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SGPC poll: border with Haryana, Rajasthan sealed Muktsar, July 10 The border belt falls under the jurisdiction of Lambi police station of Muktsar district. A DSP of the area told The Tribune that the police personnel deployed on these four nakas had been issued special instructions to be vigilant against the anti-social elements. The police personnel have also been directed to keep an eye on smugglers of poppy husk and other banned substances. The police officer further said paramilitary forces had laid nakas in the border belt during recently held Lok Sabha elections to avoid any movement of anti-social elements. Further, as many as 22 patrolling parties have been set up in the entire district for peaceful SGPC polling. The SAD has already won three of the total six seats of the district unopposed. They are -Navtej Singh Kauni (from Doda general), late Punjab minister Sujjan Singh’s wife Mukhtiar Kaur (from Doda SC) and Manjeet Kaur Chrewan (from Muktsar women reserved seat). However, close contest is expected on two seats of Malout and
Muktsar (general) where Dayal Singh Kolianwali and Sarup Singh Sibia are re-trying their luck on SAD ticket, whereas Panthic Morcha candidates Jaswant Singh Ramnagar and Gurdev Singh Lubanowali, respectively, are giving a tough fight to them. In the Gidderbaha seat, sitting SGPC member and SAD candidate Gurpal Singh Gora is reportedly much ahead than his Panthic Morcha candidate Mahan Singh
Karaiwala. |
Govt exposed on poll
security issue Chandigarh, July 10 It may sound incredible, but it is true. The Commission, after identifying sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling stations in the state, requested the government to ensure the deployment of paramilitary forces during the SGPC polls. In fact, a letter was written in this regard by the Commission on May 24 to Punjab Chief Secretary and authorities concerned in the Central government. But no reply was received. Apprehending law and order problem in the state during the elections, the Commission took up the matter with the Centre. But it was verbally told in no uncertain terms that "law and order situation was a state subject". It was told to approach the state government for necessary action, once again. The Commission reiterated its demand for the deployment of para military forces in the state for ensuring "free and fair" polls. A letter in this regard was shot of to the Chief Secretary and Punjab Government's Home Department on July 7. This time the Commission was not forced to wait for long. On July 9, the Home Secretary told the Commission that arrangements for the deployment of forces could not be made due to lack of time. The development is significant as in Punjab alone there are 2157 sensitive, and 203 hyper-sensitive, polling stations. Majority of such stations are in Amritsar constituency. In Haryana, the number of such stations is much less. There are just 118 sensitive, and 23 hyper sensitive, polling stations. As of now, the Punjab Police has decided to deploy 37,222 personnel for maintaining law and order in the state during the elections. In addition, regular patrolling would also be undertaken. In Haryana, 1,942 personnel would be deployed while in Chandigarh 108 cops would remain on election duty. Expressing dissatisfaction with the security arrangements in Punjab, Chief Commissioner of Gurdwara Elections Justice J.S. Sekhon said, "In most of the polling stations either Head Constables, or else Assistant Sub Inspectors, were the seniormost police officers". Giving an example, Justice Sekhon said in Mansa, head constables were supervising security arrangements in almost all the stations while the presence of gazetted officers was a must in sensitive and hyper sensitive polling stations. |
12 booths declared sensitive for SGPC poll Mohali, July 10 The SDM-cum-Returning Officer, Mr
M.L. Sharma, said today that the necessary poll material had been provided to the staff. Ten poll supervisors had been asked to keep vigil in the area till the counting of votes was over at the polling booths. He said the results would be declared on July 12. The police has also deployed about 300 police personnel on duty during the election. Extra force has been put on duty at the sensitive booths. The polling and patrolling staff has been asked to remain in touch with the headquarters. The booths that have declared sensitive are located at Shivalik Public School, Phase VI, old PUDA building, Phase 1, Sant Isher Singh Senior Secondary School, Phase VII, government schools in Phases III B 1 and XI, and
Sohana, Saneta, Tangori, Kumbra and Pabhat villages.
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Gill, Bitta on terrorists’ hit list Amritsar, July 10 This has been revealed in confidential reports of the Intelligence Department which has cautioned these VIPs to restrict visits and take precautions. The confidential communications have also been sent to the VIPs wherein the senior Intelligence officials have apprehended that the absconding terrorists may endeavour to revive militancy. Mr Bitta has faced several terrorists’ attacks. First attack on Mr Bitta was on August 15, 1983 when terrorists lobbed a grenade in Baba Sahib Singh Chowk here. He was again attacked on May 5, 1992 when he was a Punjab minister. He was attacked by the Khalistan Commando Force, headed by Paramjit Singh Panjwar, one of the 20 most wanted Indian terrorists taking shelter in Pakistan. Though he was attacked in August 1989 and September 1991 too but the biggest attack was on September 11,1993 outside the office of the Indian Youth Congress in New Delhi. The bomb blast had left 23 dead and 50 injured. Mr Bitta alleged that certain senior Congress leaders of the state and the Centre wanted to harm him and the central government should expose their ‘nefarious designs’. |
Akali leader, son, daughter found murdered Nawanshahr, July 10 Dr Harbhajan Singh had three children from his first
wife, who had died some years ago and two children from his second wife Surinder Kaur, who along with her daughter Amandip Kaur (21) and Mehak and Simer went to Bharta Kalan village, to see her parents yesterday evening. Dr Harbhajan Singh had a chemist shop here near the
Baradari. His neighbour shopkeeper Gurinder Singh said that when the shop of the deceased was not open till 10.30 a.m., he rang him up and his daughter Amandeep, who told she had come to Bharta Kalan village and mobile was with her. Then they tried to contact Dr Harbhajan Singh on his residential phone and mobile phone of his son Rupinder but calls were unanswered. Amandeep Kaur, a daughter of the deceased told that when his father did not reach Bharta Kalan to take them and could not be contacted on phone tension started gripping them.
She, then, gave a call to a neighbour Amarjit Singh at Barnala Kalan village to find out the reality. Amarjit Singh went to the house and found main door of the house open. When he went upstairs he stunned. Mr
M.F.Farooqui, SSP, Mr Navjot Singh Mahil, DSP, Mr Jagtar Singh Kainth,
DSP(D) reached the site for investigation. |
CAT sets aside AG (A&E) Welfare Officer's selection Chandigarh, July 10 The order was passed on a petition filed by Ms Usha Sharma, Senior Accounts Officer in the same office, who was wrongly overlooked for the post. In her petition, Ms Sharma stated that she along with seven other officers, including Mr Kumar, applied for the post when it fell vacant in February, 2003. She has claimed that since she was the seniormost officer among the applicants, she was sure that she would be selected. In fact, while she had been given 'very good' in the past five years in her annual confidential reports (ACR), the selected officer got the same grade only thrice. However, the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) headed by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Member Gurbachan Jagat ignored her claims and selected Mr Kumar. The petitioner also claimed that she was told that she was not selected as she was a female and was left with less time to serve on the post. However, the respondents denied that there was any arbitrariness in the selection. They also asserted that seniority could not be the criterion when the selection was on deputation basis. In the detailed order, a Division Bench of CAT comprising Vice-Chairman Justice O.P. Garg (retd) and Member L.M. Mehta set aside the selection and appointment of Mr Kumar to the post. The Bench also directed the official respondents to convene a review DPC to make fresh selection for the post within three months. The Bench also ordered that the review DPC should not consist of the same members who comprised the earlier
DPC. |
Chatterjee for streamlining House proceedings Amritsar, July 10 Mr Chatterjee, who was the chief guest at the 98th convocation of the 112-year-old Khalsa College here, told The Tribune that he was prepared to conduct proceedings of the House and would sit till to avoid adjournments and allow proper debate on important issues concerning welfare of people and country. The CPM leader and seasoned parliamentarian said that he had urged the members not to disrupt the House proceedings but participate in discussions for strengthening the parliamentary democracy. Mr Chatterjee said that he was planning to allow five supplementary questions for the members from various political parties during the question hour and sought the cooperation of members to make question hour lively. The Lok Sabha Speaker pointed that he would give more opportunity to the young parliamentarians to raise vital issues concerning the country. He said this would help them understand proper functioning of the House and participate through positive suggestions for the betterment of Parliament. Mr Chatterjee said he planned to invite editors of various newspapers and TV news channels for better coverage of parliamentary proceedings as he felt that the frequent boycotts and walk-outs made headlines while the serious debates lose prominence and get lost in inside pages. He felt that it was the duty of all of us to raise important issues both inside and outside Parliament which should catch the attention of the common man and the media can play an important role in projecting the issues raised in the House. Earlier, Mr Chatterjee in his convocation address said that education was the key factor in the transformation of the country and said that he was proud to visit a century-old institution which had glorious past and excellent future. He said that the country was safe in the hands of students of Khalsa College. He complimented girl students who had excelled in academics and remarked that although the Lok Sabha had not been able to pass the bill for 33 per cent reservation to women but hoped that it would come through soon, so that women got their rightful due in Parliament. The Speaker gave away 787 degrees to graduate and postgraduate students from various faculties of the college. Earlier president of the Khalsa College Governing Council Satyajit Singh Majithia welcomed the Speaker while principal Dr Jaswinder Singh Dhillon presented annual report of the college. Some eminent alumni of the college were also honoured. These included Panjabi University Vice-Chancellor S.S. Boparai, PAU Vice-Chancellor Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Jalandhar Municipal Corporation Commissioner T.R. Sarangal and Olympian Kartar Singh. ![]() |
Fearing Oppn, Sonia gave up PM’s post: Sushma Pathankot, July 10 Addressing a gathering of BJP workers here today, she claimed that Ms Gandhi had refused to accept the post of the Prime Minister fearing her vow. She (Ms Swaraj) had pledged to lead the life of a Sadhvi to motivate the people of the country against the installation of a foreigner as the Prime Minister. Ms Gandhi gave up the post fearing the Opposition and her inability to handle the coalition. She was still interfering in the working of the government from outside, due to which Mr Manmohan Singh had been reduced to a puppet Prime Minister, she alleged. Launching an attack against the Union Human Resources Minister, Mr Arjun Singh, she said the BJP government had removed certain anomalies from the textbooks in which national heroes were portrayed in derogatory terms. However, Mr Arjun Singh was changing the textbooks according to the whims of the Communists. The BJP, despite being a major opposition party was never called for a meeting to discuss the contents of the school textbooks, she alleged. She said the BJP would continue its struggle politically against the removal of Governors nominated by the NDA government and the induction of tainted ministers in the government. Mr Swaraj was here to mobilise BJP workers
for the Swabhiman Week being observed by the party. |
Trans-railway residents block rail traffic Bathinda, July 10 The residents, agitating for the past many months for opening the level crossing, where a wall had been constructed after a railway overbridge was constructed, demolished the wall to create a thoroughfare. Though the police reached the spot, it remained a mute spectator. The station master talked to the agitators but failed to pacify them. The agitators raised slogans against the Centre and the state government. Mr Vijay Kumar, president of the Railway Phatak Lagao Sangharsh Committee, said after the wall was constructed, the people residing in trans-railway colonies had started facing a number of difficulties while visiting the main town. He pointed out that the railway overbridge was yet to be put to use officially, but the authorities had constructed the wall illegally. He said the committee had decided not to leave the spot till a thoroughfare was created. He denied that the agitators had pelted stones on passengers. Mr B.K. Singh, Station Superintendent, pointed out that the level crossing would not be opened as it would amount to an illegal action. He added that he had not received any complaint in connection with the pelting of stones. Mr K.A.P. Sinha, Deputy Commissioner, said the civil administration could not stop anyone from lodging a protest. He added that he would write to the Union Railway Ministry in connection with the demands of the residents of trans-railway colonies. |
Hospital emergency sans medicines, equipment Patiala, July 10 Patients coming to the hospital emergency are at the best assured of a bed whose mattress is usually torn and sheet dirty. However, one has to be lucky to get a stretcher and an attendant to wheel the stretcher to the bed in the Emergency. Once in the Emergency, attendants realise that it has neither any medicine nor equipment in the facility. Painkillers, anti-vomiting medicines or others which are used in case of poisoning, including snake bites, are not available. Friends and relatives of patients have to get medicines from the chemist shops on the main road outside the hospital. The Emergency does not have any ambu bag, which is necessary to provide artificial respiration to critical patients. It also does not have any gastric tube, which is necessary to wash stomach. A gastric tube costs only Rs 20. Besides, other small things like splints for orthopaedic related cases are also not available. Medical Officers on duty in the Emergency Wing find it difficult even to function due to lack of even a register to prepare medico legal reports (MLRs). They have to keeping photostat copies of some proforma on their person so that they can prepare the proforma. If they do not have them, attendants of patients have to get them photostat. The Emergency also lacks in house investigative facility. The replacement of even something like oxygen cylinders is patchy. Sources say the hospital has become so hopelessly inadequate in dealing with trauma cases that it is not admitting such cases in its Emergency. It is requesting attendants of such patients to take them to the PGI in Chandigarh or some other facility. |
Health centre of little help to patients Pathankot, July 10 The centre meets healthcare need of more than 20 villages near the Indo-Pakistan border. At present one senior medical officer (SMO) and one medical officer is posted in this centre besides the paramedical staff. The SMO is on leave and only one medical officer examines the patients. It is difficult for one doctor to manage the 30-bed rural hospital. The government provided sufficient infrastructure and modern medical equipment but there is none to operate the machinery which has been causing inconvenience to public. Mr Karan Singh a resident here said that if a serious case came to the hospital, he is referred to other hospitals. Mr Davinder Mehta, another resident of the village said, due to shortage of doctors, we prefer treatment from a private doctor going to the CHC. According to people here most of the residents were deprived of healthcare though the problems were brought to the notice of leaders and health authorities, shortage of doctors at the centre continues. Politicians of the area have not bothered about the problem of the people and residents are forced to go for costly private treatment, which poor patients could not afford said villagers. No patient wants to get admitted to the centre as even life saving medicine are not available there. Given special problems of the border area and its remoteness while poor patients cannot go to centres urban centres such as Pathankot or Gurdaspur, in emergency, their misery gets compounded as there is no bridge on the Ravi because the temporary bridge has been lifted following the arrival of monsoon. Gurdaspur Chief Medical Officer Dr
N.S. Suman said shortage of doctors persisted due to ban on new recruitment problems were temporary and things would improve at the CHC as soon as the government lifted the ban and more funds arrived for providing medicines and other infrastructure. |
Package for Punjab border belt sought New Delhi, July 10 In a statement, Mr Cheema said Punjab, which is a border state, had not been given a package in the Union Budget while several other states, including Bihar, had been given grants. He said nothing had been announced to boost industry in
Gurdaspur, Batala and Amritsar. Mr Cheema, who met AICC leaders Mohsina Kidwai, Ahmed Patel and Ambika Soni in the Capital, urged them to demand a special package for industrial towns in border belt of Punjab. |
No funds allotted for flood control Sangrur, July 10 Earlier, during the financial year 2002-03, the division had demanded Rs 72 lakh for flood control works, but the government released only Rs 19.50 lakh. Similarly, during the financial year 2003-04, the division had sought Rs 52.50 lakh, but only Rs 16 lakh were released for flood control works in that year. The district, therefore, has been facing an acute shortage of funds for flood control and protection works for three consecutive years. Sources in the Drainage Department told The Tribune about 26 villages almost every year face a flood-like situation or floods in the Moonak and Khanauri areas of the district. This year the Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur, Mr Sarvjit Singh, had also recommended the case
for sanctioning Rs 1.37 crore to the state government in view the urgency to put in place the flood control works. Despite this, the state government has turned a blind eye towards the problem. |
Trust funds ‘embezzled’ Malout, July 10 Chief Patron of the trust, Mahant Baba Tirath Singh of Gonianawale, is abroad and certain members of the trust said he had been informed of happenings in the trust. Trust members said he would return to India next month. The Baba had already decided to remove the chairman from his post after knowing about the misappropriation. A decision to remove him from the post will be taken after his return, trust members said. Misappropriation of trust funds came to the notice of members when the Chairman withdrew Rs 41 lakh for the purchase of two hostels of the trust, run two institutions Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa Institute of Engineering and Technology and Guru Teg Bahadur Polytechnic at Chhapianwali village of Malout subdivision. The trust members called an emergency meeting on June 26 and asked the Chairman to deposit the money withdrawn illegally. Initially, he refused, but finally handed over different cheques of Rs 41 lakh of UCO Bank, Malout to Mr Chaman Singh Chaman and Bhai Jagjit Singh, representatives of Baba Tirath Singh, at Gurdwara Bhai Jagtaji on the GT Road, Malout, on July 6 in the presence of several trust members — Natha Singh Makkar, Mann Singh Makkar, Kartar Singh, Suhel Singh Makkar, Jagir Singh Sekhon and Naagar Mal. Chairman Pritpal Singh is reportedly also a partner in the two hostels, JDS hostel and Guru Teg Bahadur girls hostel, being run by his two relatives. That was why, he tried to sell them to the trust for Rs 67 lakh and Rs 47 lakh, respectively, while the market rate of these hostels is low, the trust members said. A trustee, Mann Singh Makkar told The Tribune that it had also come to notice that the Chairman had appointed a number of his relatives in different educational institutions of the trust. He said Babaji would take action against the Chairman. The Chairman reportedly appointed his sister-in-law’s son Charanjit Singh Saini and daughter Anju Saini to key posts of purchase officer and Dean at the engineering institute. Huge money was allegedly misappropriated during construction during the tenure of the son of his sister-in-law as purchase officer, the sources said adding a bag of cement was purchased at Rs 145 but shown in the record for Rs 170. |
Finance corpn chief gives certificates Chandigarh, July 10 Delivering the valedictory address, Mr Sahi said keeping in view the dynamics of the financial sector, it was imperative for the executives to keep themselves well-informed of the latest developments in the changing scenario. This will help make their respective organisations more competitive and profitable. The topics covered in the programme include balance sheet analysis, NPA management, new products, relationship management, leadership and team building. Training was imparted by faculty members from the RBI (CAB). |
SAD (Delhi) ‘disowns’
Chandok Amritsar, July 10 |
Villagers lay siege to police station Jalandhar July 10 The agitating residents raised anti-police slogans and alleged that despite a complaint against a group of youths, who allegedly misbehaved and tried to manhandle two sisters on July 7, the police failed to take action against them. They alleged that the police officials concerned were trying to shield the accused. Sensing trouble, the police swung into action and detained four accused identified as Gurmit Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Mukesh and Suresh. |
Goods worth lakhs
gutted Kharar, July 10 The flames not only destroyed goods kept on the first floor of the building, which was being used as a store, but also old records belonging to shopkeeper Vinod Kumar. The building also suffered damage. The fire broke out in the afternoon and destroyed plastic material and sanitary fittings kept in the building. Smoke engulfed the area. It took about an hour to bring the flames under control. Mr Vinod Kumar complained the fire brigade did not arrive promptly. |
Badal case hearing adjourned Ropar, July 10 The special judge adjourned the hearing at the request of counsel of both parties as Mr Badal’s petition challenging jurisdiction of the court to try the case was slated to come up in the Punjab and Haryana High Court next week. The judge allowed the applications of Mr Badal and his son seeking exemption from personal hearing today. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau had filed a chargesheet against the former chief minister, his wife Surinder Kaur, son Sukhbir Singh Badal and two others accusing them of having assets
disproportionate to their known sources of income. — PTI |
Dharna by BKU activists Faridkot, July 10 According the gathering, BKU leaders said that instead of eight-hour power supply promised by the government farmers were getting power only for five hours, forcing them to destroy paddy crop. State press secretary of the union Bhupinder Singh Mahesari, said that the government was misleading farmers by promising eight hour power supply. He said that villages were getting power supply for five-six hours and that too erratic. He added that canal water was also not sufficient which was adding to woes of the farmers. District President of the union Binder Golewalia said that the villages, which fall under the 24-hours power supply scheme, were also getting power for 10 hours. The situation was worse in other villages. Due to this crop was drying up, he added. He demanded 24-hour power supply for villages. |
Salesman shot at in loot
bid Fatehgarh Sahib, July 10 The injured salesman was admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh. Sekhar 45, salesman at the wine shop situated near Sahil Motel, was about to leave the shop, when the miscreants one of whom was wearing helmat and other turban, demanded cash from him threatening him with a gun. He refused to hand over the cash to them. They entered into a scuffle. When they failed to get the cash, they shot at him and fled the scene. Mr Shiv Kumar, SSP, ordered to put up nakas and checking of all vehicles. |
Murder accused surrenders Sangrur, July 10 Remaining accused, still at large, are Dev Raj, father-in-law of the deceased Hem Lata; Darshana Devi, mother-in-law; Rajesh Kumar, brother-in-law; Kanchan, wife of Rajesh Kumar; and Meena, Pushpa Devi and Neelam, all sisters-in-law.
— TNS |
828 kg of poppy husk seized Amritsar, July 10 Mr M.S. Negi, Commissioner, Customs, in a press note issued here revealed that customs staff headed by Superintendent, Narcotics Cell, had, on a tip-off, intercepted the vehicle carrying poppy husk. He said the jeep was searched in the presence of two independent witnesses and 22 bags of contraband were recovered. |
Stenography course
for SC/BC youths Patiala, July 10 This was stated by the District Welfare Officer, Mr P.S. Gill, here yesterday. He said the one-year course would have 25 seats and each trainee would get a stipend of Rs 750 per month. Interested candidates can send their applications to the office of the District Welfare Officer before August 20. Only those candidates can apply who belong to families holding yellow card and whose income is less than 20,000 per annum.
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PTU students’ strike enters 10th day Jalandhar, July 10 The students said that his condition was now stable. They said that the Vice-Chancellor of the university visited them for the first time today and assured them of some help. The striking students have been demanding a mercy chance for getting their compartments cleared in BBA and BCA. |
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