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State of Industry Jalandhar
1984
anti-sikh riots
Rahul not linked to ’84 riots: Bajwa
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Tandon: Cong engineered massacre
Give names of tainted cops, Congress to EC
Inquiry into allegations against Fatehgarh Sahib ADC ordered
VAT refund scam: Now Excise Dept to hold probe
Govt flip-flop on CEO’s appointment
Survey detects Rs
10-cr stamp duty evasion in Mohali dist
Guest faculty burn copies of degree
CM’s Sangat Darshan wields power, literally
Film on militancy hits roadblock
US court to hear Cong’s plea in rights violation suit
Phoolka deserves SAD ticket: NRIs
Murder accused appears in UK court
Remove liquor vends along highways in a month: HC
HC: Won’t allow political parties to hijack drug issue
Businessman ‘held’
for printing fake currency
37 quintals of poppy
husk seized school kids forced to pick up trash
impersonation case
Cash, mobile phones of police recruits stolen
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State of Industry Jalandhar
Jalandhar, January 29 There are over 2,000 units in the district that manufacture hand tools and of these, 350 are big units (which hire at least 30 people). In the past, the industry provided livelihood to around 20,000 families. However, in the past few years, around 10 big and 50 small hand tool manufacturing units shut down in the district. Industrialists rue that even though 90 per cent of the hand tools in the country are manufactured in the state (Jalandhar and Ludhiana), it is given little support. The industry that was a major exporter has seen a dramatic rise in imports. With exports being less than imports in the recent years, the figures in the year 2012-13 painted a dismal picture. The exports were 317.91 million dollars and imports 749.1 million dollars. Industry experts claim the disparity between imports and exports would have been addressed had the hand tool cluster project been realised. “The cluster would have created expertise, research and development opportunities for the industry had it been fully developed by the government,” says Sukhdev Raj, MD Victor Forgings. Key issues The rising labour costs have been detrimental to the growth of the industry. In the past few years, labour costs have risen by 50 to 70 per cent. Some say the industry would have been debt-free had its VAT refunds worth crores been paid. The VAT has not been refunded for nearly the past two years. Industrialists complain the VAT refund penalty of 500 per cent was too high and often levied on the whims of the authorities. Given the fact that the hand tool industry is power intensive, expensive electricity and frequent supply cuts make it less competitive. Moreover, the Indian units fail to compete with the Chinese and Taiwanese units that use advanced technology. The local Central Institute of Hand Tools has also failed to produce desirable results and competitive technology. Industrialists often complain that the industry that is located so far from a sea port is not given any rebate on excise duty and entry tax. They also rue that barring a few industrial clusters in the district - the industrial area, focal point and the leather complex - no other industrial complex has got relief in property tax. No incentive for industry Industrialists say though big business houses were lured with plenty of subsidies and rebates, the existing hand tool industry did not get any concessions. Ambika Tools owner MK Bandari says, “Jalandhar is far from a sea port but do not get any subsidy. We are being charged undue VAT. The state government has levied a refund fine of 500 per cent on VAT refund even on little mistakes,” he adds. Gursharan Singh, a hand tool industry entrepreneur, says, “Transportation fee has increased over the past few years. Out input costs have soared as we have to bring labour and raw material from outside the state.” Hand tool cluster The local Municipal Corporation’s proposal to develop hand tool cluster on a 62 kanal land never saw the light of day. Though it had been approved by the state and the central governments, it failed to take off due to local opposition. The 100 crore project was to receive Rs 60 crore from the Centre, Rs 10 crore from the state government and the rest from industrialists. New equipment such as cold forging, finishing machines, tinning equipment would have been manufactured at the cluster. It would also have boosted research and development. Experts hope the project may be revived, but the issue was not taken seriously at the Mohali summit. (To be continued) Present scenario
Major factors
"Jalandhar is far from a seaport but does not get any subsidy. The state has levied a fine of 500 per cent on VAT refund. Transportation fee has risen. The scenario is dismal."—MK Bandari , ambika tools owner
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1984
anti-sikh riots Muktsar, January 29 “The need of the hour is to take exemplary action against the Congress leaders involved in this dastardly act to provide justice to the victim families,” he said. Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today asked the Aam Aadmi Party to refuse the support of “guilty” Congress to prove their sincerity in demanding a SIT to probe the riots. “You cannot run with the hare and hunt with the hound. You must take a clear stand and not just play to the gallery. We are happy that a political ally of the Congress has supported our demand for a SIT. AAP must not have a truck with the Congress which is seen as the guilty party,” he said. “For a SIT to function in an atmosphere free of political interference, Delhi must not have a government supported by the Congress,” he added.
YAD to protest on Jan 31
Chandigarh: The Youth Akali Dal (YAD) will stage dharnas across the state on January 31 asking Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to tender a public apology and “uncover the identity of Congress leaders responsible for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots”. Parminder Singh Brar, office in charge, YAD, in a statement here today, said Rahul had “admitted” that his party men were behind the riots. Brar said it would go to the people on January 31 and ask them to evaluate the “hypocrisy of the Congress which has indulged in symbolism by installing a Sikh Prime Minister but has been steadfast in its support to criminals”. The YAD leader said if Rahul Gandhi did not appologise, the party would intensify its protest in the coming days.
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Rahul not linked to ’84 riots: Bajwa
Chandigarh, January 29 Bajwa said it must be remembered that both Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had apologised to the Sikh community for the riots. He stated that no one in the NDA had voiced any regret for the horrific 2002 riots in Gujarat. "It is surprising that the Badals seek to attack Rahul Gandhi personally for the 1984 riots when he was barely a teenager at the time,” he said. Former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani should first apologise for having admitted in his book “My Country, My Life” that he had asked Indira Gandhi to launch the Operation Bluestar. Bhattal’s statement came in reaction to the SAD-BJP leaders’ statements that Rahul had confessed to Congress leaders’ involvement in the anti-Sikh riots. Meanwhile, the Youth Akali Dal (YAD) will stage dharnas across the state on January 31 asking Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to tender a public apology and “uncover the identity of Congress leaders responsible for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots”. Parminder Singh Brar, office in charge, YAD, in a statement here today, said Rahul had “admitted” that his party men were behind the riots. Brar said it would go to the people on January 31 and ask them to evaluate the “hypocrisy of the Congress which has indulged in symbolism by installing a Sikh Prime Minister but has been steadfast in its support to criminals”.
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Tandon: Cong engineered massacre
Chandigarh, January 29 PPCC spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira said, “The junior Badal’s call urging Sikhs to boycott Congress in view of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots is a sham. He cannot list a single measure taken by him as a Minister in the NDA government from 1999-2004, to assuage the wounds of riot-affected”. Khaira said, “The Badal clan is merely trying to whip up the sentiments of the Sikhs to reap electoral gains.
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Nurmahal dera chief dead: Doctors
Nurmahal, January 29
Dr Kapil Chib, Medical Superintendent, Apollo Hospital, said they got a call from the dera late last night. “We rushed our team there. But by the time our medicos reached there, the patient was dead,” he said. Asked if they had issued a death certificate, he replied: “We were not asked to issue any such certificate”. Addressing a press conference this afternoon, dera chief spokesperson Swami Vishalanand said: “ Sewadars noticed Ashutosh Maharaj in the same posture from 12.15 am to 2.30 am. They got panicky and informed the security following which doctors from the Apollo Hospital were called. “Ashutosh Maharaj has gone into samadhi and can control his breath, pulse and heartbeat. We feel he will regain strength in two days,” he said, claiming that 12 years ago, Ashutosh Maharaj had gone into samadhi and then returned to normal life. Dera representatives are not allowing any follower or mediaperson near the enclosure where Ashutosh Maharaj has taken “samadhi”. Residents of the Mohalla Chibia, where the old dera is located, said they had learnt this morning that Ashutosh Maharaj had suffered a heart attack. There was a stream of devotees at the dera throughout the day. While the dera representatives claimed that the “sangat ” was here to attend "Akhand Sadhna Shivar", some followers, who did not want to be identified, said they had been asked to assemble at the dera.” Many followers were seen crying. Balbir Kumar Bawa, IG, Jalandhar (Zonal), said adequate arrangements had been made in and the dera vicinity to check any untoward incident. Police personnel from Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala had been deployed in two shifts for a round-the-clock vigil. If needed, teams from Ludhiana would be called, he said. Jaspreet Singh Sidhu, SSP, Jalandhar-Rural, said more than 300 policemen were on duty. Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam refused to say anything when asked if the dera head was dead. About the dera
n Substantial vote bank Owing to the dera's huge following, political leaders of all parties have visited Nurmahal ahead of the assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Prior to the panchayat poll last year, Akali leaders carved out a new panchayat by the name Divya Gram to please the dera devotees. The dera was earlier a part of Uppal Jagir village. Hasty retreat At first, both Pradesh Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa and former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, in separate statements, expressed grief over the dera chief's demise. But at about 6 pm, Bajwa withdrew the statement and minutes later, Amarinder Singh did the same.
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Govt can’t meet teachers’ unjust demands: Maluka
Bathinda, January 29 Teachers recruited under the Centre’s schemes such as such as Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) have been protesting since long. “A section of teachers, who have not cleared the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET), want the government to regularise their jobs. How can the government fulfill their demands and violate the Right To Education (RTE) Act norms that provide that only those teachers would be appointed who have cleared the test?” he told The Tribune at Maluka village, around 30 km from here, today. Teachers’ Union district president Deepak Bansal said, “An RTI query has shown that it is up to the discretion of the state governments to make changes in the Centre-sponsored scheme while keeping the Central Government informed. Thus, if the state government wants, it can increase our salaries and regularise our jobs.” Maluka reiterated that the state government could do little to pacify college lecturers. “They are demanding regularisation of their jobs and be paid as per the revised pay scale. There is a bar on fresh recruitments as there is a legal tangle, dating back to 2003. Till the case is not settled, the government can’t do anything,” the minister said. Then Maluka hit out at the teachers for protesting before the model code of conduct is enforced. “It is not surprising that the teachers are choosing this month to protest against the government. They are trying to squeeze out as many benefits from the government as they can before the code of conduct is implemented.” Patting its back on the mid-day meal (MDM) scheme, he said: “When we handed over the mid-day meal contract to a private firm in Bathinda, there was a huge uproar. If you ask me, there is no need for the MDM scheme in the state since there wouldn’t be a house short of food. As ordered by the Centre, we implemented the scheme and, today, we are at number two position in the country, indicating that we are taking the right decisions.” On the crumbling infrastructure in the government schools, the minister said the school management committees didn’t show interest and were doing a lip service. “The government is not grappling with fund crunch. We had asked the schools to prepare a proposal of their fund requirement. Several schools didn’t care to send the proposal. Those who received the funds wasted them by handing over the contract to the Public Works Department. Look at the schools in my village. While the PWD spent Rs 10 lakh on one room, we constructed one for Rs 4.5 lakh. The crux is that no one is ready to take the responsibility. It has become a practice to blame the government,” he added.
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Give names of tainted cops, Congress to EC
Chandigarh, January 29 While sitting on a hunger strike on the 11th day of the chain fast, the Congress leaders demanded that all such police officers be kept away from poll duty and their names be made public so that they are not given any election-related work. The Congress leaders welcomed the move by the Election Commission of India to seek a report on "tainted" police officers from the Punjab Government. They said the PPCC would intensify the agitation against drug menace. “The Congress has started its agitation with the motive of eradicating the drug menace from the state. The PPCC would take the issue to the village level and force the SAD-BJP Government to order a CBI probe into the drug racket. We had earlier forced the SAD-BJP Government to reduce property tax rates with public pressure built by the Congress,” Dhillon said.
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Badal Govt taking illegal decisions, says Congress
Patiala, January 29 Punjab Pradesh Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira has demanded from Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to give up all such “illegitimate” orders and follow the rules. “We will not approach an Akali or a BJP leader for a tubewell connection and the government knows it well. By giving halqa in-charges the authority, the government wants that the tubewell connections should only be bagged by SAD supporters,” he said. PSPCL Director (Distribution and Commercial) Surinder Pall said he was unaware of the move as he was on leave. “You talk to the PSPCL Public Relations Department,” he said. PSPCL CMD KD Chaudhri did not respond to repeated phone calls. Khaira said that earlier, Badal had authorised the SAD-BJP legislators and halqa in-charges to recommend out-of-turn repair of link roads in the state. “The government is duty bound to repair link roads after every six years. Badal illegally authorised his political cronies to choose link roads that were to be repaired, forcing panchayats to plead the local MLA or halqa in-charge to get the work done,” he added.
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Inquiry into allegations against Fatehgarh Sahib ADC ordered
Chandigarh, January 29 State Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh said following the news published in The Tribune in its news columns today, he has asked Sekhri to inquire into the incident and submit a report to him. The Tribune, in its columns today, had reported how the revenue staff of Fatehgarh Sahib got together and complained that the ADC was allegedly trying to implicate them in false cases, if they failed to fulfil his demand for illegal gratification. The ADC has denied these allegations. A Naib Tehsildar earlier posted at Mandi Gobindgarh, Nirmal Singh Sandhu, has accused Jaggi of demanding a bribe worth lakhs of rupees from him. In a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner, Sandhu has alleged that he was threatened to either pay the bribe to the ADC, or face an inquiry in a case of undervaluation of property while registering its sale deed. In his complaint, a copy of which is with The Tribune, Sandhu has alleged that when he failed to pay the money demanded by the ADC, the latter implicated him in a false case and recommended that an FIR be registered against him and two other revenue officials. Jaggi has denied these allegations and maintained that he was being defamed by the Revenue Department officials after he unearthed the scam of undervaluation of properties being registered in Fatehgarh Sahib. "I unearthed how land was being sold on the basis of assignment agreements and the state government suffered a loss of Rs 72 lakh through these transactions. The land in question was also gair mumkin but was sold as agriculture land to avoid paying stamp duty. When I pulled up the Naib Tehsildar and unearthed the scam, he made these baseless allegations against me," he said.
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VAT refund scam: Now Excise Dept to hold probe
Chandigarh, January 29 The quashing of the order by the Bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul came on an appeal filed by Ludhiana Traders' Association. Counsel Vikram Chaudhri argued that the directions were passed by a Single Bench during the hearing of an anticipatory bail plea. Referring to the enormity of the probe, he said the CBI would have to scrutinise 5,000 refunds. In all, 15,000 families would be affected by the probe. Chaudhri also argued that the department concerned was required to take action in the matter and there was no reason for the police not to act. The Single Judge had earlier observed that VAT refunds of almost Rs 500 crore have been given to firms in Punjab. The Bench had noted: “The court records its painful observation that on account of the unholy nexus between traders, officials and other beneficiaries, the state has been put to a huge loss. The orders were issued after the High Court was told that goods sent by a Ludhiana firm by road and rail were shown to have reached the Bangladesh border the same day. The issue came to the High Court’s notice after Raman Kumar Garg sought anticipatory bail in an FIR dated July 26 for cheating and other offences registered in Ludhiana.
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Govt flip-flop on CEO’s appointment
Chandigarh, January 29 The government, without confirming if Satish Chandra had been repatriated to the state, sent his name to the Election Commission and he was appointed CEO today, only to be told he was still on deputation and posted with the National Highways Authority of India. Sources said Satish Chandra’s file for repatriation to his parent cadre was closed by the Union Government two weeks back. Satish Chandra said he had been told that if he opted for early repatriation, he would be debarred from any posting in the Government of India for the next five years. “Hence, I decided not to pursue my case for repatriation and the matter was closed,” he said. Apparently, state officials were not aware of the develpoment. The Election Commission will now have to appoint another CEO for Punjab.
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Survey detects Rs
10-cr stamp duty evasion in Mohali dist
Mohali, January 29 The evasion relates to sale deeds of property registered in the district during the 2012-13 financial year. The evasion amount is likely to go up after the completion of the survey. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the KPMG had been assigned the job of scrutinising the sale deeds at the sub-registrar’s offices at Mohali, Dera Bassi, Majri and Kharar by the Punjab Government. Sources said here today that the data of the preliminary survey showed that approximately Rs 8.8 crore was evaded as stamp duty while registering property at the Kharar sub-registrar’s office. As many as 2,404 sale deed reports were assessed by the KPMG in the Kharar block during the preliminary survey, out of which revenue evasion was found in approximately 1,100 cases. In Mohali, the PwC has assessed 1,820 reports so far and found “stamp duty leakage” in approximately 485 cases, resulting in a revenue loss of Rs 2 crore to the government. Sources further said the KPMG could not “locate” approximately 450 properties in the Kharar block, for which registration had been done. Similarly, the PwC also could not “locate” 366 properties during the preliminary survey done in the Mohali, Majri and Dera Bassi blocks. Out of the 366 properties which could not be located, 67 fell in the Mohali block, 53 in the Majri block and 246 in the Dera Bassi block. These properties could not be located because their owners had failed to provide their addresses for the office records. In some cases even the “khasra” numbers of the land in question were not mentioned. Deputy Commissioner Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu said the two companies were carrying out an audit. The shortcomings would be brought to his notice after which the persons concerned would be given a hearing under the relevant legal provisions. They would be asked why lesser stamp duty amounts had been deposited. The Collector would a take a decision on such cases. The state government had hired the services of the two firms for scrutinising the sale deeds registered in Mohali, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala districts. About the audit
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Patwaris call off stir on SAD leader’s assurance
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 29 IG NRI wing Gurpreet Deo has also marked an inquiry into the case to the AIG, NRI wing, after a meeting with a delegation of the Revenue Patwar Union led by its state vice-president Mohan Singh. Harvir Singh Dhindsa, state press secretary of the union, said Bhatti had assured them that the matter would be taken up with the Chief Minister and justice would be ensured. He said the delegation had told the IG, NRI wing, that the Ludhiana NRI police had arrested the duo without the prior permission of the Deputy Commissioner (DC), which was mandatory as per government’s instructions. He said the IG had transferred the inquiry to AIG Bhupinder Singh and assured that in future, prior approval of the DC would be taken.
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Guest faculty burn copies of degree
Hoshiarpur, January 29 Guest Faculty Union leader Harmesh Singh of Tanda said, “On December 3, 2011, the Cabinet had decided to give honorarium, along with the 10 per cent increment, to the lecturers, but the move was scuttled. The other sore point relates to the remuneration of the part-time teachers. They are paid basic pay plus the DA, while the guest faculty is being denied the allowance in spite of working no less than them.”
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CM’s Sangat Darshan wields power, literally
Muktsar, January 29 The administration had put up a tent, where the electricity wires were connected with the main wires on a pole, to bar the entry of people. PSPCL Sub-divisional Officer (SDO) Gurwinder Singh confirmed that the Community Hall did not have the electricity meter. “The authorities concerned have applied for the electricity meter. For today’s function, the power supply was drawn from an adjoining dispensary.” When confronted with the photographs of the illegal connection to the venue, he turned evasive. On being shown the photographs, PSPCL officials at the Muktsar circle office said the connection was illegal. They added that if electricity was drawn from another building, as per the SDO’s statement, it tantamount to an illegal act. As per rules, no one can draw electricity from another building. Goneana residents said “kundi” connection from the village was a regular practice at the time of organising functions in Community Hall. Minor boys were employed to serve snacks in programme. Rules not followed
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Nawanshahr, January 29 The festival was based on multicultural concept in the form of a contest showcasing the Punjabi costumes, Punjabi folk music and dances. Directed by Davinder Singh Chhina and choreographed by Sarbjit Kaur Mangat, the event saw participation by 22 girls. Arshdeep Kaur Mangat (Ludhiana), Satwinder Kaur Bajwa (Dasuya) and Sharandeep Kaur Cheema (Batala) won the first, second and third positions, respectively.
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Film on militancy hits roadblock
Jalandhar, January 29 Ravinder Ravi, writer and director of the film, said after watching the film, the jury members refused to give any certificate without even asking us our side of story. “Moreover they said we did not depict why Operation Blue Star was carried out in 1984,’’ said Ravinder. He said it was based on the findings of Justice Thakkar Commission. — TNS
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New York, January 29 US District Judge Robert Sweet ordered that the court would hear Congress' motion to dismiss the pending human rights violation lawsuit brought against it by rights group Sikh For Justice (SFJ). Attorney Ravi Batra, who represents the Congress in the US, had filed the motion in the Manhattan federal court on January 17 seeking an order to dismiss the complaint. Batra had sought the dismissal citing lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. — PTI
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Phoolka deserves SAD ticket: NRIs
Vancouver, January 29 These NRIs said just as the Akali Dal had left the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat vacant in support of former Prime Minister Late IK Gujral in the 1998 elections for waving off the Union Government loan given to the state for fighting militancy, this time the party should help Phoolka, who has been fighting for justice to the victims of the 1984-anti Sikh riots. A prominent SAD supporter, Gurbaksh Singh Sanghera, said, “Phoolka has been struggling for the victims of the state violence single-handedly for all these years. This is the minimum our party can do to send this man to Parliament to give voice to the victims’ families, who have been running from pillar to post for a dignified closure.’’ World Sikh Organisation director Kulmit Singh Sangha from Calgary said, “Not only the Akali Dal, but other political parties of Punjab should unanimously support his candidature for the sake of justice and human rights.’’
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Murder accused appears in UK court
London, January 29 She again made no plea or declaration at the "full-committal hearing" and was remanded in custody awaiting trial. No further court dates have yet been fixed. Mikaeel disappeared from his home on January 16. On January 18, the police said the boy’s body was found in Fife, near Edinburgh. His mother was arrested and charged for his death later that day. — PTI
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Remove liquor vends along highways in a month: HC
Chandigarh, January 29 The states were directed to incorporate a clause in their new excise policies to prevent liquor vends along the highways. The directions came during the resumed hearing of a petition filed in public interest filed by Chandigarh-based NGO "Arrive Safe Society". As the petition, filed by society president Harman Singh Sidhu, came up for resumed hearing, the two states filed their status reports giving details of liquor vends removed along the highways and roadsides. The High Court, during the earlier hearing, had directed the National Highway Authority of India and the excise authorities of Punjab and Haryana to carry out a joint survey to stop the menace of illegal liquor vends along the highways. The High Court had said the survey would be carried out by Deputy Excise Commissioners in Punjab and Excise Commissioners in Haryana. It had on September 13 last year directed the NHAI, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to form a committee to identify the liquor vends required to be removed. The licence holders of such liquor vends would get compensation or refund of the amount deposited with the state government. The Bench has made it clear that fresh licences for running liquor vends along highways and roadsides should not be issued, at least till the pendency of the petition on the issue.
Towards safe driving
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HC: Won’t allow political parties to hijack drug issue Chandigarh, January 29 The Bench indicated that the High Court was not an arena for fighting political battles and asked the parties to rise above the their own interest to come out with constructive suggestions. The Bench also refused to take judicial notice of the allegations that names of Akali leaders were being pushed under the carpet of secrecy. Responding to an assertion in this regard by advocate Navkiran Singh, the Bench was apparently of the opinion that mere mentioning of names was not enough. Bajwa’s plea for placing on record newspaper clippings on the issue failed to find favour with the court and was dismissed as withdrawn. The Bench also asked Punjab Advocate-General Ashok Aggarwal not to be “agitated” on the issue. As the case came up, Bajwa’s counsel tried to convince the court that the PPCC chief was only making attempts to assist the court, the liberty for which was granted to him while dismissing his previous plea for a CBI probe. But the argument failed to cut ice with the court as the Bench in no uncertain terms told the counsel that the assistance permitted to be provided was for dealing with the larger issue of controlling the menace. Objecting to the “manner of pleadings and the placing of material”, the Bench said the court would not allow intervention and assistance for “any other purpose”. The assertion came soon after Aggarwal alleged that the issue was being raised by the political rivals “close to the elections”. Aggarwal also alleged that the Congress was trying to fight its battle in the court, and hinted at misuse of the CBI to deal with the political rivals by the party in power at the Centre. Refusing to allow the “dilution” of the issue, the Bench literally warned the political parties against shifting their battles to the High Court. “If this is the intention, we will not even entertain the plea,” the Bench told Bajwa’s counsel. The Bench also heard senior Congress leader Jagmeet Singh Brar as he referred to a study conducted abroad on the problem in Punjab.
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Businessman ‘held’
for printing fake currency
Moga, January 29 Sources said the businessman had purchased a latest printing machine from Delhi about 15 days ago to print currency notes. The machine was transported by one Ravi from Delhi to Malleana village near Nihalsinghwala and then to a village in Ludhiana district. They said Ravi and another youth Bobby, an expert in printing fake notes, had given training to the businessman’s associates. Both the youths were on the run. A police team left for Ludhiana this evening to seize the printing machine. It was also learnt that the gang was indulged in drug smuggling. A huge quantity of opium and poppy husk was seized from a factory owned by the businessman. A police officer posted at Nihalsinghwala confirmed that the businessman had been arrested even as Senior Superintendent of Police KJS Dhillon denied the development. District president of the Congress and former minister Darshan Singh Brar alleged that some senior SAD leaders were trying to hush-up the matter. “We have launched a crusade against the drug trade. We will take up this matter in our ongoing agitation,” he said. Modus operandi
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37 quintals of poppy
husk seized
Sangrur, January 29 In a follow-up action, the police seized over five quintals of poppy husk from a house being used as a godown at Ludhiana. The house reportedly belongs to a non-resident Indian (NRI). Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Senior Superintendent of Police, Sangrur, said the truck was intercepted at a naka at Sular Gharat village yesterday. He said the contraband was hidden under 100 bags of onions. The SSP said the accused had been identified as Nirmal Singh of Barrundi village in Ludhiana and his accomplice Gaganjit Singh of Mansa. The interstate gang kingpin, Raghvir Singh of Jalwana village in the district, managed to flee. The market value of the seized poppy husk was about Rs 75 lakh, he added. The SSP said during interrogation, the accused said they brought poppy husk from Rajasthan and stored it at the NRI’s house in Ludhiana from where it was sold in retail. The NRI is a close relative of Raghvir Singh. The SSP said the Sangrur police went to the house and seized 540 kg of poppy husk. A case in this regard has been registered in Ludhiana.
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school kids forced to pick up trash
Faridkot, January 29 It is alleged that primary schoolchildren were forced to collect disposable plates, glasses, spoons and other trash at a pre-wedding function of CPS’ daughter. The incident has drawn flak as over 5,000 guests, including several high profile state politicians and senior bureaucrats, were present at the function. As the children belonged to Dalit families, Raj Kumar
Verka, vice-chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, visited Faridkot on January 22 and directed the district administration and the Education
Department to conduct an inquiry. A three-member committee set up by the
Faridkot Deputy Commissioner. It has reported that seven schoolchildren were employed by a
Barnala-based caterer to collect trash. “Legal action will be taken against the guilty,” said Mohammad
Tayyab, Deputy Commissioner. “I have yet to receive the inquiry report. It will be sent to the National Commission for Schedule Castes,” he said. Earlier, Verka had alleged that the district administration was downplaying the incident under political pressure.
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impersonation case
Mohali, January 29 In this five-year-old case pertaining to forged signatures of some senior officials on attendance registers of high-level meetings of the PSEB, the police had booked an unidentified person here on November 29. PSEB secretary Gurinderpal Singh Batth has sent a reminder to the police stating that the police has neither sent any information to the board in this connection nor have they sought any record from the board.
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Cash, mobile phones of police recruits stolen
Hoshiarpur, January 29 The cash worth Rs 48,000, mobile phones and other valuables were missing. The police have registered a case against the miscreants under Section 380 (theft in dwelling house) of the
IPC.
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Escalating labour costs, outdated technology, high taxes, freight and transportation charges, are some of the factors that led to the decline of the hand tool industry in the district.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal rejected Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s move to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) vice-presidents Surinder Pal Singh Sibia and Kewal Singh Dhillon today asked the office of the Election Commission of India to make public the list of 90 tainted police officers who had received adverse remarks for biased performance in their election work earlier.
Members of the Revenue Patwar Union and the Ministerial Staff Union, Fatehgarh Sahib, who were sitting on a dharna for the past 15 days called off their protest after former SAD MLA Didar Singh Bhatti assured them that justice would be delivered to them.
In a joint operation by the Sangrur police and the Counter Intelligence Wing, Jalandhar, 185 bags containing at least 37 quintals of poppy husk were seized from a truck at Sular Gharat village near Dirba. The police nabbed two persons while the third managed to flee.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal rejected Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s move to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Badal said there was no need for yet another probe as several earlier high-level inquiries had pointed towards the role of Congress leaders in the riots.
