schools would be deployed to ferry the supporters of the ruling SAD-BJP coalition, among others, to Banawali. Mohammad Tayyab, Deputy Commissioner, today issued directions to the 15 schools about the closure on Monday, and to provide their buses to the District Transport Office a day in advance tomorrow. The transport office will send these buses to various villages to facilitate the transportation of people. In the letter issued to these schools, the Deputy Commissioner stated that each school needed to provide 10 buses with 52 seats. He stated that the fuel expenses would be borne by the District Transport Office. “As these buses are required for a public cause, the schools need to be kept closed on November 25,” reads the letter. Congress state general secretary Kushaldeep Dhillon alleged that the schools that were not readily agreeing to providing their buses were being threatened by the police and the transport authorities. Tayyab said, “The orders have been issued in public interest so that people do not face any inconvenience in reaching Banawali. But if there is any objection by schools, we can reconsider the plan and make alternate arrangements.” Schools that are not readily agreeing to providing their buses for the function are being threatened by the police and the transport authorities The orders have been issued in public interest so that people do not face any inconvenience in reaching Banawali. But if there is any objection, we can reconsider the
plan
Bathinda, Mansa DTOs directed to arrange 400 buses
Bathinda, November 23 Private transporters said 250 buses were to be arranged from Bathinda and 150 from Mansa. A transporter said the government may give them fuel expense. “If we refuse, our buses may be confiscated or challaned heavily. It is a norm to give buses for such rallies and hardly anyone dares to oppose", he said. No government official was available for comment. — TNS
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United Sikhs’ team in Philippines
to help typhoon victims
Sacramento, November 23 The Department of Agriculture has reported a shortage of certified rice seed critical to rice-growing areas of the Leyte and Samar regions. For now, the team will feed at least 200-300 survivors on a daily basis, serving them two meals a day. Besides providing meals, team members would also provide medical aid to those affected. They said they would expand their reach and impact as there were many who were stranded and homeless. The team members met various survivors, who narrated their experiences during and after the storm. They talked about the exodus, which had occurred two days after the storm subsided. Sawinder Singh (26) said, "Thousands of shell-shocked victims, including children and the elderly, walked 20 km for eight hours with dead bodies scattered all around, to move out of the affected area." He said he had survived as his house was on a little hill about 25 feet higher than the ground level. United Sikhs is an organisation which works for the welfare of society at the grass-roots level.
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BHOLA’S DRUG RING
Chandigarh, November 23 Reiterating his demand for an independent inquiry by a sitting high court judge, Amarinder said the issue assumed significance as the name of an Akali MLA had figured in the racket. In a statement issued here, the Congress leader also chose to rubbish Badal’s allegations that he was interfering in the investigation through his demand for a judicial probe. The Chief Minister had only yesterday turned down the demand. Addressing mediapersons during his Sangat Darshan function in Gidderbaha yesterday, Badal had said: “The state government has complete faith in the functioning of the police and Congress leaders should refrain from interfering in the day-to-day police working and allow it to work freely so as to get to the bottom of the case.” Lauding Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police Hardial Singh Mann and his team for busting the racket, Amarinder said only a judicial probe could unravel the “truth”. “This (involvement of an Akali MLA) is not an allegation made by us but follows the revelation by a senior SAD leader about his party MP and his MLA son,” the former Chief Minister pointed out. Amarinder criticised Badal for trying to politicise a serious issue that concerned the future generations of Punjab. He said given the seriousness and enormity of the issue, it would be in everybody’s interest to have an independent probe. OK with CBI probe: Majithia Lashing out at the Opposition Congress, Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia on Saturday said they were ready for a CBI probe into the Bhola drug ring case. Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a school function in Amritsar, Majithia said instead of targeting the state government, the Congress should compliment it for bringing to book all those involved in the racket.
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‘Ram-Leela’ producer, cast booked for obscenity
Hoshiarpur, November 23 The action comes following directions from the court of Judicial Magistrate Mahesh Kumar. A complaint had been filed under Section 156 (3) of the Criminal Penal Code by Bhagwan Parshuram Sena leaders against film producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali and actors Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone on November 15. The directions were issued by the court on Friday while disposing of the complaint. Advocate RP Dheer, citing the Supreme Court verdicts in the Madhu Bala versus the State case (1997) and another in 2008, prayed that the Station House Officer of the city police station be told to register a criminal case against the accused. In trouble
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Cong committee to be announced after Rajasthan elections
New Delhi, November 23 The list comprising new vice-presidents, general secretaries and secretaries is said to have been approved by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi and is expected to be released once electioneering in Rajasthan is over. Sources said the high command had asked Punjab leaders representing different factions in the state to give priority-wise list to the party office-bearers in the Capital. “All the leaders were asked to send their list of priority for names. Wide-ranging discussions on the committee’s constitution have been held. Not only have the leaders been engaged, even the ground-level workers in Punjab have been consulted. The list will be remembered for the fact that it gives place to genuine Congress workers who may not have any top state leader’s blessings,” a Congress leader privy to the process told The Tribune. Party vice-president Rahul Gandhi had made it clear to Punjab Congress leaders in the three monthly review meetings — the last one happened earlier this month — that young leaders with the potential of being future leaders must be incorporated in the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) list to send clear signals that the party cared for those who work. “Top state leaders have sent their lists but the Congress will send a message through the new PPCC list that the high command maintains its own parallel data base of ground-level workers. There will be surprises in the committee and state’s young leaders can expect to gain,” said a top source. Congress general secretary in charge of Punjab Shakeel Ahmed admitted that the list had been approved by the party high command. “We have spoken to all leaders in the state and ensured that everyone with a utility for the party is included. Our effort is to project a united front in the state and the new committee will reflect that,” Ahmed said. AICC secretary in charge of Punjab Harish Choudhary, being from Rajasthan, is busy with the elections there. The list is, therefore, likely to be released once the campaigning in the state is over on November 29. The PPCC list has been hanging fire since March 5 this year when the Congress high command appointed Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa as the state party chief replacing former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. Preparing for recast
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Litigants flock to Lok Adalats, hundreds of cases solved
Chandigarh, November 23 Ropar: A total of 7,961 cases were settled and awards amounting to Rs 3.7 crore were passed at the Lok Adalat here. Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Surya Kant, who is inspecting judge of the Rupnagar Sessions Division, supervised the court and gave directions with regard to the cases to be taken up for consideration. Moga: As many as 9,029 cases were disposed of and awards amounting to Rs 10.84 crore were also passed at the Lok Adalat organised here. A total of 11,590 cases were taken up. Justice Ritu Bahri of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who is also the administrative judge of Moga sessions division, presided over. Nawanshahr: As many as 12,407 cases were heard at the 10 Benches at the Nawanshahr and Balachaur Judicial Complex here on Saturday. Justice Gurmit Singh Sandhawalia inaugurated the Lok Adalat. Satvinder Singh Chahal, District and Sessions Judge, said as many as 7,531 cases were settled amicably and compensation amounting to Rs 5.60 crore was awarded to several parties. Hoshiarpur: Lok Adalats were organised at Hoshiarpur, Garhshankar, Dasuya and Mukerian. Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain of the Punjab and Haryana High Court supervised the proceedings. At least 20,539 cases were taken up, out of which 13,336 were settled. Tarn Taran: As many as 4,978 cases out of 8,432 taken up in the Lok Adalats here were disposed of with mutual consent of the parties concerned. An amount of Rs 9.18 crore was awarded to the claimants. HS Madan, District and Session Judge, said 18 Benches were established in the district. Fazilka: Over 12,000 cases were disposed of in the first Lok Adalat held here after the creation of Fazilka district headquarters. The event was held under the supervision of Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Mahesh Grover and District and Sessions Judge Vivek Puri. An amount of Rs 18.32 crore was awarded to the rightful claimants. Sangrur: At least 12,600 cases were disposed of at the Lok Adalat here. Justice Rajesh Bindal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and Administrative Judge, Sangrur Sessions Division, presided over the Lok Adalat here. District and Sessions Judge Balbir Singh was also present. Barnala: Seventeen Benches of the Lok Adalat disposed of over 5,700 cases at Barnala and Tapa and passed awards for over Rs 4 crore. District and Sessions Judge Sukhwinder Kaur said 7,612 cases were taken up, of which 5,758 cases were settled. Faridkot: Settling 8,133 civil cases in one go, nine Benches of judicial officers, advocates and social activists awarded Rs 13.32 crore compensation to the litigants in Faridkot in the presence of Justice Rajiv Narain Raina of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and Archana Puri, Administrative Judge, Faridkot Sessions Division. A total of 15,466 cases were taken up.
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UK recognises contribution of Sikh war veterans
London, November 23 The event at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Berkshire, southwest of London, yesterday was held to commemorate the contributions made by the community to the British armed forces. “Today is really about commemorating the Sikh contribution to the armed forces,” said Lt Colonel John Kendall, who organised the event at the Indian War Memorial room at Sandhurst. "It is a story of loyalty, courage and selfless commitment," he said. During the days of the British Empire, Sikh soldiers were highly regarded by British officers for their martial prowess. “Sikhs have played an important role in the British Army for 150 years. In both world wars, Sikh regiments fought for the British all over the world, even on the western front in the First World War and they distinguished themselves very well,” Dr Anthony Morton, curator of the Sandhurst collection, told BBC. There are 265 Sikhs currently serving in the British armed services and Army leaders hope, by celebrating the military contribution of their ancestors, more will be encouraged to join. — PTI
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Patiala docs flouting prescription norms
Patiala, November 23 Even though the doctors have been directed to prescribe only those medicines that are available in the store, they continue to recommend other medicines. In a circular issued in this regard at the hospital, it was stated that the onus would be on the doctors if any of the medicines at the store expired. A senior doctor requesting anonymity said several doctors were deliberately prescribing expensive medicines that patients had to purchase from outside. “The store at the hospital is hardly getting any fresh orders even though almost 50 children visit the OPD every day with common cough and cold symptoms,” he said. Another doctor said despite the fact that the entry of medical representatives in the OPDs has been banned, several representatives could be seen on the premises. “They keep a close eye on the medicines being prescribed by doctors,” he said. Store in charge Dr Varinder Verma said, “The demand for medicines fluctuates. We have just placed a fresh order for medicines worth Rs 55 lakh. On the medicines nearing expiry, we have already brought the matter to the notice of the doctors.”
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Rs 7.5 cr released for Sangrur students
Sangrur, November 23 This was stated by Member of Parliament Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa at a function organised here today to distribute cheques of scholarships among students. Dhindsa said the government had released a sum of Rs 2.33 crore for providing free school uniform for this academic session to 58,276 girls studying in first to eighth classes in the district. A sum of Rs 1.56 crore had been released to give free school uniform to 39,096 scheduled caste boys studying in first to eighth classes in the district, he added. Dhindsa said Rs 2.69 crore had been released for scholarships for the year 2012-13 to 26,970 students of minority communities in the district. The government has also released Rs 1.05 crore for post-matric scholarships to 1,600 students of minority communities for the year 2011-12.
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Sikh clergy welcomes yatra
Anandpur Sahib, November 23 Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh and Keshgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Mall Singh congratulated president of Sri Brahman Sabha Pandit Devi Dyal Prashar. They said though no one could return the sacrifices made by Guru Teg Bahadur, this endeavour of the Brahmin community was a constructive step. SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar, Minister Madan Mohan Mittal, MLA DS Cheema and SAD leader Prem Singh Chandumajra were also present.
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Trade unions to protest
on Dec 12: Dasgupta
Ropar, November 23 He was here to address a conference of AITUC here at Nuhon Colony of Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant. The policies adopted by the UPA Government had pushed the prices of commodities sky-high and the country was in the grip of a recession, he said. In order to pressure the Centre to roll back its policies, eleven trade unions of the country would march to Parliament on December 12, said Dasgupta. Among others, who addressed the gathering, were AITUC Punjab president Bant Brar, general secretary Nirmal Singh Dhaliwal, and Ropar district president RK Tiwari
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Woman raped in Tarn Taran, accused on the run
Tarn Taran, November 23 The victim was staying at the house of the accused along with her children and father-in-law. She alleged that the accused entered her room at midnight holding a sharp weapon and raped her. The accused is absconding. In another incident, five persons of Usman village, 12 km from here, have been booked for allegedly abducting a schoolgirl of the village. The accused have been identified as Ravi Sher Singh, Kaka, Labhi, Gurmit Singh and Gurpreet Singh. Kaka has been arrested. The victim, a student Class X of Government Girls High School, Naushehra Pannuan, was on her way to the school when the accused abducted her and took her to nearby Waryian village. An eyewitness raised the alarm following which the accused fled the spot.
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Prominent Gurdaspur doc ends life
Gurdaspur, November 23 Practising Ayurvedic medicine, Nanda was "mentally depressed" for the last few days, a senior police officer said. A family member said Nanda was sitting with his daughter in his clinic but suddenly went to the top floor of his residence where he fired upon himself with his own licensed weapon. Confirming the development, Senior Superintendent of Police SS Gill said a case under Section 174 CrPC had been registered at the Dorangla police station. He is survived by his wife Madhu Trehan, two daughters, both of whom are married, and a son. The cremation will take place tomorrow. People residing in the vicinity of his clinic claimed the doctor had a good private practice and his clients were mostly from rural areas. The death has sent shock waves among the medical fraternity in the district.
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Chandigarh, November 23
