Jalandhar, February 8
The Income Tax Department has recovered tax to the tune of Rs 21 crore from the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Society formed by the Punjab Government to run the PIMS project.

The tax was recovered for the financial years 2006-07 and 2011-12. The department is now assessing the record for the financial year 2012-13 and is expecting to find more irregularities to the tune of Rs 45 crore made by the society. Many bank accounts of the hospital were also sealed by the Income Tax Department during the recovery of the tax demand.

A case pertaining to this is going on at the Income Tax Tribunal in which the Income Tax Department has claimed that the society does not qualify for tax rebate, as it is not doing any charitable work for the welfare of society. The department has also cancelled the certificate 12AA of the society which entitled the society to a tax rebate.

Now after winning the case in the tribunal, the department recovered the tax demand money of Rs 21 crore on Thursday by attaching an FDR and a bank account of the society in Andhra Bank.

"We had found huge irregularities to the tune of Rs 25 crore at PIMS. Now, after getting directions from the Income Tax Tribunal, we have recovered the tax demand money by attaching their bank accounts. Now, we are assessing their records of the last year as well," said Sanjay Mishra, Commissioner, Income Tax. He also revealed that most of the bank accounts had been checked recently after the recovery.

However, Dr Vimal Sikri, director, PIMS Society, has dismissed the claims made by the Income Tax Department and said that the matter was still under the consideration of the Income Tax Tribunal. "Presently, the case is under consideration of the Tribunal. The IT Department does not have any prerogative to recover the money. We are doing a charitable work for society and are hopeful to win the case," said Dr Sikri.

Jalandhar, February 8
Despite the strict ban imposed by the Police Commissioner following the yesterday’s incident of a banned Chinese string getting entangled in a Chetak helicopter, these strings were seen being sold inside the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) campus today.

Shockingly, the strings were being sold from many illegal shops running inside the houses of many police personnel.

On a visit to the campus by a Tribune team, many children were seen flying kites with the banned Chinese string "gattu" and "dragon dor" on the ground near the gurdwara. On being asked about the place from where they had bought the strings, they took the team to a nearby house selling these strings along with kites.

When asked about the matter, the owner accepted running the illegal shop inside the house and also revealed that it were the parents who demanded these strings for their children. “After the Commissioner’s orders, we stopped selling these, but many police personnel, staying here, forced us to bring ‘gattu’ for their children. But we do inform the children about the dangers posed by these strings,” said Kanta, running a shop.

Although the children seem to be aware of the potential dangers of these strings, they can't resist their use due to the string's easy availability near their houses.

“We know this is very dangerous. Most of the time, we do cut our fingers, but we like it due to its strength,” said 12-year-old Ravinder Saini.

The children also said that they never had a problem buying Chinese string, as most of the time their parents buy it. “They never stop us. We use it with utmost precaution. We try to fly it away from high-tension wires as we may get a shock from these like one of our friends,” said 11-year-old Aniket.

He said their friend got a shock while flying a kite with "gattu" and their another friend fell unconscious trying to save him.

Rahul S, Deputy Commissioner of Police, was shocked to hear the matter. He promised a speedy investigation into the sale of the banned string from houses of the police personnel. “This is a shocking news. We will conduct an inquiry into the matter and take necessary action against the violators,” he said.

Jalandhar, February 8
Traders today showed lollipops to the Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS), KD Bhandari as they were given false promises. The Industrial and Traders’ Action Committee held a massive demonstration in front of his residence at Seth Hukum Chand Colony here, this morning.

The traders led by Ravinder Dhir and Gursharan Singh participated in a rally accompanied by professional drummers at the main entrance of the colony towards Bhandari’s house.

Demanding reduction of property tax charges on commercial properties, early VAT refunds and withdrawal of advance tax scheme, they expressed their grudges against the government. Bhandari came out of his house and chose to allow the traders to first vent out their ire.

Dhir said, “All our demands seem to be falling on deaf ears as there has been no response from the government side. If we can elect you as our representatives, we can even make you step down.”

Gursharan Singh said, “I have supported you during the polls seeking votes from the residents of your Jalandhar North constituency. But ever since we have launched these dharnas against the legislators, we are getting threatening messages that we better sit quite or there could be raids at our business premises.”

The traders said they are not going to budge and sit quietly on the issue. As they kept saying, Bhandari did not speak up but was visibly angry. At this, Gursharan went ahead and said, “We know that you must not like all this, but it is you who has forced us to resort to saying all this.”

While the dharna was still on, the staff of the CPS issued lists of various efforts that he had made for the welfare of traders to mediaperson. The list included declaring Gadaipur as the industrial zone in 2008, converting Mubarakpur Sheikh into industrial area, assuring uninterrupted power supply for industries at Aman Nagar, Gadaipur and Tanda Road, relief to the small units at Aman Nagar and Sai Colony by declaring them in mixed zones, getting sewage works and road work for the Focal Point in 2009 for an amount of Rs 8 crore, road work in Industrial Estate for Rs 80 lakh, arranging meetings for hand tools work, setting up 132 KV sub-station, abolishing VAT on domestic appliances, including sewing machines and hand machines and arranging meetings for VAT refunds with the authorities.

Jalandhar, February 8
A case of accidental firing by a security guard outside the Central Bank of India, Mandi Fentonganj, around noon today led to panic among the shopkeepers and passers-by there.

A cash van had come to the bank and a security guard Rachhpal Singh was escorting the team when the accidental fire took place. Luckily, the rifle was aimed towards the road. A stone from the road shot-off and hit at the back of the neck of Charan Dass, a passer-by, causing him minor injury.

The Police reached the spot. They interrogated guard and set him free as it was a case of accidental fire. “The injured man did not lodge any complaint. So we have not proceeded against anyone,” said SI, Sukhbir Singh, SHO of Division Number 3.

Jalandhar, February 8
A 31-year-old youth died today after consuming some poisonous substance. He was undergoing a week-long treatment at a private hospital here.

Deceased Hiten Rana of Chogitti was allegedly upset after a matrimonial dispute with his wife Anita Kumari of Hoshiarpur. The couple had got married on April 28, 2007 and had a four-year-old son. The victim had earlier been working with the ICICI Bank but was currently jobless.

In charge of the Surya Enclave Police Post Vijay Kumar said, “His wife has left him sometime back and lodged a complaint with the women cell at Hoshiarpur.

He and his brother Surinder Rana had recently even sought anticipatory bail on the matter from the court. He had consumed some poisonous substance on February 1 and since then had been taking treatment at Johal Hospital. He passed away this morning”.

The cops said deceased's mother, Sushil Kumari, had brought to them a suicide note which she had found from his computer table at his residence. “We have sent the note for specimen checking to match it with his handwriting. So far, we have proceeded on the matter under Section 174, CrPC, but we may book his wife and in-laws if the note is found to be written by him”, the SI said.

Phagwara, February 8
The Phagwara police have arrested a drug peddler, Chandrika Dass of Baher village of Bihar, presently residing at

Ludhiana and recovered 150 gm of intoxicant powder from his possession.

SHO city, Ravinder Singh, while confirming the arrest said the accused was nabbed at a nakabandi in the town last night.

Jalandhar, February 8
Bringing laurels to the state once again, the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) won the 62nd All India Police Volleyball Cluster 2013-14. Three games of kabaddi, volleyball and handball were organised in the cluster, which was held from January 20 to 24, at Thrissur in Kerela. The PAP won gold medals in basketball and kabaddi tournaments and a silver medal in handball tournament. However, the state police lost the volleyball match for which it was a consistent winner from the last 20 years. On their arrival, Gurdev Singh Sahota, ADGP, Armed battalions, Jalandhar, welcomed them and applauded them for their exemplary performance in the National Police Games.

According to the Tulsi Ram, Commandant, 80 PAP Armed battalion, the Punjab police beat the host Kerela Police by 79-69 and clinched the gold medal in the basketball tournament. In the kabaddi,the Punjab Police again showing good footwork and team work, won the championship by defeating the CRPF with a score of 36-11. “It is noteworthy here that we have defeated a paramilitary force, which has the option to pick and choose their sportsmen on all India basis, whereas, our option is restricted only from the state. Still we managed to beat them in most of the games,” said Tulsi Ram, IAS. He further said the police have forwarded the names of four players for promotion to higher ranks and the PAP has released 2.5 lakh as diet money to around 10 players who have won various national and international championships recently. — TNS