Friday, June 4, 1999
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Friday, June 4, 1999 |
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SAD rebels to face action AMRITSAR, June 3 — After the formal split in the Shiromani Akali Dal, the battle of Akali stalwarts would be shifted to the Punjab Assembly in coming days. SAD (Badal) would take action against the Tohra loyalist MLAs who had attended the conference at Gurdwara Alamgir in Ludhiana on May 30. Tohra dancing to Cong tune: Badal KAPURTHALA, June 3 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, has said that Akal Takht was highest temporal seat of the Sikhs and being a Sikh, he bows before it. |
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Will
Tohra be summoned to Takht? Hardcore criminal arrested Screening of nominees next month :
Thakre Parties set up panel to probe
police excesses HC seeks explanation from DGPs
Probe into custodial death slow:
Chawla EO Wing fails to yield results Uma promises scheme for slain
soldiers' kin Malta tragedy facts on Internet Fernandes must quit, says Mayawati SMO gave false report: panchayat Mixed response to PRTC strike call Field duty for Ropar SSP on EC
directive Govt decision challenged
Bhattal’s going to dharna
venue wrong Contempt notice to DGP, SSP of
Patiala
Human rights activist's book
released Kikkar trees dry up mysteriously |
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SAD rebels to face action AMRITSAR, June 3 — After the formal split in the Shiromani Akali Dal, the battle of Akali stalwarts would be shifted to the Punjab Assembly in coming days. SAD (Badal) would take action against the Tohra loyalist MLAs who had attended the conference at Gurdwara Alamgir in Ludhiana on May 30, where Mr Tohra was elected President of the breakaway Akali Dal. In a categorical statement, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President, Shiromani Akali Dal, and Chief Minister said the rebel Akali MLAs had no place in the party as they supported the newly floated party led by Mr Tohra. Mr Badal, who had come here to attend the ninth death anniversary of Khajan Singh Mirankot, a former Akali MLA here, today, said MLAs who had raised a banner of revolt had no place in the party. The action against the Tohra loyalist MLAs would be suggested by the political affairs committee or the working committee of the party to be convened shortly. Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra too, had indicated here yesterday that leadership in the Punjab Assembly would be changed. To a question, Mr Badal said that he was ready to present himself before Akal Takht if he was summoned by Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar of the Takht. He said Mr Tohra had been misleading the Sikh sangat by demanding that he (Mr Badal) should surrender before Bhai Ranjit Singh, the sacked Jathedar of the Takht. Mr Tohra remained a SGPC chief for about 25 years and he should know that a sacked Jathedar could not summon anybody. He said he was not summoned before Akal Takht by the new Jathedar as he had not committed any violation. Mr Badal said in fact Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra should be summoned before Akal Takht for allegedly violating the "Hukamnama" (edict) of Akal Takht. Mr Badal did not rule out action against Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar of Keshgarh Sahib by the SGPC in the wake of serious allegations levelled by Gaini Bhagwan Singh, head granthi Sri Keshgarh Sahib. He said it was the prerogative of the SGPC to initiate action. Blaming Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra for hobnobbing with the Congress with the sole objective of weakening Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Badal said this leader now stood fully exposed. He said that it was unfortunate that Mr Tohra and his coterie had tried to create hurdles in the historic tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa. The people had fully ignored them and exit of Mr Tohra would have no effect on the party. Earlier, addressing a
congregation, Mr Badal vehemently said that the people of
the country will never accept a person of foreign origin
as the Prime Minister. |
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Tohra dancing to Cong tune:
Badal KAPURTHALA, June 3 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal Chief Minister, Punjab and President of the Shiromani Akali Dal has said that Akal Takht was highest temporal seat of the Sikhs and being a Sikh, he bows before it. Mr Badal said that many Jathedars of Akal Takht had come and had gone. But the supremacy of Takht had not been affected in any way. Addressing a conference organised at Begowal village, 25 km from here, today to observe the 50th death anniversary of Sant Baba Prem Singh, a religious head of the Lubana Community, Mr Badal justified the sack of Bhai Ranjit Singh from the post of Jathedar of Akal Takht by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee which he said is also the supreme body of the Sikhs. He said that the decision taken by the SGPC to remove Bhai Ranjit Singh had to be honoured by all Sikhs. He said that during the tenure of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, a former President of the SGPC, a number of jathedars of Akal Takht had removed. He appealed to the people to endorse this decision. He criticised Mr Tohra for backing out from the decision of celebrating the tercentenary of Khalsa Panth by the Akali Dal under the presidentship of Mr Badal and the meeting at which this decision was taken. Mr Tohra had also attended it. He alleged that the Congress had won over Mr Tohra in order to weaken the Akali Dal and to divide the Akali Dal vote bank. He reminded the people that Sikhs had made many sacrifices for the independence of the country and made the country self-sufficient in foodgrain but, what had the Sikhs gained during 40 years rule of the Congress in the country and state for their sacrifices? he asked. Anti-Sikh riots of 1984, attack on the Golden Temple, Chandigarh and our waters had been snatched from us, he added. Mr Badal said in the ensuing Lok Sabha election voters had to choose between two persons, i.e. Mrs Sonia Gandhi, to whom Mr Badal referred as a foreigner, and Mr A.B. Vajpayee. He cautioned that the nation had made great sacrifices to free the country from foreign rule but now again the Congress was planning to install a foreigner as Prime Minister of India who was not conversant with Indian culture and heritage. Mr Badal paid tributes to Sant Prem Singh and described him a great social reformer. Addressing the conference Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Union Minister of State for Industry, said that during the past 13 months Punjab had got industrial units worth Rs 22,000 crore. He claimed that industrial growth had increased to three per cent in the country while in Punjab the growth was 12 per cent. Ms Uma Bharati Human
Resources Development Minister, Bibi Jagir Kaur,
President, SGPC, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker Punjab
Vidhan Sabha, Mr Swarna Ram, State Education Minister, Mr
Raghbir Singh, Transport Minister, Sucha Singh Langah,
Industry Minister, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Agricultural
Minister, Mr Kamal Choudhri and Mr Satnam Singh Kainth
both former members of the Lok Sabha also addressed the
conference. |
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Will Tohra be summoned to
Takht? AMRITSAR, June 3 — Even as Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal, has said that Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President of the newly floated SAD (Tohra), should be summoned to Akal Takht for his alleged misconduct and for causing a split in the party, the latter is unlikely to obey the directives of the Jathedar of Akal Takht in this regard. Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar of Akal Takht, had earlier ruled out the possibility of reopening the Tohra-Nirankari issue. He had said that a hukamnama once issued could not be reviewed. President of PPCC Amarinder Singh had approached the then Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, for initiating action against Mr Tohra for violating the hukamnama issued by the Takht in 1978 for severing relations with Nirankaris. Mr Amarinder Singh had alleged that Mr Tohra had violated the edict by visiting Nirankari Bhavan, Patiala, to seek votes for Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra during the previous Lok Sabha elections. However, the then Akal Takht Jathedar (now "sacked"), Bhai Ranjeet Singh, had bailed out Mr Tohra for want of concrete proof. However, this is for the first time that Mr Badal has demanded that Mr Tohra should be summoned to Akal Takht for his alleged anti-Panthic activities. On the other hand, if
summoned by Giani Puran Singh to Akal Takht, Mr Tohra is
unlikely to appear before the Takht as he and his party
consider Bhai Ranjit Singh as the "real
Jathedar" of the Takht. Mr Tohra says that Giani
Puran Singh is a "sarkari Jathedar". |
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Hardcore criminal arrested GURDASPUR, June 3 — The police has arrested hardcore criminal Tilak, resident of Bathial in Jammu & Kashmir for his involvement in a murder case in Himachal Pradesh, stealing of vehicles and consignments of cement, flour and apples. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, briefing newsmen here today said that the police had specific information that the suspect had stolen a truck No. HP 3186-4348 from Himachal Pradesh and has changed the colour of the truck and also got prepared fake registration certificate changing the number of the truck to JK-02D-4439. He was coming in the stolen truck to Pathankot. A police naka was laid at Simbal chowk, Pathankot, which intercepted the truck. The district police chief said that he also hired a taxi in Himachal Pradesh and later allegedly murdered the owner of the taxi, Raman Kumar. The district police chief said that he was also involved in stealing consignment from Srinagar and selling it for Rs 60,000/- unauthorisedly. He is reportedly involved in stealing a tourist bus (6021/DLIB) from Katra in Jammu and Kashmir which he later took to Hardwar and Orissa. He is also allegedly involved in disposing of a consignment of 300 bags of cement unauthorisedly which he loaded from Modi Nagar in Uttar Pradesh. He is also alleged to have disposed of a consignment of apples for Rs 80,000 in Delhi which was bound for Bombay from Srinagar. He loaded a consignment of cement on truck (RNY-2361) from Gujarat and sold it in Indore in Madhya Pradesh unauthorisedly where a case was registered against him. A case under Sections
379, 406, 420, 465, 468, 471 and 472 IPC, has been
registered against him. |
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LS elections PHAGWARA, June 3 — President of the BJP Kushabhau Thakre warned Pakistan to give up of her dream of changing Line of Control, nuclear blackmail or "zor zabar dasti" (use of force) vis-a-vis India. He was talking to reporters here last night at the residence of industrialist Om Gupta. In a repartee to Pakistan (50) Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz, Kushabhau Thakre asserted that PoK continued to be unfinished agenda of partition. He was replying to a question about Aziz's statement that Kashmir was part of unfinished agenda of partition of the sub-continent. Mr Aziz is visiting India shortly to de-escalate war-like situation due to Kargil conflict. Mr Thakre said India wont allow even an inch of its land to be occupied by Pakistan. When asked whether PoK was also included in his observation Mr Thakre quipped even Parliament had resolved unanimously for the accession of PoK to India. He however hailed Aziz's proposed visit to India since dialogue was the solution of every problem. He declared military action in Kargil sector would continue till the restoration of status quo ante by flushing out Pak-backed intruders. He also gave clean chit to Defence Minister George Fernandes whose statements on Kargil had drawn flak from opposition. He took to task the Congress for trying to take political mileage even out of the sensitive issue concerning security and sovereignty of nation. He denounced as politicking the CWC resolution attributing Kargil imbroglio to negligence of the government. He also brushed aside suggestions of certain opposition parties to convene special Rajya Sabha session to discuss Kargil situation or to form national government to deal with it. The Vajpayee government was there and dealing with the situation in a befitting manner asserted Mr Thakre who was accompanied by Punjab BJP president Daya Singh Sodhi. UNI: Mr Thakre said the process to screen and select the party candidates for the coming Lok Sabha midterm poll would begin next month. Mr Thakre added that the party members of the 12th Lok Sabha would be given preference but merit would be the overriding principle in the selection of candidates. On quota for women and youth, Mr Thakre said they would also get representation but on merit alone. Claiming complete coordination and understanding among the BJP and its allies, he said that "National Democratic Alliance will form the next government’’ at the Centre. He claimed that there was no internal dispute in the BJP in any state and the one in Uttar Pradesh has been resolved amicably. Describing Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s resignation and withdrawal as "farce’’, Mr Thakre said that the Congress should not harbour any illusion that such a drama could generate sympathy for the party because people of the country were aware of such dramas enacted by the party from time to time. He said it was misfortune of the Congress that it could not get an Indian to lead the party into the election. On the Badal-Tohra feud in Punjab, Mr Thakre said that it was "unfortunate’’and must be resolved. But he said that "our alliance was with the Shiromani Akali Dal led by Badal’’. On the possibility of
any electoral understanding with the Nationalist Congress
Party (NCP), the BJP leader said it was premature because
the party had yet to prepare its poll strategy. |
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Parties set up panel to probe
police excesses BATHINDA, June 3 — Five political parties, including the CPI, the CPM, the Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP), the BSP and the Janata Dal (JD), have decided to set up a commission to probe police excesses on the down-trodden in the district. In a joint press note issued here today, Mr Jagjit Singh Joga, district secretary CPI, Mr Darshan Mehraj, district secretary, CPM, Mr Darshan Singh Jeeda, president SJP, Punjab unit, Mr Sham Singh Jaura, president, BSP district Bathinda, and Mr Vipan Kumar, president JD, Bathinda unit, alleged that the commission would collect evidence related to police excesses and prepare a report. They said that then a memorandum in this respect would be submitted to the Governor of Punjab, Mr B.K.N. Chhibber, Punjab, the State Human Rights Commission and the Election Commission, New Delhi demanding action against the police officials found guilty. They pointed out that if the need arose all political parties which had decided to set up the commission on May 31, 1999 would launch an agitation to protest against police excesses. They said that need of setting up a commission because police excesses were on the rise against the poor and down-trodden people of society. The police, instead of giving justice to the poor was harassing them. They alleged that anti-social elements were being protected from legal action on the 'diktats' of ruling political leaders. Incidents of crime including murder and land-grab were on the rise. On the other hand, the Balanwali village panchayat of this district in a resolution on May 29, 1999 boycotted the police station, Balanwali in protest against the insult heaped on it by police officials of that police station. Mr Harnek Singh Sran, SSP, when contacted on phone denied any police excesses in the district. He added that no representative of the political parties, which had set up the commission had met him with any complaint of police excesses. He said that certain politicians were trying to derive political mileage by raising the issue of police excesses at the moment when Lok Sabha elections were round the corner. He added that the politicians also tried to save some persons involved in a criminal cases for which the police did not oblige them. Regarding the boycotting
of police station of the Balanwali panchayat he said that
the panchayat was making issue out of a non-issue as no
police men had insulted any panchayat member. |
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Refusal to register FIRs CHANDIGARH, June 3 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the D.G.P.s of Punjab and Haryana to file a detailed report by tomorrow to explain as to why the police in their respective states was not following procedure for recording FIRs in cognisable offences as laid down under Section 154, Cr P.C. Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi, who issued this order, observed that innumerable applications were filed everyday in the court under Section 482, Cr P.C., seeking directions to the police in this regard. "The experience of this court shows that the police is not following the procedure as envisaged under Section 154, Cr P.C.," observed the judge. "I do not find any reason for the police for not recording the information given to them, registering the FIR and proceeding with the investigation thereof." "I am sure," the judge held, "if the police follows the procedure (as laid down under Section 154, Cr P.C.), the burden of this court will be reduced to a large extent and filing of the applications under Section 482, CrP.C., for registration of the cases can be avoided." The judge said he realised the difficulty faced by the general public in getting F.I.Rs. registered while hearing arguments on two petitions. The first petition was filed by Mr Shugan Chand, a former sarpanch of Nissing village in Karnal district, alleging that Mr Bhagwant Singh, who was also sarpanch of the same village from 1991 to 1994, embezzled funds of the gram panchayat. He stated that the total income of the panchayat during that period was Rs 42,06,073, including income from lease money of land and various grants received by the panchayat from the government. Mr Shugan Chand alleged: "Mr Bhagwant Singh misappropriated a major part of the fund by creating a false and fake record about expenditure. One glaring example about the embezzlement of the funds is that Mr Bhagwant Singh has showed that a sum of Rs 20,000 has been transferred to Jawahar Rozgar Yojna. While a sum of Rs 14,000 has been shown to have been transferred in April, 1992, a sum of Rs 4,000 in March, 1993, and Rs 2,000 in January, 1994, the actual amount transferred to the J.R.Y. is only Rs 7,000 as in August, 1993. This clearly showed that Mr Bhagwant Singh misappropriated a sum of Rs 13,000. After hearing arguments, the judge observed that "the accused respondent misappropriated and embezzled public funds of the gram panchayat. Under section 154, Cr P.C., every information relating to the commission of a cognisable offence shall be reduced to writing by an officer in charge of the police station or under his direction." Earlier, the petitioner told the court that he had moved from pillar to post to the FIR registered, but in vain. The second petition was filed by Mr Subhash Chander, a resident of Fazilka in Punjab alleging torture by Mr Raj Singh, S.H.O. of the Fazilka police station. In his petition, Mr Subhash Chander stated that Mr Raj Singh became inimical towards him simply because his brother, Mr Kewal Krishan, a Junior Assistant in the Punjab Warehousing Corporation, and the son of Mr Raj Singh, Mr Manjit Singh, also working in the same corporation as Assistant Manager, had differences over certain matter. The petitioner alleged that with a view to teaching him a lesson, Mr Raj Singh trespassed into his house on April 5, 1998, at 6 a.m. He was accompanied by ASI Lal Chand of Jalalabad police station and about six police officials. They woke up the petitioner, took him out of his house and beat him with sticks. Later, he was taken to the police station in a tanker where he was threatened he would be killed. His mother, Mrs Bimla Rani, remained a helpless witness to his torture by the police. He claimed that he complaint to various police officers, including the Director-General of Police, who ordered a preliminary inquiry. The inquiry was conducted by the S.P. (Defective), Ferozepore. In his report, the S.P. stated: "The allegation of abducting Mr Subhash Chander, brother of Mr Kewal Krishan and Mr Ashwani Kumar and bringing them to police station City Jalalabad and keeping them in illegal custody and harassing them are proved." Mr Subhash Chander tried to get an FIR registered against the erring cops but failed. Mr Justice Chalapathi,
observed that "out of the offences said to have been
committed by the accused persons, the offences under
Sections 342, 365 and 452, I.P.C., are cognisable
offences. Under Section 154, Cr P.C., every information
relating to the commission of a cognisable offence shall
be reduced to writing by an officer in charge of the
police station or under his direction and substance of
the same shall be entered in the registered kept at the
police station concerned and then proceed with the
investigation under Section 156, Cr P.C. Thus, it is
clear that the refusal by the police officer to register
the case is not warranted." |
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Felling of trees: ex-MLA's son
held ROPAR, June 3 — The local Vigilance Bureau last night arrested four persons, including a son of former MLA from Anandpur Sahib and former local Municipal Councillor, in connection with a case of illegal felling of trees. Mr Malwinder Singh Sidhu, DSP, Vigilance Bureau, Ropar, said today that the four arrested persons were — Narinder Sharma, a son of former MLA from Anandpur Sahib Ramesh Dutt Sharma; Ashok Wahi, a former Municipal Councillor from Ropar; Vishwajit Singh, resident of Nurpur Bedi, and Daulat Singh, a resident of Bassi. Mr Sidhu further said they had been arrested in connection with a case registered on December 28, 1998, under sections 420, 201 and 120-B of the IPC and Sections 13 (1) D read with 13 (2) 88 of P.C.Act at the Vigilance Bureau, Patiala. The DSP said the accused got a contract worth Rs 27.71 lakh for felling 1700 khair trees in Hayatpur village on December 17, 1993, at an auction. But, allegedly in connivance with some persons, they cut 8000 khair trees, which resulted in a loss of crores to the government. The contractor has so
far deposited Rs 21 lakh with the village panchayat while
the remaining amount was yet to be deposited. During a
check, the Forest Department staff in 1994 found that the
contractors had felled 2000 trees illegally, for which
the Forest Department imposed a fine of Rs 2,18,325 on
them. A sun of Rs 1,04,740 has been recovered so far. |
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Probe into custodial death
slow: Chawla AMRITSAR, June 3 — The BJP MLA, Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla, today alleged that the investigation into the custodial death two years ago of one Ram Chand, an employee of a shoe shop near the Golden Temple, who was arrested for a petty theft at the shop, was going on at a snail's pace. Talking to newsmen here today in the presence of Ram Chand's widow, Mrs Harbans Kaur, Mrs Chawla alleged that the SDM, Mr S.S. Johal, in his inquiry had indicted an ASI Darshan Lal, posted at city kotwali at that time. The SDM had said that in the view of the various contradictions in the police inquiry, the role of the investigating police officer in registering a case, arresting and keeping Ram Chand in police custody, leading to his death, "is not clean, above board and beyond suspicion." The report further noted that although the police had alleged that Ram Chand had jumped from building to commit suicide while in custody, had sustained multiple injuries and later died in hospital, the probe said that there were too many holes in the police investigation. The doctors, who conducted the post-mortem examination, had mentioned that the possibility of the injuries being caused due to beating could not be ruled out. The magisterial report contended that the police version was at variance with the post-mortem report as it noted that Ram Chand, after allegedly jumping from the roof, was taken to hospital, where he was declared dead. In the meantime, the SP, Headquarters, Mr Rajinder Dhoke, who was deputed to conduct a departmental inquiry into the ‘involvement’ of Darshan Lal in the custodial death of Ram Chand, in his report to the Principal Secretary (Home) had found the ASI guilty of the charges levelled against him. The SP had recommended two-year suspension of Darshan Lal. Mrs Chawla pointed out
that the police had failed to register case of murder
against the ASI so far. She pleaded for adequate
compensation for the deceased's widow, who had been left
without any source of income to bring up her five
children. |
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EO Wing fails to yield
results LUDHIANA, June 3 — Almost two years since its inception in July 1997, the Economic Offences Wing of the Ludhiana Police has failed to yield the desired results as a large number of the complaints received by the wing are either bogus, sent untraced or a compromise reached, with a very small percentage of the accused being nabbed in the cases received by the wing. According to official sources, as many as 50 complaints related to white-collar crimes are received on an average each month by the wing. These cases are mainly related to property disputes, cheating, frauds by finance companies, bank frauds, frauds by travel agents etc. Of these, only 10 to 15 complaints are registered by the police in a month. Of a total of 340 cases registered by the Economic Offences Wing between July 1997 and April 1999, 50 were sent untraced, 17 cancelled and 152 are still under investigation. Only 121 of these cases have been sent to the courts for execution. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Kuldip Singh, claims there are no cases where the FIR was withdrawn following a compromise between the two parties and that 100 per cent of these cases have been traced out but figures point out that the total money involved in the untraced/compromised cases is Rs 23237800 with most of the cases being related to property disputes, followed by vehicle financing. Most of the cases registered with the wing are related to property (265 out of 340), followed by 34 cases of bank fraud which include submitting of forged documents, forged cheques and embezzlement in connivance with the bank employees. There are 22 cases registered against travel agents and only 19 cases registered against finance companies involving a sum of a whopping Rs 261634622. Although the police officials claim they have achieved major breakthroughs in investigating and registering cases against some finance companies that had duped hundreds of people by promising quick and better returns for their money the fact is that there have been no recoveries made by the police and none of the investors have got their money back. Ms Gurpreet Kaur Deo, SP (Headquarters), who also heads the Economic Offences Wing, when contacted conceded that recoveries were less in most cases registered with the wing. "The main reason for this is that the police is involved in such frauds only when the finance company has gone bankrupt. Moreover, the investigations take a very long time to finish and by the time this is done the accused has already made good his escape". She says investigations are often delayed because the head offices of most of the finance companies are situated elsewhere and because of lack of inter-state police coordination. She, however, claims 95 per cent of the cases registered do end up in the courts. Another evident failure about the white-collar crimes is that very few people committing these crimes are arrested. Of the total list of 871 persons so far accused in these crimes, only 594 have actually been arrested with 525 being arrested for property cases and cheating and only 26 being arrested for fraud committed by finance companies. Sources in the Police Department feel that although more and more people are becoming aware of their rights and are also coming forward by registering cases against the economic offence, the ad hoc arrangement of staff for running this wing with local and very few workers is also a major drawback. At present, the wing has a strength of 17 non-gazetted officers and 30 constables. However, Mr Kuldip Singh
informed that a proposal had already been sent to the
Director-General of Police, Punjab, to enhance the staff
for the wing with an officer of the rank of a DSP to
exclusively handle this wing with a well-qualified staff. |
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Uma promises scheme for
slain soldiers' kin JALANDHAR, June 3 — A BJP leader and state Minister for Sports and Youth, Ms Uma Bharati, justified the proposal of safe passage for intruders in the Kargil sector, saying that it was a ‘humane and goodwill gesture’ by the Indian Government. Briefing mediapersons here today, she said there was already a precedent of allowing safe passage. She cited that during the Narasimha Rao regime, Hazratbal and Charar-e-Sharif were rampaged by armed intruders and no action was taken against the infiltrators. It is the first time that the government was now carrying out an armed campaign against infiltrators. On whether this action could lead to war between the two countries, she said, "Both India and Pakistan do not want war." Peace initiatives would continue, she said and hoped that the proposed visit of the Pakistan Foreign Minister would help find a solution to the situation in Kargil. She announced that a scheme would soon be implemented by her ministry to help the families who had lost their men in the Kargil action. The minister said
extensive training was being given in six disciplines to
sportspersons for the Sydney Olympics. Training in four
areas was being imparted at Patiala. |
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Malta tragedy facts on
Internet HOSHIARPUR, June 3 — In a press note issued here today, Mr Balwant Singh Khera, Chairman of the Malta Boat Tragedy Probe Mission, said the mission had decided to place its findings, other relevant reports, material, pictures, evidence and profiles of the persons responsible for the tragedy on Internet to facilitate investigations in all countries concerned including Italy, Greece, Malta, India, Pakistan, Turkey and Sri Lanka. He said the profiles included those of Turab Ahmed Sheikh, a Pakistani with Maltese citizenship, owner of Bugiba Restaurant, Yusaf-el-Halal, captain of ship Yeohan, Efitchios Zerovoudakis, and Dharam Pal, sarpanch of Sehjowal village in Ludhiana district, who are the main suspects in the incident. Mr Khera alleged that
the work of the mission was hampered due to the
non-cooperation of the Central and Punjab Governments.
Both governments had done nothing to console the families
of the victims. |
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Computerised semen bank ROPAR: With the setting up of a computerised semen bank here, farmers and dairy farm owners of six districts in the state will now be benefited in a big way. They will get healthy offspring, more milk and more earnings by getting their cows artificially inseminated at various veterinary institutions with bulls' semen collected and filled in the straws after a thorough investigation with modern equipment at the semen bank. The authorities of the bank claim that the quality of the bulls and cows to be produced with the semen filled in straws will be much better than the process of natural insemination as artificial insemination is done with the good quality and disease-free semen of bulls. In Ropar district, there are about 102 veterinary institutions where frozen semen is easily available. The requirement of the district is 35,000 semen straws annually while the bank will produce about one lakh straws in the first year. Later on, its production capacity will be increased to about three to four lakh straws per year. One straw is used for one cow. Each straw contains about 30 millions live spermatozoa (sperms). The semen bank here is set up under a scheme of the Union Agriculture Ministry. It started its functioning a few months ago. The semen of the bulls is collected here. Besides this bank, there are three other semen banks in the state at Patiala, Kapurthala and Nabha. The first two collect the semen of bulls and the third collects the semen of buffalo bulls. An amount of Rs 35 lakh has so far been spent on the local semen bank while the remaining amount of Rs 1.65 crore (total project is of Rs 2 crore) is yet to be spent on the purchase of required machinery for this bank and equipment for the veterinary institutions to be covered by this bank in the districts of Ropar, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Amritsar. Arrangements have been made to keep 44 bulls here. At present, there are only nine bulls. One of the bulls is the progeny of a cow that yielded about 5,000 litres milk per lactation while the other eight bulls are the off-spring of cross-breed cows that gave a yield of about 4,000 litres milk per lactation. Out of the nine bulls, only one bull is allotted to this district to meet its requirements while the semen of remaining bulls will be supplied to the semen bank at Kapurthala, from where it will be distributed in other districts. To run the semen bank smoothly, there is an in charge of the bank, two pharmacists, a laboratory attendant, two clerks and four bull attendants. Besides the aid of the central government, the rest of the funds for the purpose of salary to the staff and infrastructure are being provided by the Punjab Government. The bank has several
sections which include fodder section, bull health care,
semen production, semen collection yard, semen analysing,
semen filling and sealing, bull section, semen chilling
and preservation. |
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Fernandes must quit, says Mayawati ROPAR, June 3 — The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today demanded the resignation of the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, from the Union Cabinet on moral grounds and also accused the Vajpayee government of making attempts to create an "emergency-like"situation in the country to postpone the Lok Sabha elections. Talking to mediapersons here, the BSP vice-president, Ms Mayawati, said Mr Fernandes’ two recent statements on the Kargil issue were not in the national interest. So, it was his moral duty to resign. She said he had been condemned by one and all, including major political parties, for ignoring the national interest. Ms Mayawati alledged that the Vajpayee government was attempting to bring about deterioration in the prevailing conditions in the country to create an "emergency-like" situation for putting off the Lok Sabha poll. She said certain absurd statements, such as those issued by Mr Fernandes, were aimed in that direction. She also said the BJP might make the Kargil issue its poll plank. The BSP vice-president announced that the party would contest all 85 seats on its own in UP in the Lok Sabha poll. However, she declined to disclose how many Lok Sabha seats in the country would be contested by her party. She maintained that a final decision in this regard would be taken next month. Ms Mayawati said her party would not have any alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra had met Mr Kanshi Ram, BSP supremo, a couple of times in connection with seat adjustment, she added. Ms Mayawati said the party had asked the state unit to be ready to contest all seats in Punjab. However, she did not rule out seat adjustment with like-minded parties. The BSP leader
emphasised that her party would not have an alliance with
the Congress, the BJP or regional parties which were led
by "Mannuwadis". |
||
SMO gave false report:
panchayat FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 3 — Members of Bhattmajra panchayat and villagers today submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner demanding action against Mr Jaspal Singh, SMO, Civil Hospital, Fatehgarh Sahib, for making a false medical report against panchayat members and some other villagers. Giving copies of the complaint to mediapersons the village panchayat alleged that no quarrel had taken place in the village but Teja Singh with the connivance of the SMO got admitted into the hospital and made some cuts on his finger and managed to get a medical report in his favour recommending to register a case under section 326, IPC, against certain persons of the village. They alleged that earlier, too, this SMO had been indulging in such acts. They have demanded an inquiry into the incident and constitution of a medical board. The Deputy Commissioner had directed the Civil Surgeon to take the necessary action after investigating the case and to submit a report. When contacted Dr P.L. Goel, Civil Surgeon said a medical board had been constituted consisting of Dr Jujhar Singh Asstt. Civil Surgeon and a senior orthopaedic surgeon to inquire into the medical report. Earlier employees of the
district belonging to the Chandigarh and Punjab Joint
Action Committee headed by Hari Chand convener organised
a protest rally in civil hospital against the alleged
high-handedness of the SMO and alleged that corruption
was rampant in the hospital and the SMO was harassing the
employees unnecessarily. |
||
Mixed response to PRTC strike
call PATIALA, June 3 — The strike call given by four employee unions of the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) today partially affected bus services in the region. Though bus services were not affected at the main bus stand here, at other places the strike evoked a good response. At the main bus stand here, INTUC, CITU, the Karamchari Dal and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes associations held a joint rally. Addressing the rally, CITU Organising Secretary H.S. Kanganwal said in case the genuine demands of the workers, including ending the contract system, were not accepted other unions would be roped in to agitate at the state level. INTUC President Rupinder Pal claimed that the Sangrur, Kapurthala and Faridkot depots had witnessed a complete strike. Gurbaksh Ram of the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Union said 85 per cent of the employees had observed a strike today. Meanwhile, a PRTC press note claimed that the strike was a total failure. It said unions could not attract any response from the workers and the PRTC was able to provide normal services throughout the state. The note said the PRTC offices in the state had recorded over 90 per cent attendance, resulting in normal working of offices and plying of buses. BATHINDA: Various employee unions of PRTC, including CITU, INTUC, Karamchari Dal and SC, BC unions, on Thursday held a strike and burnt the effigy on their management at the local bus stand in protest against the privatisation of the transport sector by the Punjab Government. In a press note issued here, Mr Chander Shekhar, General Secretary, CITU, Punjab, said the employees were fighting against the policy of privatisation of transport sector to protect national interest. He alleged that the Punjab Government was trying to betray the country by selling public sector units to private persons. KAPURTHALA: Pepsu Roadways employees on Thursday held a strike and dharna at the local bus stand in support of their demands. They were demanding ban on contract system, payment of arrears and release of bonus for 1996-97. Employees Gurmeet Singh, Resham Singh and Rakesh Kumar claimed that 80 per cent of the bus services on different routes had been affected due to the strike. However, Pepsu Roadways
General Manager H.S. Dhillon claimed that more than 60
per cent buses plied as usual. |
||
Field duty for Ropar SSP on EC
directive JALANDHAR, June 3 — The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, bowing before the directives of the Election Commission said here yesterday the SSP, Ropar, Mr Jaskaran Singh, shall be shifted to non-field duty soon. The Election Commission has taken action against Mr Jaskaran Singh in response to a formal complaint filed by the general secretary of the Congress party, Mr Bir Divender Singh. Mr Bir Devinder Singh, who was an election agent of Mr Kamaljit Singh Lali, MLA from Adampur, had objected to Mr Jaskaran Singh's entry into the counting hall at the time of counting for the Adampur by-election. Taking action against Mr Jaskaran Singh, who was at that time SP (CID) here, the Returning Officer, Ms Sarojani Gautam Sharda, had, made Mr Jaskaran Singh wait in the adjoining room till the declaration of the result. The Election Commission had directed that its "displeasure" should be recorded in the annual confidential report (ACR), of the Mr Jaskaran Singh and asked for a non-field posting for him. Ironically, the
Returning Officer has been posted on a non-cadre post by
the state government even though she has put in 18 years
in the PCS cadre. Incidentally, she had earned the wrath
of the SAD-BJP government as she overruled the request of
the SAD-BJP candidate, Mr Dalbir Singh Dhirowal, for
recounting. The Congress had captured this seat after 32
years with a wafer thin margin of five votes. |
||
Govt decision challenged CHANDIGARH, June 3 — Former Advocate-General of Punjab G.S. Grewal today filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court questioning the decision of the Punjab Government to deny him fee for the period he functioned as Advocate-General and seeking refund of the fee paid to him earlier. Mr Justice G.S. Singvi and Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill, who constituted the Bench and heard the petition, issued a notice to the Punjab Government for August 30. Mr Grewal stated that he was Advocate-General of Punjab from October, 1985 to May, 1987, when Mr Surjit Singh Barnala was Chief Minister. He was again appointment Advocate-General when Mr Parkash Singh Badal took over the reins in February, 1997, and held the position until October 5, 1998, when he resigned. The former Advocate-General stated he represented Punjab before the Eradi Commission set up by the Union Government for settling the River waters dispute between Punjab and Haryana as also before the Supreme Court. He told the court that he sent a bill of Rs 4.55 lakh which included his fee for appearing before the commission and the Supreme Court on several hearings, including holding conferences with senior advocates in Delhi. Sometime later he submitted another bill for Rs 1.75 lakh for hearing before the Eradi Commission and the Supreme Court. During his second term as Advocate-General, Mr Grewal defended the state in a large number of panchayat election cases. A Division Bench heard each petition and disposed of the same accordingly. The petitioner sent a bill of Rs 2.36 lakh for these cases to the government. He stated that after he resigned, the government passed an order saying he was never engaged for appearing before the Eradi Commission. Therefore, his fee could not be granted. A few days later, he received a notice from the government saying that the fee of Rs 2.27 lakh already paid to him for appearing before the Eradi Commission "was a mistake and the same needed to be refunded." Mr Grewal quoted a letter the Secretary, Irrigation, wrote to him on December 12, 1997, saying that none else except Mr Grewal would coordinate with the senior counsel at Delhi and the Finance Department had been asked to sanction fee to the petitioner. The petitioner learnt
three days after his resignation, that he was "never
engaged to appear before the Eradi Commission and the fee
already paid to him required to be refunded." |
||
Bhattal’s going to dharna venue
wrong PATIALA, June 3 — In a new turn to the ongoing controversy involving a case registered against former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal at Nabha, Pradesh Congress General Secretary Ramesh Singla today said it was wrong on the part of Mrs Bhattal to visit the dharna venue on May 27 without taking any city Congress leader into confidence. Talking to The Tribune Mr Singla, who belongs to Nabha from where he has been a legislator earlier, said there was no need for Mrs Bhattal to go to register a protest against the murder of businessman Bant Ram Goel as the latter was not a Congress man and was involved in several court cases involving money. Moreover, Mr Singla said, there was no need for Mrs Bhattal to court arrest on the issue as the murder of Mr Bant Ram Goel seemed to be the result of some friction in the family. He said everyone knew that Mr Bant Ram had a dispute with his son and was living separately. He said he met Dig Sanjeev Gupta in this regard today and urged him to investigate this angle also. However, Mr Singla said Mr Bhattal did not incite the mob and had gone there as a sympathiser only. He said it would have been better if she had consulted the block president, him or Mrs Satinder Kaur Nabha, before going to the dharna organised by traders to protest against alleged police inaction in the case of murder of Mr Goel. He said he was against harassment to Congress leaders and false cases being registered against them. "However as this case does not concern the party and appears to be a family quarrel the Congress party should not make it an issue", he added. Mr Singla also urged the
police to investigate the case quickly. He said it should
be ensured that persons were not harassed while adding
that Mashoor Singh and Gurnam Singh, the brothers who had
been named as accused by members, of the family, were
still in police custody after having been picked up more
than one week back. |
||
Mild lathi charge at Hans Raj
show SAS NAGAR, June 3 — Despite the badly organised show, a large number of music lovers turned up to hear Hans Raj Hans belt out numbers here this evening. The show left many people complaining about the arrangements. The police had to resort to a mild lathi charge to control those who wanted to enter the venue at the Phase VIII Dasehra ground. Many holding passes were prevented from entering by the police. Press photographer T.S. Bedi of Ajit was threatened by policemen when he tried to click them wielding lathis. Hans Raj Hans, who came about hour-and-a-half late around 8.30 p.m., started with Shiv Kumar Batalvi's kalaam "Suniyon ve kalamn waliyo, suniyon ve hunran waliyo...." The singer then presented "Khali dil nahin jaan vee eh mangda, ishq di gali whichon koi koi langda" and "Mainu ki manauna si, aap rus chaliyon." With the song "jindua" a dholi joined in. The well known singer, clad in a red jacket and black jeans, also presented "Aaja nachiye ni shawa nachiye" and "Ik tara wajda ki kainda...." The event was organised by OGR Events Pvt Ltd. When Mr B.S. Randhawa, SP, was asked about the police behaviour, he said no barricades had been erected by the event organisers and it was necessary to resort to a mild lathi charge. He said no permission should have been given by the authorities to hold the show here. When mediaperson asked
the SDM, Mr O.P. Popli, about the poor arrangement, he
gave no answer. |
||
Contempt notice to DGP, SSP of
Patiala CHANDIGARH, June 3 — Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a notice under the Contempt of Court Act for August 8,1999, to the DGP, Punjab, and SSP, Patiala and others on a petition filed by Mr Puran Singh, a resident of Samana, Patiala. The petitioner contended that he owned 236 kanals. A civil court decree and a stay from the High Court on the ownership was with him. He alleged that Mr Kulwant Singh and Mr Dalip Singh, who belonged to the Akali Dal (Badal) faction, in connivance with the police, were harassing him and wanted to grab this land because he belonged to the Tohra group. The High Court vide
order dated March 31, 1999 had directed the DGP (Punjab)
to decide on a representation seeking security to the
petitioner within two weeks, but the latter in spite of
the directions, did not comply with the same. The High
Court again vide order dated April 27, 1999, directed the
SSP, Patiala, to decide on the matter within two weeks.
But this order, too, had not been complied with, the
petitioner alleged. |
||
Ludhiana man wins World Cup
ticket LUDHIANA, June 3 — Mr Jatinder Singh an excise officer with a private firm here, is one of the 11 lucky winners of the World Cup bonanza organised by Max Page in all their licensed cities throughout India to watch the World Cup finals in England at the expense of the company. The winner gets a free
ticket to London with three days and three nights stay
and ticket to watch the World Cup finals at the Lords,
UK. |
||
Human rights activist's book
released CHANDIGARH, June 3 — Justice Kuldeep Singh (retd) released a book entitled, "Politics of Genocide-Punjab 1984-1998" authored by a human rights activist, Inderjit Singh Jaijee at a function here this morning. Justice Kuldeep Singh said there was a trend to sweep the human rights violations under the carpet by the state. There should be debate on such issues and all, including the police officers, bureaucrats, politicians and others, should to have a proper view of the violations. Justice Kuldeep Singh said he had given a well-documented cases of 3000 disappearances to the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, in August last year but he had done nothing to get these investigated. Asked about the fate of the peoples' commission, Justice Kuldeep Singh said the matter was pending in court. Jaijee said the book
authored by him examined the effect of nearly two decades
of violence on the institutions of civil society and the
rights of individuals. A section on Operation Bluestar
was based on interaction with military commanders and
police and bureaucrats who were privy to the plan, police
and media observers and those who were inside the Golden
Temple. |
||
Kikkar trees dry up
mysteriously MOGA, June 3 — The Public Works Department is understood to have asked Punjab Agriculture University and experts to immediately hold an inquiry into the drying up of several thousand kikkar trees in the four districts of the region, including Moga, Muktsar, Ferozepore and Faridkot, during the past about six months. It is reported that several thousand such trees in the region valued at several crores of rupees have not only turned black but have also dried up with not a single green leaf left on them. These trees, standing in rows on almost all canal banks, banks of drains and also on both sides of the roads leading to Ludhiana, Ferozepore, Moga, Jalandhar and on all link roads in these districts have dried up due to some mysterious disease. PWD officials said they
feared that other trees too would be damaged if attention
was not given. This would result in a loss of crores of
rupees to the government as well as the farmers in whose
fields these trees stand. The officials of the department
have, therefore, asked the experts to look into the
matter immediately so that further loss to the green
wealth could be averted. |
||
DTOs ‘forcibly
impound’ vehicles GURDASPUR, June 3 — Private vehicles in Amritsar and Gurdaspur went off the road as the district transport officers of both districts and their staff were seen "forcibly impounding" vehicles in view of the proposed rally of the Shiromani Akali Dal to be organised at Attari on June 5. The rally will be
addressed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, and
other senior Akali leaders. |
||
Akali leaders to meet on June
8 LUDHIANA, June 3 — The convener of the Youth Akali Dal, Mr Karnail Singh Panjoli, Thekedar Harjinder Singh Latti, Mr Gurwinder Singh, Mr Amarinder Singh Mr Randhir Singh Rakhra, all supporters of Mr G.S. Tohra, have called a meeting of district presidents, senior leaders and Youth Akali Dal workers at Gurdwara Alamgir on June 8. While issuing a
statement to the Press here today, Thekedar Harjinder
Singh said the meeting would discuss the formation of a
new organising committee. After the panel was given
formal shape, they would make an announcement in this
regard on June 10. |
||
Sharif’s effigy burnt LUDHIANA, June 3 — Workers of the local Youth Congress unit, led by Mr Pawan Diwan, president of the Ludhiana Youth Congress (Urban), took out a protest march against Pakistan for sending armed infiltrators in to Kargil and also burnt an effigy of the Pakistani Premier, Mr Nawaz Sharif, at Haibowal today. Mr Diwan said they were
ready to make any sacrifice for protecting the borders of
the country. |
||
Cop among 5 hurt in clash AMRITSAR, June 3 (UNI) — Five persons, including a Punjab police jawan, were injured in a minor clash at Beas Railway Station last night. A police report here today said the incident took place when a group of passengers who wanted to board the Amritsar-Hardwar train were prevented from doing so by the General Railway Police Force (GRPF) jawans when it halted at Beas station. The passengers on the railway platform hurled stones at the GRPF jawans, which resulted in a minor scuffle and a shot was also fired by the security personnel. Those injured included
Krishanan Lal, a Punjab Police Constable attached with
the GRPF, Pardeep Kumar, Sushil Kumar, Rajinder Singh and
Pehlwan Singh. |
||
Patwaris hold dharna FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 3 — The pen-down strike by members of Revenue Patwaris Union entered its third day today. They organised a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office today. Addressing the dharna, Mr Gurmail Singh, state president of the association criticised the "dictatorial" attitude of the government. He said the agitation would be intensified. Mr Baljit Singh, president Kanoongo Association, Mr Gurdarshan Singh, general secretary, also addressed the dharna. KAPURTHALA (UNI): The indefinite strike by the revenue patwaris entered the third day here today in support of their demands. They held a dharna in the tehsil complex. The patwaris were demanding pay scale of Rs 5480-8925, promotional scales after four, nine and 14 years of service and their categorisation as technical service. The patwaris said that
the strike would continue till their demands were
accepted. |
||
Ex-VC's remarks draw flak PATIALA, June 3 — Presidents of the Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA) and the Non-Teaching Employees Unions as well as the Sikh Intelligentsia Forum yesterday condemned a former Vice-Chancellor, Dr J.S. Puar, for casting undue aspersions on the faculty of the university. PUTA President S.S. Khaira, while condemning Dr Puar's remarks, reminded the public that the section of the university that had been criticised by Dr Puar because it exposed his financial and academic misdeeds, had been respected by faculty of the university by electing its candidates as presidents of the association year after year. Non-teaching employees
union President, Dr Charanjit Kaur demanded that the
Punjab Government must immediately act on the vigilance
inquiry against the former Vice-Chancellor. |
||
Amarnath Yatra board members call
on CM LUDHIANA, June 3 — A delegation of the Shri Amarnath Yatra Welfare Board went to meet the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mr Farooq Abdullah, to request him to make adequate arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra near Kashmir from July 24 to August 28. Mr Rajinder Sharma, a
member of this delegation, informed that they had
submitted a memorandum seeking proper shelter on the
route to the holy cave, adequate arrangements for
langars, medical facilities, drinking water, toilets etc. |
||
Suspend police officer: DCC PATIALA, June 3 — District Congress Committee and District Youth Congress (Urban) have demanded suspension of Mr Gurdeep Singh Riar, Commandant, Indian Reserve Battalion, for allegedly beating a student Amrinder Singh Bedi at the Thapar Institute of Technology on May 30. Mr Ved Parkash Gupta and Mr Sanjeet Sharma, said even though four days had passed yet no action had been taken against the police officer. The leaders said the
student who had gone to the institute for taking the CET
examination was beaten so brutally that he could not sit
in the paper. He was admitted to Rajindra Hospital in an
unconscious state. |
||
Bank staff stir suspended CHANDIGARH, June 3 — The Land Mortgage Banks Employees' Union today suspended its agitation till June 10 following the managements of the banks extending an invitation to the union to discuss the demands on June 10. Mr Hardev Singh Harpalpur, a spokesman of the union, said here in a statement today that the management today revoked the suspension order of the union president, Mr Baljinder Singh Chandumajra, a close relative of Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, who was suspended a few days ago. To protest against the suspension and with regard to other demands, the union had organised a dharna here this morning in front of the bank's head office. Representatives of other
employees' unions including Markfed and Mandi Board took
part in the dharna. |
||
College teachers meet education
Secy CHANDIGARH, June 3 — A deputation of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union which met the Punjab Education Secretary, Mr G.P.S. Sahi, said here today that the government had agreed to implement the revised pay scales from January 1, 1996, at the earliest. The government assured
the deputationists that the pension and gratuity scheme
along with the amendment in the Security of Service Act
would be finalised by the end of the month. Following
this a corpus fund would be created and the process of
disbursement would be initiated. |
||
Constofed workers meet minister CHANDIGARH, June 3 — The Constofed Punjab Workers' Union said here today that the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Punjab, had told a deputation of the union that case as regards the merger of Constofed with Markfed was lying with the Punjab Government. Union members met the
Registrar and the Punjab Cooperation minister to request
them to expedite the process of merger. |
||
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||
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