Chandigarh, August 23
The state traffic police, which was disbanded in 1992 by the then Beant Singh government, is likely to be recreated soon as a part of the Punjab Road Safety Council, the setting up of which has been approved by the state government.

The setting up of the council was approved yesterday at a meeting presided by chief secretary Ramesh Inder Singh. The proposal was mooted by principal secretary( home) B.C. Gupta. Senior police officers, including Punjab police chief, was also present at the meeting.

Ramesh Inder Singh said it was being recreated to minimise fatal accidents and to provide help in transporting accidents victims in ambulances to nearby hospitals. “ Its role, by and large, will be non-intrusive but regulatory as far as speed of vehicles is concerned,” he said.

Source said police inspectors would be given powers to conduct tests for clearing the cases of aspirants for issuance of driving licences.

However, Transport Department officials are reportedly unhappy over the reviving of the state traffic police. They say that it will be in violation of the rules framed under the Punjab Motor Vehicle Act that empowers only officials of the department to enforce rules regarding the upkeep of vehicles, traffic violations, etc. 

Faridkot, August 23
The Punjab government will introduce a master plan for speedy development of this backward district. Echoing these sentiments, Sukhbir Badal, officiating president, SAD, here today hoped that the implementation of the plan would ensure heralding of new era of development in the region. He said the plan would involve Faridkot, Kotkapura and Jaito divisions.

He was here to interact with 95 panchayats of the Faridkot Assembly constituency, which also falls in his parliamentary constituency. Besides, he pointed out that two other major problems of the region - canal water for irrigation and shortage of electricity - would be removed by investing more funds. He added that more power grids would be established in the belt.

He elaborated that a 220 kv grid would be set up at Fazilka followed by Kotkapura and Bagha Purana. However, when asked about the availability of funds he replied vaguely that innovative ways would be found to garner funds.

Repeatedly drawing comparison between the functioning of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Capt Amarinder Singh, he blamed the latter for remaining aloof from the masses. Answering a question about the pitiable condition of Baba Farid University of Medical Sciences, he said J.S Bajaj, vice-chairman, Planning Commission, Punjab, visited the university, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital here on August 21 to take stock of the situation. He added that the government was ready for collaboration with national and international medical institutes in this regard.

When asked about the forceful occupation of Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj Bhai Taru at Naulakha Bazar, Lahore, by hooligans, he said they would write to the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with Pakistan.

Sukhbir stated that a team of Delhi Metro was carrying out a feasible study in Ludhiana regarding introduction of Metro in that city and added that the report for the Rs 3,500-crore project would be submitted within seven months.

Sangrur, August 23
While ordering a special girdawari for flood-affected areas of four villages (Chandu, Shahpur Therri, Andana and Baopur) of the Moonak subdivision, Sangrur deputy commissioner S.R. Ladhar today announced formation of four girdawari teams. The special girdawari has been ordered in the light of a breach in the Ghaggar at Chandu village (about 7 km from Khanauri), due to which floodwater had submerged 2,000 acres in four villages about a week ago.

The teams will start the girdawari work in two days and will submit their reports to the administration in a week for further proceedings. Supervisory officers have been made 100 per cent responsible for this work.

The proceedings will be video-graphed to ensure proper girdawari and genuine claims by the flood-affected persons.

DC Ladhar also warned the official that disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against them if any wrong information was entered in the girdawari register.

Ladhar also said that a day before the arrival of girdawari team in the village, public announcement would be made in the village concerned for this purpose. He said the presence of the landowner had been made compulsory. 

Bathinda, August 23
The police has identified five women followers of the Sirsa- based Dera Sacha Sauda, motivated to become human bombs.

The police has also come to know, these women could commit self- immolation in public and cause harm to VIPs. All five women belong to Bathinda district.

Though the police did not say much in this connection, sources said photographs of these women followers had been circulated to almost all police stations of Punjab to stop from entering functions to be attended by VIPs.

Sources said the police received inputs from the Punjab intelligence agency a few days ago in which it was mentioned activities connected with motivating women to become human bombs were going on in Dera Sacha Sauda headquarter.

By developing the intelligence inputs, the police has identified the women, who could become human bombs. The police has also taken their photographs for sending to all police stations.

Sources said two of these five women suspected to act as human bombs, were teachers while one was working with a central government department. The police has been keeping a tab on the activities and movements of these five women.

Chandigarh, August 23
Does Constitution of the country allow the Union government to fund religious pilgrimages?

Member of the Rajya Sabha from Punjab Dr M.S. Gill, participating in a discussion on Haj pilgrimage in the House, today raised this question . Dr Gill raised it when Pranab Mukherjee external affairs minister was answering queries in this regard. Mukherjee told the House the Union government would provide Rs 400 crore to 1 lakh Muslims for Haj.

Dr Gill told The Tribune on the phone from Delhi he asked the home minister to request the Supreme Court to give its verdict on the case pending befor it at the earliest.“ This is a fundamental question of policy for the whole House whether the Union government should spend money for religious pilgrimage. It is also question about Nehru and Ambedkar’s secular Constitution provided to the country”, said Dr Gill in the Rajya Sabha.

Dr Gill said would the government also send Christians and Jews by air for pilgrimage to Jerusalem? Would the government also send Hindus to Mansarovar for pilgrimage by air via Beijing or Kathmandu? he asked. Several Hindu pilgrims were killed every year while moving through the snow -laden mountains to Mansarovar, he added. Why arrangement could not be made for them by the Union government for by air free travel to Mansarovar? he asked.

Will the Union government also fund the pilgrimage of Sikhs to Lahore, Panja Sahib and Nankana Sahib by air? At present, Sikhs have to pay Rs 1,100 per head to travel to Lahore, which is just 40 km from Amritsar, by bus.

Dr Gill said since it was a basic policy issue related to Constitution of the Country, the home minister should get the issue decided from the Supreme Court.

Fatehgarh Sahib, August 23
Fissures within the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) today came to fore as the party on the one hand snapped all ties with the Khalsa Action Committee, while on the other its senior vice-president Daljit Singh Bittu announced that the committee would continue with its struggle for action against the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda.

The KAC was holding meetings with the government, the dera chief and certain other organisations without taking the party into confidence. — Simranjit Singh Mann

Talking to The Tribune, SAD (A) chief Sirmranjit Singh Mann said the committee was holding secret meetings with the government, the Dera chief and certain other organisations without taking the party into confidence. As the SAD (A) was not ready to be groping in the dark, it had decided to break all ties with the committee.

The party had played a vital role in the formation of the committee, which had launched an agitation against the dera chief. Bittu had been appointed convener of the committee, a post which he still holds.

The party’s decision came as a bolt out of the blue for Bittu, who expressed ignorance about the development. He, however, was quick to respond that he would discuss the matter with his associates and reach a conclusion soon.

Meanwhile, issuing a stern warning to Bittu and other party men, Mann said none among the party rank and file would be allowed to hold positions in two organisations.

Mann issued the statement a few hours after Bittu held a press conference here today to announce the next programme of the committee. Bittu stated that the committee would take out three Khalsa marches as part of its agitation.

Jatti Umra (Tarn Taran), August 23
With the breaking of the news that the apex court of Pakistan has ruled that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif have an inalienable right to return and stay in Pakistan as its citizens, residents of this non-descript village distributed ladoos and danced to the tune of drums.

The villagers also arranged ardas at the gurdwara, which was built at the site where ancestors of Nawaz Sharif lived before Partition.

The villagers believe that Sharif was the one who had saved Pakistan and India from another war by withdrawing forces from Kargil in 1999. He had to suffer for that noble cause, they said.

Residents of the native village of Sharif, Jatti Umra, about 35 km from Amritsar, are hopeful that their prayers would ultimately see Sharif to become Prime Minister of Pakistan again.

A number of friends who had visited Pakistan during the regime of Sharif are still alive. Close friends of the father of Sharif still live in the village.

In 1998, some residents, including Arjun Singh, had stayed with Sharif’s family in Pakistan for over a week. The former Prime Minister of Pakistan and his father Mian Sharif Mohammad had studied up to the primary level in the country before Partition.

Old friends of Mian Sharif said the family had shifted to Pakistan much before Partition, but they kept in touch with residents of the village.

Hoshiarpur, August 23
With the launching of Kanak-Dal scheme from August 15, a large number of poor families who were earlier left aside, are now approaching offices of the SDMs concerned for getting themselves enrolled.

Deputy commissioner D.K.Tiwari said here today that as many as 83,582 families had been registered under the kanak-Dal scheme so far. Blue cards had been issued to all those registered under the scheme.

As many as 15,771 fresh applications have been received in subdivisional offices of Hoshiarpur, Garhshankar, Dasuya and Mukerian so far. The last date for submitting the applications to the subdivisional offices concerned was August 31.

After scrutinising the applications, blue cards will be issued to the new applicants. Deputy commissioner pointed out that he had received a large number of complaints against the existing cardholders for availing the facility without being eligible. Such complaints were being examined. If anyone was found ineligible, his card would be cancelled and action taken against him.

Patiala, August 23
Unfit personnel of the Punjab police would now have to undergo medical tests and participate in yoga camps to shed flab. Punjab DGP N.P.S. Aulakh has mooted the idea.

The unfit policemen would be provided medication and given an opportunity to tone up their physique. The department would organise camps to train policemen in yoga. They would further hold classes to train their colleagues, he said.

When asked if unfit policemen would face sack, he said it was not possible. Action against any policemen could only be taken if he was declared unfit by the medical board constituted for the purpose.

The DGP was here to inspect the police stations of the district.

A proposal has also been mooted to rationalise the police force. Two new districts, Tarn Taran and Mohali, had been created by the previous government. The previous government had proposed that in new districts 50 per cent police force would be provided through readjustment and the remaining through fresh recruitments. However, since no fresh recruitments have been made, the new districts have been facing a shortage of police personnel.

A proposal has recently been sent to the government for the rationalisation of the police force in the entire state.

The process of recruitment of inspectors and DSPs would also be initiated soon. The recruitment of DSPs against the sportsmen quota has been initiated once again, the DGP added.

Regarding the implementation of the new Punjab police Act, he said the case had been sent to the department of home.

On the allegations levelled by the vice-chancellor of Punjabi University against the Patiala SSP the DGP, he said I did not want to get involved in the controversy. The SSP had explained his position and there was nothing more to say in the matter.

Aulakh turned defensive when asked about the large-scale rigging in the recent corporation elections. He said the police did not act as per the requirement and information provided by the election observers.

Bassi Pathana, August 23
A case of highhandedness by the local bodies department has come to light at the Municipal Council, Bassi Pathana. The council has to pay salary to an accountant who is actually working in the pension cell of the directorate of the local government in Chandigarh. The council, which is already facing a financial crunch, is in no position to pay her salary. The interesting fact is that the council does not have a permanent executive officer, sectional officer and an accountant. Council president Sunita Malhotra has urged the secretary, local government, to depute permanent officers and staff to the council as since 2005 all officers of the council had been on deputation.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Sunita said it was unfortunate that the government had posted Amardeep Kaur as accountant to the council but since long she had been working in the pension cell of the directorate of the local government but getting salary from the council. She said only her attendance report was sent to the council every month and cheque of her salary was paid by the council.

The council president said the Bassi Pathana council was facing a financial crunch and there was no money to give salary to employees working here but they had to pay salary to the accountant. She demanded that either she may be asked to join duty in the council or the department where she was working should pay her salary.

Sunita has also complained to the SDO, PSEB, that two employees of the PSEB posted to the council for the maintenance of streetlights come to office occasionally, where as the council had been paying them salary regularly. 

Sardulgarh (Mansa),  August 23
A team of the drug control department with the help of civil hospital authorities managed to unearth an unauthorized de-addiction centre running from a furniture shop of this town.

Official sources said the centre was providing intoxicants to the people under the garb of medicines. Ten bags, containing powder of different colours and six other articles, had been recovered from the shop. The owner of this shop is absconding.

Drug inspector Dinesh Gupta, when contacted, said three samples, suspected to be prepared by mixing ayurvedic medicines with allopathic ones had been taken for the test. These samples would be examined in a laboratory and legal action would be taken against the owner if found guilty.

This is not an isolated incident where a de-addiction centre, running in an unauthorised manner, was found to be actually supplying intoxicants to addicts to escape the wrath of the police and authorities concerned. This trend is catching up in a few pockets of the Malwa region, where drug addiction is rampant.

Official sources said two such illegal de-addiction centres were unearthed in Muktsar and Killianwali towns by the state drug control authorities. The owners of these centres had been facing trials in a judicial court since last year.

Amritsar, August 23
After France which had banned wearing of turbans in schools, reports of security personnel at various US airports asking Sikhs to take off their turbans for security checks have sent shock waves among the Sikhs living world over.

After the SGPC, Manohar Singh Gill, a Rajya Sabha member, has sought the immediate intervention of the Prime Minister and foreign minister to stop the practice of compelling the Sikhs to remove their turbans at the airports for identification.

“I admire democracy in the USA. However, it is disturbing that Sikh citizens of America and those visiting the USA are being forced to take off their turbans at airports for identification. This is insulting and unnecessary because America has enough technical resources to check who enters their country”, he said.

He said: “I would request Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take up this matter with Condoleezza Rice, National Security Adviser , USA.” 

Amritsar, August 23
Farmers of three borders districts of Gurdaspur, Ferozepur and Amritsar here today decided to launch statewide agitation against the central and the state governments for not meeting their demands.

Addressing farmers at the Company Bagh Raghbir Singh, state president, Border Sangharsh Committee (BSC), said the governments were ignoring interests of the farmers who had land across the fence. He said the Border Security Force authorities humiliated farmers did not allow farmers to work in fields for more than four hours a day. He added the governments had failed to frame policies to help solve problems of debt- ridden farmers.

Rattan Singh Randhawa, district general secretary criticised the government for not giving adequate remuneration to the farmers for their yield while it was importing food grains at a higher cost. He alleged the central government had ‘defrauded’ farmers of Rs 22,000 crore by just paying Rs 750 per quintal of wheat produced.

He said no compensation had been paid to the farmers who had their land across the fence which was used by the Army. He demanded the central government should enhance the compensation being paid to the border farmers to Rs 3,500 per acre besides releasing the arrears.

Jalandhar, August 23
A father allegedly under the influence of liquor burnt his two-year-old son alive after a heated argument with his wife at a village of this district.

When Lakha Singh returned home, his wife, Manjeet Kaur, sensed that he was drunk, objected to it and left the house after a heated argument at the couple's Kartarpur house, the police said.

Irked over his wife's reaction, Lakha Singh took out a few of her clothes and set them afire. Later, Lakha forcibly dragged his son, Pardeep (2), into the fire.

The child started crying but instead of pulling his son out of the fire, Lakha pushed him back. After a while, the child's aunt noticed the incident and rescued him.

The child with burn injuries was admitted to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, the police said adding that a case had been registered in this regard.

Lakha Singh fled from the spot and efforts were on to arrest him.— PTI

Hoshiarpur, August 23
A deputation of residents of Dasuya, including relatives and Sarjivan Kumar, father of Mandip Kumar (who died in police custody at the police station, Dasuya, on August 19) met deputy commissioner, Hoshiarpur, D.K. Tiwari here at his office today and demanded arrest of all those police officials responsible for the death of Mandip.

In their representation to the DC, they alleged that though an FIR had been registered against the then SHO and investigation officer, but the police authorities were delaying their arrest as they reportedly had direct links with the higher authorities.

The DC assured them that he would take up this issue with the authorities concerned.

Bathinda, August 23
Two policemen and three civilians suffered injuries when they were allegedly attacked by a group of youths armed with swords and lathis in a market near the canal bridge here late last night.

City police station SHO Harwinder Singh Virk said two youths, identified as Tajinderjit Singh, alias Amb, and Manminder Singh, alias Bobby, had been arrested while the raids were continuing to arrest the other suspects of the attack.

According to the information gathered by The Tribune, around five youths came to a tea stall located near the bridge and ordered for tea. When the owner said he did not have milk, the youths started to beat him up.

Traffic police personnel, who were standing nearby, called the police. The police managed to overpower two of the youths. The youths, who fled from the spot, called up their associates on their mobile phones. Within few minutes, a group of youths, carrying swords and lathis, descended on the scene and attacked the people and police personnel present at the spot.

Banur, August 23
Employees of the municipal council were ‘attacked’ by a group of over 20 persons when they tried to demolish an unauthorised structure on the police station road here this afternoon.

Lakshman Singh, pesident of the council, said Bhajan Singh of the Baazigar community was constructing two showrooms on the land that belonged to the council. “He was issued many warnings but he continued with the construction ,” he said.

The president said the baazigars were ‘pattedars’ of this land for a definite period of time and the lease had ended in 1986. “Since then, the land is under illegal occupation.”

The construction today but were reportedly attacked by Bhajan Singh and his family. “Our employees were slapped, pushed and abused and they had to run away,” said the MC president. He said Bhajan Singh had the support of former councillor of the area Harbans Lal.

When contacted, Harbans Lal said the land did not belong to the council. “The land belongs to the Punjab Wakf Board.

The baazigars have been here for decades and are poor. The construction is being done by Joginder Ram and not Bhajan Singh.” Bhajan Singh’s name was being mentioned due to some old rivalry.

Executive officer of the council S.S. Sidhu has given a written complaint of the incident to the police, demanding action. 

Hoshiarpur, August 23
Principal secretary, Department of Home Affairs and Justice, has directed deputy commissioners and SSPs in the state to take immediate steps to check the menace of ragging and issue suitable instructions to all education institution heads in this regard.

According to official sources here yesterday, he has drawn their attention to the recent Supreme Court observations on the issue of ragging. The court had observed that the punishment to be meted out had to be exemplary and justifiably harsh to act as a deterrent against the recurrence of such incidents.

Every single incident of ragging where the victim or his parents/ guardian or the head of institution is not satisfied with the institutional arrangement for action, an FIR must be filed without exception by the institutional authorities with the local police authorities. Any failure on the part of the institutional authority or negligence or deliberate delay in lodging the FIR would be construed to be an act of culpable negligence on the part of the institutional authority.