Monday, January 25, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Monday, January 25, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Militants'
move to target VIPs foiled US
Akali leaders call Bains opportunist |
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Khalsa
flays Akalis challenging edict Both
Badal, Tohra ‘have failed as leaders’ Action
against 2 Punjabi University teachers Overbridge
likely at crossing number 22 All
parties should have been invited' BJP
decries Mann's celebration plan Whither
'Punjab, Punjabis, Panjabiat? Upset
over wife's ways, father kills daughter |
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Militants' move to target VIPs foiled JALANDHAR, Jan 24 — Mr P.C. Dogra, Director-General Police, Punjab here today claimed that a major terrorist plan to target VIPs was foiled with the arrest of three members of the Babbar Khalsa International and a border infiltrators. The Punjab Police timely unearthed the design and neutralised a highly organised multi-layered conspiracy to target VIPs, police officers and other eminent personalities in Punjab and Delhi. He said that investigations were on. Preliminary interrogation of the arrested terrorists, one of them being Pakistan trained and indoctrinated by Wadhawa Singh, has revealed that this newly raised group of Babbars was in the process of organising infrastructure to mount attack on senior police officers and VIPs. He said that Kulwinder Singh from Fatehgarh Sahib (Pakistan returned), Darshan Singh also from Fatehgarh Sahib (an ex-terrorist released from jail), Jagjit Singh from Jalandhar (a proclaimed offender of Nawanshahr district and a terrorist belonging to the BTFK/ the BKI), Karnail Singh from Ferozepore a border infiltrator accomplice of Bakhshish Singh Shisha, a smuggler had been arrested and 20 slabs RDX., 1.5 kg. PETN, .5 kg heroin, one AK-47 rifle alongwith two magazines and 50 rounds and one pistol, 30 mm recovered from them. Mr Dogra said that Kulwinder Singh is a Pakistan trained militant and he had crossed over to Pakistan in June, 1998 with the help of a Pakistani crosser 'Khan' who met him at Kartarpur. He crossed over to Pakistan via Ajnala sector (riverine route). He underwent training for two months alongwith eight other members including Didar Singh at a training camp located near the Afganistan border. He was imparted training in the use of explosives and other methods of sabotage and subversion. On the basis of a tip-off received by the SHO Focal Point, Ludhiana, that a group of terrorists was moving in a Maruti car bearing Haryana registration number and were in the process of shifting a consignment smuggled via the Ferozepore sector from the Jalandhar side towards Fatehgarh Sahib Inter-district. Nakas supervised by the Jalandhar and the Ludhiana police at Sutlej bridge were put up. A car driven by a young Sikh carrying two persons on the back seat, was intercepted. The police found a gunny bag during the search of the rear seat. One of the occupants, who later on was identified as Kulwinder Singh wearing a black jacket suddenly tried to pull out an assault rifle which he was carrying on his person under the jacket and tried to load it. The police party swiftly swung into action and overpowered him. He said that preliminary interrogation of the arrested persons revealed various aspects of the modified game plan of the Pak ISI to activate terrorism through Punjab militants. Under this strategy terrorist nodals operating from Pakistan have focused attention on religious places and managed to recruit boys mostly moving in the disguise of Nihangs and religious functionaries. Prime coordinator in this
case has been identified as Didar Singh, a notorious
killer involved in killings in Punjab, Haryana and MP.
Didar Singh after his release from Nabha jail where he
was lodged for a series of crimes had gone underground,
and Darshan Singh of Fatehgarh Sahib, an ex-Babbar
released from Nabha jail sometime back. The Jalandhar
police shared this information with the Fatehgarh Sahib
police leading to the arrest of this person alongwith a
pistol and some ammunition. |
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US Akali leaders call Bains opportunist JALANDHAR, Jan 24 (UNI) — Moderate Akali leaders from North America today hit back at Didar Singh Bains, convener of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in North America appointed by SAD president and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in February, last year, by dubbing him an "opportunist" who, they said, had now shown his true colours by maintaining that Akal Takht "hukamnama" (edict) could not be questioned. Appealing to the Akal Takht Jathedar to review and withdraw the 'hukamnama' at a press conference here this evening, Mr Gurbaksh Singh Sanghera, claiming to be president of the SAD (Badal) in North America, and his two "general secretaries" Mr Narinder Pal Singh Hundal and Mr Major Singh Maujhi charged that never in the history of Akal Takht a 'hukamnama' had ever been issued to protect one person (read SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra). While accepting that "the Akal Takht was supreme" and "we all bow our heads" before the supreme religio-temporal seat of Sikhs, the American Akali leaders claimed another 'hukamnama' ordaining Sikhs the world over to partake of "langar" (community kitchen) in gurdwaras by squatting on floors instead on tables and chairs was also not in the larger interests of the Sikh community like the December 31 "hukamnama" which directed the warring Badal and Tohra camps to call truce in their war of political hegemony till the completion of the Khalsa tercentinary celebration in April. Claiming that they had never accepted Bains as convener of the SAD and had opposed his appointment by Mr Badal, the American Akali leaders disclosed that the "langar hukamnama" was not being observed in the Yuba city gurdwara in USA inspite of the fact that its managing committee was headed by Mr Dilbagh Singh Bains, a brother of Mr Didar Singh Bains. American Akali leaders said they had told Mr Badal before Mr Didar Singh’s appointment as convener of SAD in North America that he (Didar Singh) was founder president of the World Sikh Organisation which, by its charter, was committed to the setting up of Khalistan in Punjab. Mr Sanghera, Mr Hundal and Mr Fauji said moderates had won against the hardliners in Canada even after rejecting the "controversial langar hukamnama" and they (moderate Akali) were on the upswing in the United States of America also. Mr Sanghera hailed from Canada, while his colleagues in the party were from the USA. The American Akali leaders asked had there been some merit in the langar hukamnama why pro-Khalistani elements, who controlled gurdwaras for a decade in North America during militancy in Punjab, did not remove chairs and tables from gurdwaras then. They claimed three Jathedars of Akal Takht, late Gurdial Singh Ajnoha, Prof Darshan Singh and Prof Manjit Singh, had taken food on tables and chairs during their visits to Canada and had never objected to the use of furniture in holy places. Even Mr Teja Singh, who made immense contribution in drafting Sikh tenets, also never objected to the use of tables and chairs in the gurdwaras in North America, they claimed. Asked if hukamnama once issued by Akal Takht had ever been reviewed and withdrawn in Sikh history, the American Akali leaders countered and asked "has hukamnamas ever been issued without following the Sikh Maryada (tenets) and to protect person or persons," adding a 'hukamnama', which led to division in the Sikh 'qaum', must be reviewed and withdrawn in the larger interests of the community. Secondly, they claimed never before in Sikh history a 'hukamnama' had been issued by a single Jathedar. The American Akali leaders
also took exeption to visit of Union Urban Development
Minister Ram Jethmalani to Canada on allegedly invitation
of Khalistanis and urged the Union Government to seek an
explanation from him. |
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Khalsa flays Akalis challenging
edict BATHINDA, Jan 24 — Mr Harinder Singh Khalsa, a member of the National Commission for SCs and STs and confidant of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, today criticised those SGPC members and Akali leaders who had challenged the hukamnama issued by Akal Takht. Addressing a Press conference here, he said nobody could raise objections to the hukamnama for political gains. While making it clear that he was not nominated as a member of the national commission by the President of India on the recommendation of Mr Badal, he said the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa had been made a "kabaddi match" by certain leaders who claimed to be true followers of Guru Gobind Singh. He said the Punjab Government, which trying to celebrate the occasion with much fanfare, had ignored the interests of the Scheduled Castes. It had failed to announce any welfare scheme for the SCs and STs. He suggested that out of Rs 100 crore given by the Central Government to Punjab for the tercentenary celebrations, at least Rs 50 crore should be spent on giving free education to the downtrodden. He alleged that certain Akali leaders were trying to get political advantage by exploiting the religious and casteist sentiments of people. The recent feud among Akali leaders had also brought a "bad name" to the entire Sikh community. Earlier, addressing a
function organised by various SC and ST organisations in
his honour in the local B.R. Ambedkar Bhavan, Mr Khalsa
said the commission had fought against atrocities on the
SCs and STs and opposed discrimination against members of
these sections in service matters. |
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Both Badal, Tohra ‘have
failed as leaders’ JALANDHAR: The edict passed by the Akal Takht Jathedar, ordering a truce between the two senior Akali leaders will have far-reaching ramifications, as not only the Sikh Panth but the entire Punjabi community will be directly affected in the tussle for power and probably open up old wounds. The feud leading to the "hukamnama" has raised pertinent questions, among Sikhs and other communities who have been affected by the mix of religion and politics of the Akali Dal. While, one thing which emerged strongly when TNS spoke to a cross-section of people, is the change in attitude. People are not happy with both the leaders — be it Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal or the SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra. Mr Harbans Singh Walia, an Akali-inclined farmer and a former sarpanch of Mooasoorwal, village says: "It's unfortunate that infighting has reached the helm of Sikh politics with ambition replacing service to the community. The electorate had voted for SAD (Badal) for ushering in peace and trusting the two leaders to govern with responsibility. But, the ongoing tussle will ultimately weaken both leaders," he feels. Ms Alep Prakash Singh, an educated woman, speaking on the "hukamnama," said an average apolitical Sikh was of the opinion that both Mr Tohra and Mr Badal were "misusing" the highest temporal seat for gaining political mileage. She stated that Sikh women constituted half of the vote bank, and their religion preached equality of the sexes. Yet both had done nothing concrete for women. "Even the reservation of seats for women in the SGPC general house was done by Mr Harkishan Singh Surjeet, she pointed out. "One-third of the SGPC offices ought to be reserved for women, due representation should be given to women in the five Takhts and also in lower posts. But till now Mr Tohra in his 25-year tenure as SGPC chief had neglected half the sikh population," she alleged. Farm labourers like Mr Nazar Singh (65), who have vigorously supported the SAD (Badal), are disappointed, and raise pertinent questions of corruption in the system. The SGPC with its vast funds was not setting up schools, sewing centres or charitable hospitals in the villages for poor downtrodden Sikhs like us. While the Chief Minister has been accused of making tall promises and promoting his family in politics. "We are just votes, those who are visible, around elections," he laments. Mr Manu Dev, an advocate and a social activist, is right when he says: "In the entire feud, the Sikhs and the Punjabi community at large have nothing to do. Badal and Tohra have always had a love-hate relationship using each other to retain their supremacy in Akali politics and dominating the Akali Dal. What is alarming is that Punjab is on the verge of bankruptcy and clean politics is long over. Both are using and interpreting religion to their own advantage, while sadly both have failed the people." The Punjabiat, which was
emerging once again after a long period, is in danger, he
cautions. |
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Action against 2 Punjabi
University teachers PATIALA, Jan 24 — The Punjabi University Syndicate has decided to take disciplinary action against two senior teachers of the Department of Political Science, Dr Kehar Singh and Dr Satish Sharma, for using improper language in their self-appraisal reports. It has also decided to seek an explanation from Dr H.S. Pannu on the same count. Decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the university syndicate held here yesterday under the Chairmanship of Dr Joginder Singh Puar, Vice-Chancellor of the University. Reacting to the decision of the syndicate, the Punjabi University Teachers' Association President, Prof S.S. Khaira, said the PUTA would take up the cause of the affected teachers. Meanwhile, the university has decided not to re-employ retired university teachers in view of the financial problems facing the university. It has also decided to employ people against vacant posts on contract basis. The syndicate decided that in future all major projects would be allotted to writers by the standing committee on Punjabi development. The syndicate has decided to allot the project of history of Punjabi literature in English to eminent literature and member of Parliament, Dr Kartar Singh Duggal. The syndicate also decided to award Degree of Science, honoris causa to Dr R.A. Mashailkar, Director General of the CSIR at the ensuing 27th annual convocation of the university. A degrees of B. Litt. honoris causa will be awarded to Dr J.S. Grewal, former Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University. Punjabi University has
decided to sign a memorandum of understanding with the
Sikh Dharam, New Mexico, USA to start a foundation course
in Punjabi through post. Punjabi would be taught as a
foreign language. The university would bear publication
expenses of a standard book in Punjabi by a retiring
teacher. |
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Overbridge
likely
at crossing number 22 PATIALA, Jan 24 — An overbridge is likely to come up at the level crossing number 22 in the city here to remove congestion. A traffic management expert from Mumbai, Dr Shankar Vishwanathan, recommended this during a special visit to the city to study the spot as well as other sensitive spots where urgent steps were needed to regulate traffic. The recommendations, however, clash with an earlier plan which had been submitted to the government under a World Bank project which recommends building of an underbridge at the site. A high-level meeting with senior officials of the Public Works Department has been fixed for tomorrow to prepare the final proposal. The traffic expert rejected proposal for an underbridge at the site saying the project would involve massive digging of nearly 18 feet below the railway line and it would create problems during rainy season. Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir said Dr Vishwanathan's proposals had yielded good results in Jalandhar and Ludhiana. Dr Vishwanathan also visited other parts of the city and prepared proposals to sort out traffic problems at the overbridge near the bus stand and the Adalat Bazaar area. The Municipal Commissioner, Mr Harkesh Singh Sidhu, said at the main bus stand it was planned to change the entry route of buses and one of the two routes suggested by the expert would be adopted. Mr Sidhu said to ease
congestion in Adalat Bazaar it had been decided to make
the entire route from Sheranwala Gate to Kila Chowk
one-way. The exit would be from Chandni Chowk and the
Behra road areas. He added the road from level crossing
number 22 to railway crossing number 23 would be made
one-way immediately. There was also a proposal to open
the Topkhana Gate and the matter taken up with Army
authorities, he added. |
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Tercentenary celebrations LUDHIANA, Jan 24 — The Akali Dal-BJP government should have invited and sought the support of all political parties for the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa and not made these a one-party affair. This was stated by Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, a Congress Working Committee member and former union minister, while addressing a Press conference here today. The Congress leader said the feud between Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra had led to the slowing of the pace of development. Congress leaders, he said, had struggled hard to bring about normalcy in the state after 15 years of militancy and had set the pace of development. Various projects had been shelved after the Akali-BJP government came to power, he said. He appealed to Akali leaders to stop infighting and start working for the betterment of the masses. Lashing out at the SAD-BJP government, Mr Azad said it was a "government of taxes". Although Punjab was one of the most progressive states, the government now did not even have the funds to pay the salaries of its employees and to give pensions. It should formulate plans for resource mobilisation other than by increasing taxes. Commenting on the decline in foreign investment in India, Mr Azad said foreign investors were withdrawing from the country as the BJP-led government at the Centre had failed to gain their confidence. He said although the party high command had not taken any decision on seeking alliances with other parties for the elections in Goa and Andhra Pradesh scheduled for November, the Congress would seek votes on its own. Mr Subodh Kant Sahay, AICC
member, and Mr Nahar Singh Gill were also present. |
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Bhindranwale's anniversary FEROZEPORE, Jan 24 — It was unfortunate that the SAD (Amritsar) president Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, had plans to celebrate birth anniversary of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, said the secretary for Press and Publicity of the state unit of the BJP, Mr Anil Sareen. Talking to The Tribune, on Saturday, he accused that by celebrating such programmes, Mr Mann was indulging himself in the cheap politics to show his presence. The truth was that Mr Mann had no base among peace loving people of Punjab, he added. To a question, he refused to make any comment on the issue of ongoing feud between the SAD president and the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and the SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra saying, "this is the Akalis' internal matter". He added, however, the BJP was fully committed to the SAD (Badal) and said, it was not right to say that terrorism could revive in Punjab due to feud between Mr Badal and Mr Tohra. "The terrorism can't revive till the SAD-BJP is in power in Punjab", he said. Regarding the involvement of the Congress in tercentenary celebrations of birth of the Khalsa, Mr Sareen said that he was not against participation of the political parties into religious programmes. But, the political parties should not use religion for its political ends, he added. The BJP leader said, the present financial crisis in Punjab was given by the predecessor government which tackled whole affairs with mismanagement. But, there was nothing to panic, the SAD-BJP combine government would sort out the problem soon, he hoped. Mr Sareen said, Opposition in the state was making false propaganda that the SAD-BJP government was a 'tax imposing government' whereas the truth was that the present government had done a lot for every section of the society including traders and industrialists. He added that Enforcement wing of the Sales Tax was formed by the Beant Singh Government. But, the present Congress leadership was falsely accusing that the SAD-BJP government had put-up sales tax mobile barriers throughout the state to harass traders, he added. Mr Sareen told that with a
view to reviewing certain organisational matters a
meeting of the party's state body would be held at
Phagwara on February 5. The party had a plan to
strengthen its units from mandal-level to booth-level
from January 25 onwards, he added. |
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A follow-up CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — Because of the Akalis, Punjab today shows symptoms of religio-political schizophrenia. The ruling party, the Shiromani Akali Dal, is entangled in a vicious web of controversies involving two other important Sikh institutions: Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has often observed that his government believes in a policy of "reconciliation and cooperation" with the Opposition, primarily, the Congress. This has been said in the larger interest of the state because the SAD-BJP's election-time expression was on "Punjab, Punjabis and Punjabiat". What is happening today is just contrary to that commitment. Confrontation, political and of other kind, is very much discernible within the SAD. This has put the state administration on the backburner. The Governor in his first address on March 5, 1997, had referred to the firm view of his government that an "immediate and comprehensive" initiative was needed from the Central Government to find a "just, satisfactory and judicious" solution to the long-pending demands and grievances of the people of Punjab. These demands and grievances had formed the foundation of political speeches in the pre-election period. The demands and grievances were the immediate transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, the inclusion of Punjabi-speaking areas left outside into the state, settlement of Punjab's claims on river waters on the basis of the Riparian principle, examplary punishment to the guilty of 1984 riots and a just and judicious solution to other problems facing the people. For the past two years neither the SAD nor the BJP thought it prudent to even make a passing reference to these issues. No doubt the Governor repeated these issues in his second address to the Vidhan Sabha, but Mr Parkash Singh Badal has kept a stoic silence. In the meantime, the state prepared another agenda for the BJP-led coalition government (the SAD is a party in that with two ministers) with as many as 32 odd items, most of which have not seen the light of the day. The Finance Minister's two speeches while presenting the Budget (on June 11, 1997, and June 28, 1998) when taken together tend to gloss over the state's failures. Punjab has failed to move the Centre on some basic issues. One issue is in respect of getting a larger share from the Central resources. The share of states in Central taxes is only 27 per cent, while, the Centre retains 73 per cent. Though repeatedly echoed in the Budget speeches, the Centre has remained unmoved when it comes to giving. Even, as amply evident from the inter-state council meeting in New Delhi last week, on the issue of Article 356, a consensus eluded the meeting on either scrapping (as the SAD wants it to be done away with) or introducing safeguards. None of the major demands or grievances, to which the SAD has been making pointed references while in political wilderness, has been forcefully taken up with New Delhi. And if it has the latter has emphatically said no. For example, "Our government demands... that the quota system in the matter of recruitment to the armed forces be abolished forthwith and merit alone be made the basis for this recruitment" is a quote from the June 1997 Budget speech. The Centre has not accepted it despite the Chief Minister meeting the Defence Minister several times. Punjab is committed to "socio-economic uplift" of people in urban and rural areas. The thoroughly mismanaged financial position has once again stalled the economic growth and development, what to speak of "economic resurgence" as the government documents would have us believe. May it be block level planning, integrated planning, focal points scheme, considered a fulcrum for rural development, adarsh schools scheme, gainful employment, providing basic amenities and needs like clean drinking water, proper sewerage system etc, there is no progress. The string of concessions, remissions and please-all announcements ranged from free power to tubewells, abolition of canal irrigation tariff and house tax, rationalisation of sales tax (still a farcry) enhancement in arhtiya commission, octroi replacement, shagun scheme etc have put the government in a tight spot. The opaque functioning of the government has failed to provide a "clean, responsive and transparent administration" in which "corruption" has not been eliminated and "accountability" has not been introduced. Had that happened, someone, somewhere, would have been picked up for Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award for "honesty". None of the major policy matters enunciated in the Budget/Governor's speeches has been implemented. The Punjabis today feel let down. Contrary to Budget speech contents, the government programmes show that these have been mere "drafts" of economic planning which never got off the drawing board. These "blue-prints" of the Akalis have faded with finance having taken wings and the regional imbalance discernible. Will the next year's
Budget speech and annual plan (already in rough weather)
be different or only put differently to once again gloss
over the real issues, problems and government failure? |
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Upset over wife's ways, father
kills daughter MOGA, Jan 24 — Reena, a teen-aged girl of Singhanwala village was allegedly murdered by her father Gurdev Singh for her mother's alleged illicit relations with a person. Gurdev Singh frustrated over the alleged illicit relations of his wife Swaranjit Kaur with Sewak Singh committed the crime with twin motive of implicating his wife and her lover in this case and to prevent her daughter from following in the footsteps of her mother. Gurdev Singh killed his daughter with a sharp-edged weapon (Dah) in the morning on September 23, 1998 in his house. He, later, went to the village gurdwara for offering prayers. He after-coming from gurdwara to his house started shouting that his daughter had been murdered and raised suspicion on his wife Swaranjit Kaur and her lover Sewak Singh, who had eloped a few days ago and were absconding. He then registered a case with the police. To cover up his involvement in the crime, he told the police that Sewak Singh, lover of his wife, had come to kill him but by mistake he had killed his (Gurdev Singh) daughter Reena. Gurdev Singh kept on meeting senior police officials alleging that the police was not making sincere efforts to arrest the culprits. However, the story of Gurdev Singh could not be believed for long. To the surprise of the police and villagers, it was found during investigation that Gurdev Singh, who had made a complaint regarding the murder of his daughter was himself the culprit. Dr Sharad S. Chauhan, SSP, told The Tribune that a special team was set up to solve the murder case of Reena. He said that initially the police was believing the story of complainant Gurdev Singh. He said that the police also arrested Swaranjit Kaur and Sewak Singh and interrogated them but could not find any thing regarding the murder. He added that then Sukhdev Singh, son of Gurdev Singh, who was present when his sister Reena was murdered, was questioned. Sukhdev Singh, narrating the story told the police party that Reena was murdered by his father Gurdev Singh. Sukhdev Singh said that his father had threatened him not to disclose factual position to anyone or else he would also be killed. Dr Chauhan said that then
Gurdev Singh confessed his involvement in the crime.
Gurdev Singh wanted to fix his wife and her lover into
this case on one hand and on the other he also wanted to
stop her daughter from following in the footsteps of his
wife, he added. |
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Killing of hare : SSP told to
register case BATHINDA, Jan 24 — Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner, here today asked the SSP to register a criminal case under relevant law for the killing of 200 hare in a dog race competition organised by some 'influential persons on January 11 and 12 at village Phulokhari on the premises of Guru Gobind Singh Oil refinery. Following a report in The Tribune today on the killing of 200 hare in a dog race competition, Mr Ladhar also asked the SSP to hold an independent probe into the incident. Talking to The Tribune, he said that he had also asked the SDM, Talwandi Sabo, Mr Krishan Chand to submit his probe report in 15 days. He added appropriate action would follow after the receipt of the report. Mr Krishan Chand, SDM,
already has confirmed the killing of 12 hare in the dog
race competition. |
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More cases come to panel :
Khanna AMRITSAR, Jan 24 — The Chairman Punjab Human Right Commission, Justice V.K. Khanna, has said since the establishment of the commission in May, 1997, the number of cases brought before the panel had risen 11 times in the current year. A large number of cases related to the police complicity in the land grab cases. Commenting on a complaint by a few residents of Amritsar city about drinking water being polluted by sewerage water in various localities, Justice Khanna said he had personally deputed a member of the commission to investigate into the faulty sewerage system. The member spent more than two days here to look into the problem and his recommendations would be sent to the authorities concerned for taking corrective measures to stop the health hazard. On the complaints of mental hospital patients going blind due to cataract, Justice Khanna said on the intervention of the commission these patients were operated upon. He pointed out that the commission had undertaken a study to identify the maladies afflicting the 60-year-old institution and had already submitted its interim report to the government for taking corrective measures. Justice Khanna said a
19-year-old girl had sent a complaint to the commission
that her parents were forcing her to marry a 65-year-old
Canadian of Indian origin. The intervention of the
commission through the good offices of the SSP of the
area stopped the marriage. Although the commission had no
locus standi in such a case but its prompt action
resolved a family crisis. |
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Paucity of funds hits sewerage
project SANGRUR, Jan 24 — Although Rs 20 lakh has so far been spent by the Water Supply and Sewerage Board authorities on providing sewerage in Dhanaula town 30 km from here, yet for the people the sewerage still remains a distant dream. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal visited Dhanaula in January, 1998, and the residents expressed their resentment against the failure of the government to provide them even the basic facility of sewerage. Dhanaula has a population of 19,000 persons. Lawarian Mohalla and Jaindan Patti, according to official sources, are the worst affected as during rain dirty water enters their houses. These two areas alone have a population of nearly 7,000. According to an estimate prepared by the District Water Supply and Sewerage Board authorities, Rs 1.75 crore is needed to provide the sewerage facility in the town. In the first phase, an estimate of Rs 58 lakh was prepared in Feburary, 1998, for providing the facility in Lawarian Mohalla and Jaindan Patti and was sent to the Punjab Government for approval. An amount of Rs 20 lakh was released by the government to the board authorities. With this amount only part of the main sewer lines has been laid. Nearly 50 per cent of the main sewer lines are still to be laid. The work on laying the sewer lines has been suspended as more funds have not been released by the government. Not a single resident of Dhanaula town has been benifited so far. Official sources further
say that Rs 38 lakh is immediately required to provide
the benefit of the sewerage facility even to a limited
population of the town. |
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Girl injured in attack by
purse-snatchers LUDHIANA, Jan 24 — Neera Sharma, a Punjab and Haryana High Court practising lawyer, was injured when she resisted an attempt to rob her by two scooter-borne unidentified youths at the Mall Road last evening. As Ms Sharma was going to her residence from the bus stand on a cycle-rickshaw, the two youths tried to snatch her purse. Ms Sharma resisted their attack. And in the struggle that followed, she suffered injuries as she was pulled down from the rickshaw. The miscreants fled with her purse containing Rs 3,000. When contacted, the police
confirmed the incident and said that there was still no
clue about the miscreants. An FIR has been lodged in this
case in the Division No 5 police station. |
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DCC panel to probe stripping
case FEROZEPORE, Jan 24 — The Ferozepore District Congress Committee President, Mr Sajjan Kumar Jakhar, has formed a seven-member committee to probe the incident in which a dalit woman was allegedly stripped and her face blackened at Bhangarkhera village in the Abohar sub-division of this district, a week ago. The DCC General Secretary-cum-Spokesman, Dr Dial Singh, said today afternoon that the probe would be completed within a week after which it would be handed over to the DCC president. He added that Ms Jamuna Devi, a disabled dalit woman was allegedly stripped and her face blackened by seven members of a family. Her daughter was also beaten up by the assailants, he alleged and added that dalit families of the village were still in terror. Mr Dial Singh added that the detailed report about the probe would be submitted to the SSP and the DC as well by the party president, who already had visited the village of the victims to express sympathy with them. He accused that certain
Abohar-based political leaders were allegedly shielding
the accused. After the completion of the probe, the DCC
would decide the further course of action, he added. |
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Head constable suspended KHARAR, Jan 24 — A head constable posted at Kurali was suspended today on the charge of misbehaving with a woman last night. Mr Ashwani Kapoor, DSP, Kharar, told reporters today that the police has received a complaint from Mrs Sukhwinder Kaur, a resident of Kurali, alleging that Head Constable Amrik Singh along with another person, who were drunk, misbehaved with her and beat up her husband. Mr Kapoor said that after
preliminary inquiry the head constable was suspended and
a departmental enquiry ordered. |
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