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| Sunday,
November 4, 2001,
Chandigarh, India
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Ghanta Ghar’s dignity at stake Ludhiana, November 3 Along the GT Road portion of the fence encircling the historical monument, there are pavement sellers who sell pouches of spices, rings and bead-strings, handkerchiefs, stickers, bindis and so on and so forth. Just where this pavement market ends, starts the encroachment by autorickshaw drivers who, inspite of a proper parking lot allotted to them, choose to congest the place. And taking advantage of the screen provided by these parked autorickshaws along the fence, people , unmindful of defacing the historical monument relieve their bladders against the fence right at the base of the century-old building. Never has the monument witnessed such ugly times before. A first-time visitor to the city would certainly wonder if it was the same Ghanta Ghar of which he had heard. A little further, towards the Katchehri road, the fence around the city’s icon houses a couple of barbers who fix their mirrors on the fence itself. The whole of open cemented place between the fence and the auto-stand which should remain open for pedestrians has been occupied by encroachments. Next to the barbers, there are a number of rehris selling puris, samosas and stuff like that. Under the peepal tree along the auto-stand, there is a tea shop, in front of which is a huge wooden ‘takhatposh’ kept there by the autodrivers for their comfort. But more than the auto-drivers the ‘takhatposh’ is used by customers wanting to having tea , idlers and lottery addicts who visit the adjacent lottery market everyday. Some of these guys, who are really uncouth, also use the place for going high on bhang smoke. The tea stall is their favourite haunt because it provides an ideal cover for their questionable activities. Then there are a whole lot of vagabonds and rag pickers who squat here and there all over the place. Men, women and children, all of them pick up discarded lottery tickets and try to match the numbers with the various lottery results published in the newspapers. There seems to be no dearth of careless and ignorant lottery addicts in the city. Even if they do not find a winning combination among the rubble of discarded tickets, they are sure of getting some money for the same from a raddiwala. Considerable vacant space on the lot adjoining the Ghanta Ghar fence towards the market has been literally converted into a garbage collection centre, which remains uncleaned for weeks on. The root-cause of this slushy mess is a small cubicle type of a hotel which uses the thoroughfare for cleaning the utensils and throwing away the wastes. All this makes the place too congested to pass through on foot. According to police sources, Mr. H.S.Sidhu, the SSP, in order to ease traffic congestion in the city, has asked all Thanedars to book under the law as many people as possible who they think might be putting up obstruction of any kind in the traffic. |
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PAU expels student for misbehaving Ludhiana, November 3 The Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering, Dr H.S. Sekhon, signed the orders of expelling him for two years from the university. Harpreet Singh Saran, a student of M.Tech and a resident of hostel number 5, has been expelled from the department following the recommendations of the disciplinary action committee of the COAE. The committee headed by Dr S.K. Sondhi, a professor of COAE had, yesterday recommended that stringent action should be taken against the student concerned as he had manhandled a teacher, hurt his religious sentiments and had trespassed into the VC’s residence. The committee had suggested that he should be expelled from the university immediately. The inquiry committee had suggested action against the student on the grounds that he had allegedly hurt the religious sentiments of the professor, had assaulted him and had trespassed into the VC’s residence. As per the inquiry report, the incident had taken place after midnight on October 28 when the student allegedly manhandled Dr U.S. Tiwana, a teacher of the Department of Agronomy, when he was attending the wedding of the son of a PAUTA functionary in Sukhdev Singh Bhawan. After misbehaving with the teacher he had fled from the spot. The teacher was reportedly injured after the incident. The inquiry committee has further revealed that after the student ran from the Sukhdev Singh Bhavan, he somehow slipped into the house of the VC through the main gate as it is very near to the bhavan. He had tried to escape from the VC’s house and was injured after he was stuck up in the barbed wires fixed on the boundary wall of the house. Then he was spotted by the security guards of the VC. He had sustained injuries and was hospitalised. The guards had then left him in his hostel the same day. Sources told The Tribune that the university had not come to know about the whole incident till the professor who was allegedly manhandled had complained to the Vice-Chancellor. The Vice-Chancellor had then directed the Director, Students Welfare, to initiate an inquiry into the case. |
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Are officials aware of illegal sand mining? Ludhiana, November 3 While insiders reveal that nothing is unknown, the district administration has expressed ignorance of any such activity. In fact investigation reveals that illegal quarrying of sand is just a part of a larger scandal involving the notorious land mafia that allegedly functions with the help of the police, politicians and officials of the Revenue Department and the district administration. The illegal activity can be witnessed at villages like Mangat, Noorwale and urban areas in Tajpur and Haibowal area. At a long stretch of government land near the jail the activity is on a high pitch. An official of the administration, preferring anonymity, confirmed to Ludhiana Tribune that sand mining was on in parts of land shown in revenue records to be government land. It is called a ‘double profit activity’. First, the mafia forcibly starts sand minig from government land as well as government land occupied by some person. The activity is carried on either with the active consent of the person occupying the land or he is forced to participate on the basis of a fixed share. The share may vary according to the price of the sand or the influence of the man possessing the land. According to informed sources, the man illegally possessing the land is not allowed to do sand mining by the mafia and the contractors. He has to do it with the approval of the mafia and can be given a share of 25 to 50 paise. Secondly, the mafia arranges illegal selling of the government land and makes a huge profits. Due to this ‘double profit scheme’
occurring in a span of few years, a number of unauthorised colonies have sprung up in the city. Most of these colonies are ravaged with floods during monsoons. A number of colonies near the Central Jail, Jalandhar
bypass, Tibba road, Tajpur road and Haibowal Kalan situated in unnatural low-lying areas are a testimony to the illegal activity. One of the most befitting example of the ‘double profit scheme’ is the multi-crore Kullewal land scandal. The over 100-acres of land owned by the provincial government was first used for illegal sand mining and then sold to thousands of persons, who have only recently known about their illegal holding of the land. Inquiries revealed that with over lakhs of sand sold from one acre of land only, the profitable business is attracting a number of anti-social elements enjoying political patronage into the land mafia racket. The stakes have gone so high that the licence fee for legal sand mining contract awarded recently had doubled the previous price. Mr S.R. Kaler, ADC, when contacted for comments expressed
surprise at any such activity. He said it was not in his knowledge and he would get it checked immediately. It may be mentioned here that the Sand Mining Act says that no persons can indulge in sand mining from government land, free or occupied, MC land, Shamlat land, provincial government land or Central Government land. Only officially-allotted land for such purpose by the government can be used. |
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MC warning on encroachments Ludhiana, November 3 Addressing a meeting of representatives of a large number of religious, social, political, commercial and industrial organisations, convened here, the MC Commissioner, Mr R.L. Kalsia, sought public cooperation in sorting out various civic problems being faced by the city residents. The participants in the meeting expressed their views about cleanliness, beautification, traffic woes, alarming level of pollution and menace of encroachments in commercial and residential areas of the city. Mr Kalsia said he would try his level best to come up to the expectations of residents and speed up all-round development of the city as far as the available financial resources permitted. Mr Kalsia further said the residents ought to contribute towards solution of civic problems like insanitation and increasing noise and air pollution. ‘‘If the citizens lend a helping hand, we can tackle 80 per cent of these problems and the time and energy thus saved by the MC, can be put to a better use in pursuing other developmental activities.’’ The MC Additional Commissioner, Mr Raminder Singh, said the civic administration would continue to interact with members of public at regular intervals to seek their views and suggestions to make the city a better place to live in. Prominent among those present at the meeting were Mr Ajit Singh Kular, Mr N.S. Nanda, Mr Vinod Thapar, Mr Tulsi Das Jaitwani, Mr Vijay Danav, Maj Sher Singh Aulakh, Mr Surinder Dawar, Mr Gurdeep Singh, Mr Gurcharan Singh, Dr Ravinder Singh, Dr Deepinder Singh, Mr Rajneesh Ahuja and Mr Jagdish Bajaj. |
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Cops ‘forge’ vehicle number Jagraon, November 3 The complainant and some of his colleagues were on a tour to Mussoorie in a mini bus (PB-04-F-9974). As the bus reached near a marriage palace on the Moga-Jagraon GT Road, a speeding truck (HR-37-3099) coming from Ludhiana hit it. Chand Singh, driver of the bus, died before they could reach the civil hospital and the driver of the truck fled from the spot. Photographs of the accident site and the truck (HR-37-3099) that belonged to Deol Road Carrier of Mullanpur (Dakha) were taken. An application for the ‘superdari’ of the truck was moved by the transport company through Mr R.S. Deol, in which, the truck was shown to have the registration number HR-37-A-9937. Reportedly, Mr Sanjiv Kumar, Assistant Sub Inspector, also wrote this in his report. Later, a no-objection was sought and the truck was released on ‘superdari’ after the transporter gave a surety of Rs 3 lakh. |
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10-year RI
for possessing poppy husk Ludhiana, November 3 Delivering the verdict, the judge held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charges beyond doubt against the accused for possessing 50 bags of 40 kg each of poppy husk. In view of the fact that narcotics and pyschotropic substances are eating through not only the present generation of the country but also pose a great risk to the generations to come and threaten to weaken the very basis of this country by making its youth hooked to intoxicants, the accused deserve no leniency, observed the Judge. According to the prosecution, on July 28,1994, the police, on a tip-off apprehended the accused persons near Malikpur village, when they were carrying poppy husk in a truck. |
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Man gets
10-yr RI for murder Ludhiana, November 3 Mr Justice A.K. Sharma, Additional Sessions Judge of Ludhiana, however acquitted Birbal of Ahata Sher Jang in this case, as charges against him could not be proved. Another accused, Ashok Kumar (44) of Gita Colony on the Tajpur Road, has received a 2-year imprisonment under Section 324 of the IPC only. The murder charge on him could not be proved. On January 10, 1997, Mulla, Ashok Kumar, Chunni Lal (now dead), Birbal and Raju were gambling at Kesar Ganj. Raju won and, when he was leaving, the others sought money from him for buying liquor. When Raju refused, Chunni Lal and Ashok caught him, while Mulla stabbed him in the abdomen, the chest, the heart, the neck and on the head. When Vijay Kumar, who, later, lodged the complaint, tried to intervene, he, too, was assaulted. Raju died on the spot. |
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CM to inaugurate Valmiki Bhavan today Ludhiana, November 3 The four-storeyed building, which has been constructed in a record time at a cost of Rs 76.61 lakh on a 9006 square feet piece of land, has a meditation hall, an auditorium, a spacious hall on second floor and a library-cum-reading room and a committee room with office on third floor. A generator has also been provided at the building at a cost of Rs 2.5 lakh. According to Mr Vijay Danav, national joint secretary of Bhartiya Valmiki Dharam Samaj (BVDS) who has been closely associated with the construction of the building, the ‘Valmiki Bhavan’ would be a hub of social and cultural activities in the city and the library, being set up here, would have a wide range of religious books. He said the BVDS activists were mobilising the people for the state-level function here on Sunday. Besides Mr Badal, other dignitaries expected to participate in the function were Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Union Minister for Fertiliser and Chemicals, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, Punjab, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Agriculture Minister, Punjab, Mr Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Social Welfare Minister, Punjab, Mr Natha Singh Dalam, Public Relations Minister, Punjab, Mr Tota Singh, Education Minister, Punjab, Mr Sat Pal Gosain, Deputy Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha and Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, President, Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee. |
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Photo sessions for Ludhiana East voters to continue Ludhiana, November 3 On November 4, photography sessions would be held for voters of polling station Nos 21, 22, 25, 28 and 29 at Khalsa National High School, Ludhiana, for polling station Nos 23, 24, 26 and 27 at Sargodha Model School, Ludhiana, for polling station Nos 30 to 34 at Government Primary School No 1, Near Mittar Sabha Janj Ghar, and for polling station Nos 35 to 38 at R.V. Primary School, Ganda Nala, Ludhiana. On November 5, photography sessions would continue for electorate of polling station Nos 39 to 43 at Krishan Model School, Kidwai Nagar, Ludhiana, for polling station Nos 44, 45, 51 to 53 at Dharamshala Kusht Ashram, Prem Nagar, for polling station Nos 46 to 50 at Mahaveer Vidyalaya, Islam Ganj and for polling station Nos 54 to 57 at Akhil Bharti Mochi Sabha Dharamshala, Prem Nagar, Ludhiana. |
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3 booked for eve-teasing Ludhiana, November 3 The Division Number Six police, yesterday, registered a case against a man called Bhagotti and an unidentified person, both residents of Ambedkar Nagar, under Sections 452 and 506 of the the IPC, on the complaint of Ms Nirmla Devi of the same locality. The complainant had said that these men had entered her house on October 31, passed vulgar comments and threatened her. The case was registered on the instructions of the Senior Superintendent of Police. However, no arrest has been made, so far, in this case. The other case of eve-teasing was also registered at the same police station under Section 354 of the IPC on the statement of Ms Balwinder Kaur, a resident of Dholweal here, against Satnam Singh, a resident of the same locality. Ms Balwinder alleged that the accused had passed vulgar comments at her and she had had to raise an alarm to save herself. No arrest has been made, so far, in this case as well. Dowry cases: The Sadar police registered two cases of harassment for dowry here yesterday. In the first case registered under Sections 406 and 498-A of the IPC, Ms Sanita, wife of Mr Vinay Kumar, daughter of Mr Pashori Lal, resident of Subhash Nagar of Salem Tabri, told the police that Vinay Kumar, son of Khretti Lal (her father-in-law), Shanti Devi (her mother-in-law), Ramesh Kumar (her brother-in-law) and Mamta Rani, wife of Ramesh Kumar, all residents of Basti Gobind Nagar of Moga, were demanding more dowry from her. However, no arrest has been made, so far, in this case. The other case of harassment for dowry was registered under Sections 406, 498-A , 120-B and 34 of the IPC on the application of Ms Devinder Kaur, daughter of Mr Bhajan Singh, resident of New Shiv Puri in Santokh Nagar. The case has been registered on the orders of the Senior Superintendent of Police against the woman’s husband, Gurvinder Singh, Sudagar Singh (her father-in-law), Balwinder Kaur (her mother-in-law), Kamaljit Kaur (sister- in-law), wife of Gurjit Singh, and Gurjit Singh, residents of Jandiala village. The complainant said the accused were demanding more dowry and harassing her for this purpose. No arrest has been made, so far, in this case as well. Man assaulted: The Sahnewal police has registered a case under Sections 341 and 323 of the IPC on the statement of Mr. Harbans Singh, resident of Upplan village, against Kamalprit Singh, resident of the same village. Harbans said he had been going on his scooter when the accused had stopped him and beat him on Friday. After Harbans was injured in the attack, Kamalprit ran away from the spot. No arrest has been made so far. Jagraon According to the complainant he was working in his fields when Malkit Singh, alias Kit, who is working with Gurdish Singh, came to meet Gurdish Singh and started fiddling with the dividing line of the fields. The complainant told him not to divert the earth in his field. On hearing this Gurdish Singh started abusing him. The complainant said he informed his his father Bakhtawar Singh about the incident and went back to his fields. According to the complainant when he reached near his workshop then Gurdish Singh, who was hiding in a maize field, fired 2 shots at him from his licensed gun with an intention to kill him but he escaped. Gurdish Singh the fled from the site. 3 booked in fraud case: The police has registered a case against Om Parkash, Krishna Devi, Virinder Kumar Bansal, alias Vicky, uncle, aunty and cousin of the complainant Anju Bala, resident of Guru Aang Colony, under Sections 364, 419, 467, 468, 471, IPC. The complainant has accused all of them of killing her father Purshotam Lal. She alleged that her father had struck a deal with Madan Mohan and Satpal for the purchase of their shop no. 159 in old Grain Market on August 19, 1999 and paid Rs 30,000 as earnest money and fixed December 12, 1999 as date for registration of the sale deed. The complainant, who has no other sister or brother, alleged the accused made her father disappear. And then they got the shop transferred in name of Ms Krishna Devi and she further agreed to sell the shop to Purshotam Lal for Rs 32,00,000. The complainant alleged that her father had been murdered by the above said accused after committing conspiracy. I held in rape case: The local police has arrested Balbir Singh of Kaunke Khosa for raping a woman after entering her house on the intervening night of October 27 and 28, 2001. A case was registered under Section 376, IPC, against the accused on October 28. I booked for rape bid: The Raikot police has registered a case under Sections 376, 511, IPC, against Dharam Pal of Pakhowal village on a complaint of Ms Jasvir Kaur of the same village. The complainant who is employed as a teacher in the Government School, Pakhowal, said she was going to deliver milk to a dairy when the accused forcibly dragged her into his house and attempted to rape her, the accused bit on the cheeks and also hit her. He escaped when her relatives came to rescue her on hearing her cries, she added. |
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2 brothers booked for duping industrialist Ludhiana, November 3 According to the FIR, Sunil Sood and Anil Sood have been booked by the police under Sections 381, 420, 120-B, 467 and 468, IPC, on a complaint by Mr Kamal Sahni owner of K D Buildcon Ltd. According to him, the accused Anil Sood was working with him as his chartered accountant. The buildcon company was closed down in 1996 but he had other firms in the city. The chartered accountant was looking after his business in the city, while he managed his business units in Delhi. Mr Sahni alleged that a number of cheques of the buildcon company were kept in a safe here which were stolen by Anil Sood and allegedly encashed in the name of Indu Hosiery, a company owned by his brother. According to the complainant, the brothers owed money to some bank and paid the amount through his cheques. |
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Murder accused
held Ahmedgarh, November 3 Mr Chanra Singh, SHO, PS Payal, arrested Nachattar Singh who had stabbed members of a family at Ber Kalan village and Surjit Kaur (60) had died on the spot. He was reportedly enraged over the family’s objection to his business in animal hides. Mr Amarjit Singh (deceased’s son) and his wife, Jaswinder Kaur, suffered injuries along with Bikar Singh, another neighbour. |
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Cable union refutes charges Ludhiana, November 3 In a press note issued here today, the president of the association, Mr Raman Maini, has claimed that the NLCOA has been registered with the Registrar of Societies on September 26, 2001, for looking after the interest of small cable operators and looking after their interest. |
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Export body hails benefits for knitwear industry Ludhiana, November 3 In a statement here yesterday, the WWEPC Chairman, Mr Ashok Jaidka, said the DEPB benefits were being denied to the member-exporters of the council even on account of small embroidery on woollen products and acrylic knitwear, which was being done to enhance the look of the products at the instance of the foreign buyers. The exporters were being harassed at the hands of custom officials due to the ambiguity and were denied DEPB benefits altogether. The WWEPC, he added, had impressed upon the Ministry of Textiles and office of the DGFT to allow DEPB benefits for all wool and wool-blended items and acrylic knitwear with or without embroidery after fixation of a value cap. With the support of the Ministry of Textiles and the office of the Textile Commissioner, the demand put forth by the council had been considered favourable and public notice, allowing DEPB benefits for woollen textiles and acrylic knitwear with or without embroidery, had been issued. With this, a long outstanding demand of the industry and exporting members of the WWEPC had been accepted. |
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