Wednesday, April 14, 1999
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N E W S Wednesday, April 14, 1999 |
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VIP security to be
rationalised CHANDIGARH, April 13 — The Chandigarh Police has decided to rationalise the security cover provided to VVIPs and VIPs with the Inspector-General of Police, Dr (Mrs) Kiran Bedi, taking the lead by “surrendering” part of her personal security. The decision will not cover those VIPs and VVIPs who have been provided security cover by the Punjab Police, the Haryana Police, the Central Reserve Police Force and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. At present, there are nearly two battalions of police which have been diverted from their actual outline policing duties, including crime prevention, and put on the security duty. “The rationalisation is being done on a case-to-case basis. Things are not what they were some years ago. Things have changed and we must move to peaceful policing,” according to Dr Kiran Bedi. “We are not at all compromising with the security environment. Our crack team will always remain in readiness and can be requisition at a short notice,” she said, maintaining that for effective and peaceful policing, “optimum utilisation of the available force was necessary. There have been some units of the force which have been working 12 hours a day with no leave. Members of such overworked units are even refused mandatory leave. It is shocking. These men need some respite.” The Inspector-General made it clear that those on security duty were not from any reserve force but had been withdrawn from actual outline policing duties. With the introduction of the beat system and peaceful policing for crime prevention, we are trying to take back some people from security duties to places for which they are meant or the places where they actually should be. Dr Kiran Bedi said, “We must live in the present. Things have normalised and this is time when we rationalise the security provided to VIPs and VVIPs. This rationalisation is basically for greater security to the city. The policing must continue to move with the requirements of the time. We just cannot sit back and defer any rationalisation on the basis of the past.” Though officials did not specify where men on security duty will be withdrawn from the new decision may lead to considerable reduction in mobile security provided to some of the VIPs and VVIPs, including functionaries of the Chandigarh Administration, its police officers and local political leaders. The security of some other people, who once figured on “hit lists” of militants, is also being rationalised. Some may lose security cover altogether. Though the Administration has been taking decisions to “rationalise” security cover in the past, nothing substantial come out of those decisions. At one stage, directions were issued that all tents put up by security men on road sides, road berms and parks must be removed and they must move into the houses of the people they are protecting. This decision was shelved before being implemented because of pressures from various quarters. At times, there were complaints of power pilferage by security men on duty and those living in tents. There have been several representations and complaints against setting up of temporary kitchens and even lavatories by men on security duty at the place of their deployment. But such complaints were generally overlooked in the larger context of providing security to the person concerned. Since Chandigarh is the capital of Punjab and Haryana, the number of VIPs and VVIPs on security risk list is quite large. For some, it is more of a status symbol than anything else. In case of the state governments, the protected people not only get armed guards and vehicles but also get monthly quota of diesel or petrol for use in the vehicles. Though the situation has been more or less normal, no review of security cover has been done in the recent past. The Chandigarh Police, on the other hand, finds itself in a tight position with a major chunk permanently deployed on agitations duty while nearly one-third on permanent security duty. The police has now
decided to keep the security cover to the bare and
effective minimum with a special crack force readily
available to meet any contingency. |
Religious fervour marks Baisakhi CHANDIGARH, April 13 — Tastefully illuminated buildings, overflowing shopping centres, special congregations at gurdwaras and organisation of special sammelans and “langars” by various organisations in different parts of the city marked the Baisakhi celebrations today. Punjab Raj Bhavan, Civil Secretariat, Vidhan Sabha complex, Mini Secretariat in Sector 9, residences of the Punjab Chief Minister and some members of his Council of Ministers, all gurdwaras, all shopping centres, besides a large number of houses were illuminated to mark the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa. The gurdwaras, where special congregations were being held, were overflowing with enthusiastic followers. In Sector 7, some shopkeepers organised a special kirtan darbar at the end of which they organised a community kitchen. A similar function was in progress on Dakshan Marg in Sector 20 where a “langar” was also organised. At the Sector 35 Congress Bhavan, after the bhog ceremony of Sri Akhand path, “langar” was organised by members of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee. In the evening, hundreds of holiday revellers moved out into shopping centres and other places, including Sukhna Lake. In Sector 17, a minor fire incident apart, there was no let up in the enthusiasm of shoppers. The Baisakhi celebrations will culminate tomorrow after bhog of Sri Akhand Path in the morning. There will be special congregations at all gurdwaras. In Sector 8, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr Kiran Bedi, will give away prizes to winners of various competitions organised by the gurdwara for children in connection with the tercentenary celebrations. The North Zone Cultural
Centre organised a programme by Puran Chand Wadali at
Tagore Theatre. An on-the-spot painting competition,
which attracted 200 entries, was held at the Sector 8
Government Model School where the District Education
Officer, Mr Brahm Kalia, was the chief guest. |
No water on upper floors CHANDIGARH, April 13 — With the mercury soaring, certain parts of the city and UT villages have started experiencing the shortage of water. Though there is hardly any shortage of water on ground floors, residents of upper floors, particularly in the southern sectors, have started feeling the pinch. The residents alleged that the water pressure became low in morning and evening after about half an hour of supply. A first-floor resident of Sector 32-A alleged that residents of the sector did not get even a drop of water this morning. The area had been receiving low water pressure for the past many days, he complained. Ms Aruna Sharma, a second-floor resident of Sector 45, alleged that the water pressure started decreasing by 7 a.m. and there was hardly any water by 7.15 a.m. The situation was no better in evening, she alleged. Meanwhile, residents and cattle of Mauli Jagran village are also suffering on account of low water pressure. The Sarpanch of the village, Mr K.S. Thakur, alleged that despite repeated requests to senior officials of the Public Health Circle of the Chandigarh Administration, nothing had been done. Water supply to UT
villages, except four villages incorporated in the
Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC), is the
responsibility of the UT Administration. The MCC takes
care of the supply to the city. |
Man stabbed to death CHANDIGARH, April 13 — A Ram Darbar resident, Satbir, was stabbed to death by armed assailants in the forest behind the Industrial Area, Phase I, here last night. According to police sources, the deceased along with his brother — Ramesh — was on his way to Ram Darbar from the Mauli Jagran rehabilitation colony on their bicycle around 8.30 p.m. when they were stopped by at least six armed assailants reportedly armed with knives and other crude weapons. The sources said the assailants after stopping them tried to snatch their purses and other belongings. And when the brothers resisted they were reportedly attacked with knives and other weapons. While Satbir, who sustained injuries in his chest, died on the spot, Ramesh, after sustaining minor injuries, managed to escape and informed the residents of his colony. Ramesh was admitted to Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, and he was later discharged. Meanwhile, keeping in view last night’s incident, the police has intensified night patrolling in the area. The police has
registered a case. No arrests have, however, been made. |
Major fire in forest area CHANDIGARH, April 13 — Several varieties of trees, worth crores of rupees, have been destroyed in a major fire which recently broke out in a large forest area falling in Parch village in Ropar district. The fire which was sighted five days back was still raging till the filing of this report. The fire is reported to have killed different species of flora and fauna in the area. The exact loss could not be ascertained as no official of the Punjab Forests Department was available for comments. Different species of wild animals have reportedly come downhill to escape from the blaze. Inhabitants of Chota Parch, Bada Parch, Chota Seonk and Bada Seonk villages, located near the jungle area, have come under the threat of the blaze due to the direction of wind towards their villages. Mr Bhag Singh, Sarpanch of Parch panchayat, said the fire had destroyed khair, kikkar and sheesham trees, spread over an area of over 1,700 acres. The land was the shamlat land of the four villages. Residents of Chota Parch village could be seen taking preventive measures to stop the fire from spreading towards their area. Standing crops in several acres of land near the jungle area could be reduced to ashes if preventive measures are not taken, villagers said. Villagers said there was no telephone facility for them. The fire was reportedly noticed by a forest guard four days after it broke out. According to villagers, no senior official of the Forest Department had visited the area to ascertain the gravity of the problem. Some workers of the
Forest Department, however, could be seen making efforts
to put out the fire. a similar fire had broken out in the
area five years ago. |
Flight safety award for WC unit
Chandigarh, April 13 — The 'Best Flight Safety Trophy 1998 - 99' of the Western Command was presented to 17 Reconnaissance and Observation Unit by Lieut-Gen H.B. Kala, GOC-in-C of the command, at the inauguration of the two-day annual Army Aviation Conference in Chandi Mandir today. The trophy was received by Maj S.N. Sharma on behalf of his unit. The trophy is awarded for operational efficiency and flight-safety achievement. General Kala emphasised on the maintenance of aircrafts so that pilots were assured of perfect airworthiness of the machines before going on sorties. For an accident free performance, it was essential for pilots to be fully aware of all the conditions in the area, they flew over, he said. Lieut-Gen H.R.S Mann, Chief of Staff of the Western Command, who chaired the conference, lauded the Army Aviation Corps for their performance in the command area last year. He stressed the need to promote flight safety which he said was a product of synergised efforts of aviators and ground staff. Senior officers of the
Army Headquarters, dealing with aviation, are attending
the conference. |
Jagjit Singh opens school
section CHANDIGARH, April 13 — A section, which will house the playway class, was inaugurated at Strawberry Field, Sector 24, here today, by renowned singer Jagjit Singh who is also a trustee of the Durga Das Foundation that runs the school. Painted brown and red, the classroom has many toys to entertain children and keep them occupied throughout their stay in the school. At the inaugural function, the maestro spent some time playing with children. He chatted with them and participated in their exploration of the toys. On a request from parents of the little ones, he sang some lines of "Yeh daulat bhi le lo'', before leaving the children on their own. Some of the parents had come armed with cameras to catch their child in action and with Jagjit Singh. Later, Dr Kiran Bedi,
Inspector General of Police of Chandigarh, also visited
the school and was impressed with the new section. Also
present on the occasion were Mrs Sarla Grewal, a trustee
of the foundation, Dr B.K. Sharma, Director of the PGI
and Dr I.C. Pathak, a former Director of the PGI. |
Home guards to be recruited CHANDIGARH, April 13 — The Chandigarh Police will fill up the 300 vacant posts of Home Guard volunteers, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr Kiran Bedi, said here today. Addressing a meeting of the Home Guard volunteers at the Traffic Lines in Sector 29, Dr Bedi informed that preference would be given to those persons who wanted to continue their studies along with their jobs as Home Guard volunteers. Addressing another meeting of police control room (PCR) staff she urged them to instil confidence in women who travelled during the night time. They would also be issued challaning slips so that they could recommend to the traffic police the specific traffic violations by motorists. She also addressed lady
constables where she urged them to share equal burden of
policing indicating that they would be more actively
involved in the beat system. |
SNIPPETS ‘Lashkara’ channel launch
today The channels are being beamed through Thaicom 3 (global beam), that covers Australia, East Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe. “Lashkara” plans to provide the Punjabi audiences with Gurbani, drama, music, cartoon shows, talk shows, current affairs, films and pop music, besides other programmes. Minor
fire in showroom According to sources, the fire gutted the first floor of the showroom. At least six fire engines controlled the fire in about half an hour. The exact loss could not be ascertained immediately. Jain
pays tributes to Sikh Gurus Mr Jain paid rich tributes to the Sikh Gurus and said that the entire country would remain indebted to them for the supreme sacrifices made by them. Later he left for New Delhi to participate in a meeting of the executive committee of the BJP Parliamentary Party scheduled to be held at the residence of the Prime Minister tomorrow. Painting
contest organised |
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