 |
|
|
|
|
|
Heaps of wheat, bags block roads
Abohar, April 26 SDM Dr N.S. Brar, who visited the grain market for the second consecutive day today, asked the contractors to clear the roads by this evening. Sources said in this subdivision the old contractors succeeded in retaining the contracts for stitching of jute bags and lifting of wheat reportedly by making workers of the ruling parties as partners. Though arrivals this year were less than last year, still these were recorded at 4.08 lakh quintals, but poor management on the part of the contractors led to leaving nearly 75 per cent of the purchased grains not lifted. Thousands of bags were yet to be stitched and stacked in open. The buyers had not arranged sufficient material to save the stacked grains from rain or other weather hazards. The Arhtia Association, headed by Pramil Kalani, had faxed a complaint to the CM resenting poor arrangements. SDM N.S. Brar today visited the grain market along with Ajaib Singh Sandhu, district manager, Markfed, and other officials. Senior office-bearers of the Arhtia Association, representatives of the stitching and lifting contractors and other purchasing agencies were present at the meeting held in the market committee office. The stitching contractor was directed to increase the number of workers from 35 to 55. Each shed will have minimum of five workers. The contractor promised to clear the backlog by April 28. After that the stitching of bags will be ensured on daily basis regularly. The contractor will have to submit daily performance report to the Markfed DM. The lifting contractors agreed to lift 35,000 bags per day. The authorities will be at liberty to cancel the contracts, if the agreement reached today is violated, at the risk and costs of the contractors.
|
|
Inferior material used in road
Ferozepore, April 26 The deputy commissioner wrote this letter to the PWD secretary. When in an inquiry conducted by additional deputy commissioner (development) Rahul Tiwari it was found that contractor concerned had constructed the Moga-Makhu road by using substandard material due to the negligence of two executive engineers, who were supervising the same. The executive engineers, who were found guilty of negligence, were identified as PWD executive engineer ( B and R), provincial division, Ferozepore, and the executive engineer (construction division), Moga. Official sources said members of the Bharti Kisan Union, Makhu block, alleged that the Moga-Makhu road, which was constructed in December 2006, developed potholes in March allegedly due to the use of substandard material by the contractor concerned. A formal complaint was lodged with the commissioner. Taking the matter seriously, commissioner Surrender Jet Singh Sandhu asked the deputy commissioner to get the matter inquired into and hence Tiwari was asked to carry out the same. Tiwari said potholes developed in the middle of entire stretch of 38-km of the Moga-Makhu road, which was constructed by the contractor. He added that potholes developed despite the fact that road was at higher level in its middle than the level of its banks. He pointed out that after the potholes developed, the concerned contractor carried out the patchwork on the same, which were visible. He said that 9 km stretch of road fell into Ferozepore while 29 km fell into Moga district. He said in the inquiry it was found that both these official did not perform their duties properly and had not done proper supervision. He added that this situation gave an opportunity to the contractor to use substandard material. The PWD vigilance cell and deputy commissioner, Moga, was also conducting an inquiry into this incident.
|
|
Satya gangrape: Police fails to file challan
Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 26 More than 60 days after the alleged crime was committed, the Kapurthala police is yet to file a challan in the case. They have not managed to arrest three prime accused or even complete the formalities for declaring them proclaimed offenders. Satya continues to endure threat to her life. Meanwhile, she heaved a sigh of relief yesterday, with the chemical examination report confirming that she was indeed raped on February 23. This is a blow to the initial theory of the police that the victim was only beaten up brutally and not raped. It may be recalled that DSP A.S. Pawar, the first police officer to handle the case, had plainly dismissed Satya Devi’s statement. On March 23, he had told The Tribune, “People in the village say she was not raped. The victim may name 20 men. That does not mean she’s telling the truth.” The report of Satya’s chemical examination, however, vindicates her stand by corroborating her statement. Admitting to the findings of the examination conducted at Patiala, SSP, Kapurthala Rakesh Aggarwal today said the report supported the victim’s statement and strengthened the police case against the accused. He also said the medico legal report supported the fact that Satya was beaten up. Reacting to the delay in the filing of challan, the SSP said, “The trial will take its time. Where is the hurry? We can file a challan in 90 days. We are still procuring evidence.” NGO activist Kavita Singh, who is helping Satya in her fight against the accused, however, said the delay was uncalled for. “The police could have filed its challan and then attached supplementary challan to accommodate other pieces of evidence. The reality is that they are moving slowly, thereby undermining the morale of the victim and her minor sons who are not venturing out of their house for the fear of their lives.” Significant to note is that the police has not even recovered Satya’s hair which the accused had allegedly chopped off. “They had cut off her plait and taken the strains of hair away. This evidence is crucial as it supports both brutalisation and rape. But the police has not raided the possible spots where the chopped off hair could be recovered,” Kavita Singh said. SSP, Kapurthala, admitted that Satya’s hair could not be recovered. About the three absconding accused, he said, “We are in the process of declaring them proclaimed offenders.” Meanwhile, some villagers have seen the accused, but the police has done little to nab them.
|
Bhattal defends Capt over absence
Amritsar, April 26 Interacting with mediapersons, Bhattal expressed optimism that Capt Amarinder Singh would return to Punjab soon. “In any case, all Congress MLAs are available to the electorate to attend to their problems,” she said. Bhattal said no single person could be held responsible for the poor showing of the party in the last assembly elections held in February. She said she had not seen the report sent by a panel of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) pinpointing causes for the defeat of the Congress. “I will be able to comment on this issue only after I get to see the report,” she observed. Bhattal said anti-incumbency could not be the only reason for the party’s loss as it was a natural cause in every election. It appeared that different issues played crucial roles for every seat and the party would analyse them to remove the shortcomings, she said. Reiterating that the present SAD-BJP government had let loose terror by targeting Congress workers all across the state, the Congress leader counselled Prakash Singh Badal to pursue constructive policies and programmes instead of carrying on with the political vendetta. Commenting on the fate of Congress leaders allegedly involved in the Ludhiana City Centre scam, Bhattal said only the court could give a clean chit to those facing charges in the scam. Even though it was always easy to make allegations, now the onus of proving their innocence lies on those named in the scam. Asked about the future of the party, she said the immediate objective would be to unite all factions to emerge victorious in the forthcoming elections to municipal corporations due to be held in key cities, including Amritsar and Patiala. “Candidates about whom the party is confident that they would be able to register a comfortable victory would be given tickets and we are looking forward to encouraging results,” she said.
|
|
Badal’s plain speaking on travel agents
Chandigarh, April 26 SHOs in the state knew who were the travel agents involved in human trafficking. It was unbelievable that the SSPs of the districts concerned were not informed about this by their SHOs, said Badal at his first official meeting with the top brass of the Punjab police here. Sources in the Punjab government said Badal told the senior officers that he did not want to hear excuses regarding the modus operandi of such travel agents. The Chief Minister told the officers that they should read newspaper reports on how travel agents were duping people and act against such agents on their own and not wait for him to seek a clarification on each matter. “ You also read the same newspapers as I do. Why don’t you act on your own?”he said. Adopting a tough posture, Badal told the cops that maintaining communal harmony was the top priority. Any issue that could snowball into communal tension should be dealt with from the social angle, not by just putting people behind bars. He promised “political support” to the police in dealing with such situations, but said “it is your job to defuse tensions”. He added: “ If anybody within the government stops the police from acting, tell me”. Sources said Badal also told the police officers that corruption or wrong-doing would not be tolerated and nobody should be let off in such cases even if that person happened to be a member of the ruling party. They would be pulled up “ if any laxity is there on this front”, Badal told the officers. He said it was the police force that brought a bad or good name to any government. A communication gap existed between the common man and the police administration. Outlining the priorities of the government, Badal said the problems of drug trafficking and drug addiction should be tackled with a heavy hand. The SSPs were asked to evolve a strategy in unison with the deputy commissioners to nab those indulging in drug trafficking. DGP N.P.S. Aulakh put forth certain demands, including the regularisation of sanctioned temporary posts from 1988 to 1994 created in order to check terrorism and the sanction of adequate force for the newly created Mohali district. He wanted the regularisation of class IV posts in the armed battalions and the setting up of transit accommodation for officers in Chandigarh. The Chief Minister agreed to give Rs 1 crore as grant for setting up the accommodation. The Punjab police will be taking up the matter with the Chandigarh administration to get a 1.05 acre plot. The entire project entails an expenditure of Rs 4 crore, of which the central government will provide Rs 3 crore as it share under a scheme of modernisation of the police.
|
|
Preneet should tell husband to return to state: Dullo
Chandigarh, April 26 A few days ago Preneet Kaur had asked Dullo to resign. Today, Dullo, while talking to mediapersons, retorted: “ Who is she to ask for my resignation? I have given my resignation where it should have been given.” He said he would request Amarinder Singh to come back and stand by the workers of the party who were being harassed by the ruling SAD-BJP combine. Dullo was speaking to mediapersons before Tejinder Bittu took over as the chairman of the Punjab sewa dal. He said Amarinder Singh’s contribution to Punjab could not be ignored, but now was the time to work for the party and stand by the workers.
|
|
||
|
Mandi Gobindgarh gets ESI hospital
Chandigarh, April 26 Constructed at a cost of over Rs 2.7 crore, the state-of-the art hospital will benefit thousands of employees insured under the ESI scheme. In fact, the hospital building had already been handed over to the Health Department and it will be inaugurated soon, regional director, GC Jena, told The Tribune here today. With thousands of employees working in various steel-related industries, the need for having a hospital was felt a long time back at Mandi Gobindgarh. However, if the pace of the work is any indication the project remained marred in delays putting the industrial workers at a disadvantage. Officials highlighted the fact that a majority of the employees of the steel rolling and re-rolling mills come under the preview of the ESI scheme as their income was below Rs 10,000 per month--the mandatory condition for enrolling as the beneficiary under the scheme. The 50-bedded hospital should go a long way in providing medicare facilities to the industrial workers and other beneficiaries in Mandi Gobindgarh and surrounding areas, Jena said, adding that the ESI Corporation reimbursed the medical expenses of the insured persons, including expenses on super-speciality treatment. While employer contributes 4.75 per cent of the gross salary, the employee's contribution is 1.75 per cent towards the social security scheme of the Labour Ministry. The hospital would complement the existing healthcare facilities for insured person at six places in Punjab besides Chandigarh, the officials hoped. Meanwhile, the ESIC has extended the amnesty scheme for the employers for enrolling under the ESI scheme to May 31.The employers can subscribe to the scheme by paying penalties and charges for defaulting period and the corporation would withdraw the litigation against them, Jena added.
|
|
|
Rights front: Probe fake encounters Chandigarh, April 26 The probe should be on the Gujarat pattern which led to the arrest of three senior police officers. Adressing a press conference here today Col G.S. Sandhu (retd), chairman of the front, said Gurnam Singh Bandala, a former militant who was declared killed in a police encounter, had exposed the encounter tales of the Punjab police. Bandala, who was alive, had been declared “dead” in a police encounter near Ropar in August ,1994. Who was killed in place of Bandala? Who were the police officers who claimed Rs 25 lakh for “ killing” Bandala in 1994? These questions required to be probed, he said. “ Our front will call on Chief Minister Badal and also knock at the door of the Punjab and Haryana High court to seek justice for the families of those innocent persons who were killed by the police in fake encounters”, said Colonel Sandhu. A DGP rank officer had admitted a few months ago that 300 terrorists-turned police “cats” were rehabilitated by the Punjab police in the state. “Who were the innocent persons killed in place of these 300 police cats. Who were the government officials who authorised the extra-judicial killings?” asked Colonel Sandhu. He said all human rights activists should come together to expose the killing of innocent people in fake encounters in the state. He said it had come to light that certain senior police officials patronised “cats” and used them to smuggle drugs and arms. Colonel Sandhu also raised questions regarding the suicide near here by a senior police officer some years ago. “ We are not ready to believe that the senior police officer is no more. Our people are trying to find out whether that police officer is living in the US now along with his family members”, he said. “ That police officer, along with a Nihang chief, was responsible for killing a large number of youth in the Tarn Taran and Patti areas in fake encounters”, said Colonel Sandhu. Hundreds of youths were cremated by declaring their bodies as unidentified ones by the police in Tarn Taran in the 80s and early 90s, he alleged. He said that militancy in Punjab ended about a decade ago but the police was not ready do downsize its force and disarm its “cats”. False stories were being spread with regard to the existence of terrorism in the state. The Punjab human rights commission has stated that 80 per cent of the complaints received by it were against the police, said Colonel Sandhu. He said in the Punjab public service commission scam, the highest amount of money was paid by two police officers to get their wards recruited as officers.
|
||
|
Govt allots 7,000 liquor vends; earns Rs 29 cr Patiala, April 26 The department has collected Rs 29 crore as a fee for processing the applications. This is Rs 15 crore more than what was collected last year. He further said 99 per cent liquor vends were allotted today through the draw of lots. Last year, just 74 per cent vends could be allotted. The state would collect excise duty of Rs 1,650 crore from the liquor vends this year. This is Rs 130 crore more than what was collected last year. The highest cost for the annual license of liquor vend in urban areas has been fixed at Rs 77 lakh. In rural area the lowest cost for annual license is Rs 15 lakh. The numbers of liquor vends for which license was issued is almost same. However, in some areas vends have been rationalized. The areas where sale was high have been allotted more vends. The new excise policy has attracted more persons into this trade. As per the new policy the license holder can now pick 30 per cent quota from any distillery. Besides the conversion limit for changing the quota from the Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) to country liquor has also been increased to 15 per cent, the excise commissioner added. At Patiala 476 liquor vends, that included 326 country liquor and 150 IMLF vends, were allotted today. Officials of the excise department claimed that allotted vends would fetch Rs 84.42 crore during the current financial year. Last year an excise duty of Rs 83.90 crore was collected from Patiala.
|
||
|
Punjab ‘not to allow’ release of water in Haryana canal Patiala, April 26 He said the construction of the canal was detrimental to the interests of farmers in the Samana area of Patiala district. Due to the construction of the new canal by the Haryana government, the flood-prone areas of the Samana area would get inundated during monsoon. Presently, the natural flow of flood water in the area is in the Gaggar river. However, the newly constructed canal of Haryana would stop the natural flow of water in the area. Besides it would decrease the flow of water in the Bhakra main line. This would hamper irrigation in many areas of Punjab bordering Haryana, he alleged. The Haryana government has already completed about 75 per cent construction of the canal. The canal is being constructed to provide irrigation in the native area of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The Haryana government was maintaining that it would use its own quota of water in the new canal. The BBMB that controls the canal had earlier allowed Haryana to construct the canal. The minister, while responding to queries from mediapersons, said the Congress was not even playing its role as a constructive opposition. Instead of taking up the issues related to public, the Congress leaders were involved in blaming each other. “I would request the speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to give Congress leaders a lesson on the role of opposition,” he said. While responding to a query on the atta-dal issue, the minister said as per the reports reaching him about 40 per cent people in rural areas would benefit from the government scheme. The financial implication of the scheme on the government would be Rs 950 crore. He said the state had increased the credit limit of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) by Rs 3,000 crore to enable the board to buy power from other states during the paddy season.
|
||
|
Paramedics, pharmacists unite for a cause Fazilka, April 26 Luthra disclosed that the both groups had decided to hold a convention on April 29 at Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall, Jalandhar. During that occasion a new joint co-ordination committee would be formed. The committee would take up longstanding issues of the thousands of paramedical employees including multipurpose health workers, staff nurses, pharmacists, radiographers, laboratory technicians, sanitary inspectors, drivers and Class IV employees. The main issues to be discussed during convention were privatisation of the rural health services by Capt Amarinder Singh’s regime. As a result of which about 800 out of total 2,500 pharmacists and more than 2,000 Class IV employees have been rendered surplus.
|
|
Rural doctors oppose govt order
Patiala, April 26 Dr Aslam Parvez, state president of the association, said the rural doctors would not accept the ‘discriminatory order’ of the government for getting their attendance signed by sarpanches. The order would increase conflict between the doctors and sarpanches, ultimately affecting the health services in the rural areas, he added. A general body meeting of the association would be held on April 29 at Lions Bhavan, Ludhiana, at which rural doctors from all over Punjab would participate. At the meeting the association would decide the further course of action.
|
|
BSF, Rangers discuss joint patrolling
Amritsar, April 26 A seven-member delegation of Rangers was led by wing commander Javed Iqbal Raja. They were given a warm welcome by BSF Commandant Pradeep Katyal.
|
|
Promoting Punjabi theatre
Patiala, April 26 Present on the occasion,
S.K. Girdhar, a great lover of theatre and arts, said women played a vital role in promoting theatre and improving standards, provided they were given the proper status and freedom to express their views and talents.
Girdhar said women had proved that they could lead any campaign and win laurels in the society. The artistes urged for the formation of the government’s cultural policy to strengthen the state’s theatre movement, which was neglected for the past many years. They also urged the Punjab Government to revive the Punjab State Cultural Affairs Advisory Board and District Kala Parishads to ensure the development of indigenous
theatre.
|
Ten more designated senior advocates
Chandigarh, April 26 With the latest additions, the total number of designated senior advocates has gone up to 71.
Of the 24 applicants, only 10 finally made the cut. They are Mohan Jain, D.V. Sharma, Arun Palli, Anmol Rattan Sidhu, Daya Chaudhary, Girish Agnihotri, M.L. Saggar, A.P.S. Deol, Kuljeet Singh Sidhu and Kanwaljit Singh. While Mohan Jain, a former advocate-general of Haryana, is considered to be an expert in civil and excise and taxation law, Arun Palli, son of former High Court judge P.K. Palli, was till recently additional AG in Punjab. Incidentally, Palli and Agnihotri are the youngest designated senior advocates in the High Court now. Anmol Rattan Sidhu is the president of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, while Daya Choudhary is an assistant solicitor-general, Government of India. She is the first woman lawyer to be designated senior-advocate in recent history of this High Court. M.L. Saggar is additional AG in Haryana, while Girish Agnihotri, whose father Justice M.R. Agnihotri was a judge of this High Court, has remained additional AG in Haryana. A.P.S. Deol was till recently special public prosecutor in the corruption case against Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his kin, while Kanwaljit Singh and Kuljet Singh Sidhu specialise in civil and criminal matters. As already reported, the decision to resort to secret ballot was taken last week after unanimity eluded the full court meeting over the names of lawyers fit to be designated senior advocates.
|
Sekhon PSEB member again
Patiala, April 26 Sekhon had joined the PSEB as an Apprentice Engineer in 1969, after completing BE degree from the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala. He served the board for more than 35 years in different positions. He handled many responsible positions like thermal design, flying squad computers, thermal construction, substation design, hydel designs, commercial distribution, stores, disposal, technical audit, material management and transmission lines.
— TNS
|
Miscreants beat up man, son
Bathinda, April 26 Police sources said they were admitted to the civil hospital, Goniana Mandi, and added that they were beaten up when Om Parkash refused to open the gate due to train’s movement on that section.
|
|
1 held with cough syrup
Bathinda, April 26 Official sources said the arrested , identified as Rajiv Kumar, had been selling the intoxicating cough syrup to drug addicts from his house. He did
not have any drug licence to carry out the sale of medicines.
|
|
ASI nabbed
Tarn Taran, April 26 Mahan Singh said his servant Girdhara Singh had been buried while digging a well some days back. Both parties had made some compromise and the family of his servant expressed desire not to pursue legal battle. Mahan Singh alleged that the ASI forced him to give Rs 20,000 to write a complaint. However he was agreed to pay Rs 15,000 which was accepted by the ASI.
|
|
Impersonator held for cheating people
Abohar, April 26 He had allegedly been trying to cheat people by impersonating as a member of the CIA staff in the region. According to a complaint lodged by Ankur Sharma, the suspect tried to kidnap his cousin while they were going to Danewala Satkosi village a few days ago.
|
|
2 migrants die in mishap
Mukerian, April 26 The deceased have been identified as Asha Rani and Mukesh, who were travelling in the truck when it rammed into the tractor trailer. The injured have been rushed to a local hospital. A case has been registered against the tractor-trailer driver.
|
Pbi varsity reader suspended
Patiala, April 26 Interestingly, the suspended Reader is the real brother of D.S Dhillon, a strong contender for the post of Vice-Chancellor. The university authorities have accused the suspended Reader of misbehaving with the other staff of the university and leading a group of the joint action committee members into the office of Vice-Chancellor. The university authorities have alleged that the suspended Reader had been carrying out un-disciplinary activities for the past two months. In a press note issued yesterday the university authorities had named the convener of joint action committee Manjit Singh also among those who entered the VC office and resorted to hooliganism. Prof Manjit Singh, in a rejoinder issued to the Press today, accused the university authorities of making false charges. He said he did not enter the university premises yesterday. “I was at the Patiala mini secretariat yesterday in an effort to meet the deputy commissioner. Many people present at the secretariat are witness to my presence there. The university authorities have deliberately dragged my name into yesterday’s episode to disorient the movement being carried out to expose the misdeeds of the VC.”
|
||
|
Banur Patiala PLACEMENT: The Punjab School of Management Studies (PSMS) of Punjabi University has achieved tremendous success by securing 96 per cent placements for its 2005-2007 batch in reputed corporate houses. The first year students have also been placed with reputed firms for their summer training programmes. The department has also signed MoUs with three foreign universities under the faculty and student exchange programme. — TNS Ropar
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
