Ludhiana, April 11, 2013: To celebrate the arrival of the Kashmiri New Year ‘Navreh’   Kashmiri Sabha, Ludhiana is organising ‘Havan Samaroh’ on April 13 and 14 at Sai Baba Mandir, Basant Avenue, Ludhiana.

According to President Sanjay Kaul, `Navreh’ for the Kashmiri Pandit community is a special occasion which is celebrated with gaiety, devotion, joy and festivities. This year, `Navreh’ started from April 11, 2013.

Arrival of `Navreh’ gives the community an opportunity to identify with its roots and energise it for endeavours in the coming year, said Vice-President AK Gadoo.

General Secretary Ramesh Seli expressed that organising of ‘Havan Samaroh’ gives the community an opportunity to identify with its roots and energise it for endeavours in the coming year.

Dharamsala, April 11, 2013: The Gorkha community of Himachal is no mood to patch up with BJP leader Ravinder Ravi, ex-minister of Himachal for his unfriendly remarks about community in assembly.

Gorkha leaders of Punjab and Himachal and the leaders of Gorkha Vikas Parishad met in Dharamsala on Thursday and decided to intensify the agitation against BJP MLA if not apologise publically.

Bhupender Singh, President of Himachal/Punjab Gorkha Association said, “If Ravi will not apologise within a week, we shall launch nationwide agitation.”

Gorkha Community earlier on April 8 had burnt effigy of Ravi in  Dharamsala, after his derogatory remarks suggesting to deploy Gorkha Regiments and Nagas to reduce monkey population in Himachal Pradesh.  Later, Ravinder Ravi  took away his words from the Assembly proceedings, but did not render the apology.

Members of Gorkha Community burning effigy of former Himachal Pradesh Minister and BJP MLA from Dehra, Ravinder Ravi during a protest demonstration against his statement that Gorkha and Naga regiment be deployed in the state to tackle monkey menace, on Wednesday.

City Air News photo by Shyam Sharma

Ludhiana, April 12, 2013: Sanjay Verma (27), a resident of Model Town Extension is a passionate cyclist, who is going on a bicycle tour from Ludhiana to Bangalore on April 13.

Earlier in the year 2010, Cyclist Sanjay Verma undertook bicycle tour from Ludhiana to Allahabad within a time span of 16 days.

As a teenager, Sanjay had many times gone on cycle from Ludhiana to places like Amritsar, Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Pathankot. It is his passion for cycling that motivated him to contact Suncross Cycle Manufacturing Unit at Ludhiana, who provided him with a cycle worth Rs. 17,000.

Sanjay informed that he himself has arranged funds to support his trip and is expected to spend Rs.20,000 on the tour.

Sanjay will be leaving from Ludhiana on April 13 at 11.30 am from Rose Garden, Ludhiana.

New Delhi / Jalandhar, April 12, 2013  :The Special Judge for CBI Cases, Chennai has convicted the then Deputy Commissioner of Customs and then Appraiser of Customs, Chennai in a bribery case and sentenced them to undergo one year Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs. 6,000 each.

A case was registered on 06.01.2010 based on the complaint of a Proprietor of Cuddalore District(Tamilnadu), alleging that V. S. Sundararajan, Deputy Commissioner of Customs, and D. Ramani, an Appraising officer Customs both of Courier Cell, Air Cargo Complex Meenambakkam Chennai had conspired together and demanded a bribe of Rs. 2,500 for clearing the consignment of the complainant who imported two numbers of printed circuit boards, which were sent to Colombo for repair through an authorised courier service company.  CBI laid a trap and both the accused were caught red handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount from the complainant.

After investigation, a chargesheet was filed before the Designated Court at Chennai. The Court found both the accused guilty and convicted them.

New Delhi, April 12, 2013: With grace of Waheguru, a seminar was arranged with support from students and management of Guru Nanak College of Education, Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi on Women Empowerment where-in presenter Jasbir Singh from Kalgidhar Trust (Baru Sahib) was invited to speak on the topic.

The seminar attracted an audience of around 70 students and staff wherein many social aspects related to women upliftment were discussed and shared with the students. Jasbir Singh has been associated with Kalgidhar Trust for more than 27years and was specially invited for this seminar as Kalgidhar Trust (Baru Sahib) excels in the projects related to empowering women in the society. In a society where people are indulging in female foeticide, the Kalgidhar Trust lays a great emphasis on educating a girl-child. In all its educational institutions, preference is given to the girls.

In his lecture Jasbir Singh says "that if we really look forward to bring women empowerment we might need to develop a system wherein we should boycott spending lakhs and crores in Sikh marriages instead we can deposit that money in daughter's name which will surely empower her life”.

He also raised the concern of increasing divorce rates in Sikhs is due to lack of value based education. “We should impart spiritual education along with worldly education so that our kids can develop themselves as good individuals", he said.

According to Harmeet Singh, a Volunteer- Baru Sahib, at Akal Academies (Baru Sahib) , underprivileged rural girls aged from 8 to 25, who were forced to stay at home and do household work, are being put to schools and taught modern scientific education and spiritual training.  After obtaining under-graduate and graduate degrees, they are enrolled in 3-year course at Akal Elementary Teacher Training Academy. After graduating from this all exclusive women teacher training academy, these girls are placed as teachers in one of the 121 Akal Academies. They are paid salaries at par with the government schools. This in turn increases their marital value and is an endeavor to eradicate female foeticide.

As told by Harmeet Singh from Kalgidhar Trust, trust seeks support from college and universities to organise such seminars in their premises as it will create awareness among youth and help them to serve such causes voluntarily.

The Baisakh is the Sikh New Year festival and is celebrated on April 13.  It is first day of the month of Vaisakha, the beginning of the Hindu year in some parts of the country. For the Sikhs in Punjab and other parts of the country, this day has a particular significance as it also commemorates 2699, the year Sikhism was born as a collective faith. The main celebrations are held at Anandpur Sahib and at Muktsar.  It was on this day in 1699 that Guru Gobind Singh founded Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib.

Guru Gobind Singh baptized five Sikhs and found the Khalsa.  These five men came to be known as the Panj Pyare or Beloved Five. And he proclaimed said that whenever five baptized (Amritdhari) Sikhs come together, the Guru would be present.  All those who receive Amrit from five baptized Sikhs, will be infused with the spirit of courage and strength to sacrifice.  Thus with these principles, he established Panth Khalsa, the Order of the Pure Ones.

At the same time, the Guru gave his new Khalsa-a unique, indisputable and distinct identity.  The Guru gave the gift of bana, the distinctive Sikh clothing and headwear.  He also gave five symbols of purify and courage.  These symbols, worn by all baptized Sikhs of both sexes, are popularly known today as Five Ks.  They are kesh (A Sikh never cuts or trims his hair), kanga ( a wooden comb), kara (special iron bracelet), kachha (a pair of knee length shorts) and kirpan (a 6” to 9” long, dagger-like or knife- life weapon).

Sikhs celebrate this very important day of their religion with joy and devotion.  They take an early bath and wear new clothes.  Every Sikh visits on this day the largest gurudwara.  If possible Sikhs visit the Golden Temple at Amritsar and take a bath in the pool of immortality.  They also participate in the special prayer meet marked for the day.  Major celebrations of Baisakhi are organised at Golden Temple,  Amritsar where the Khalsa Panth was founded on a Baisakhi Day in 1699.  After a special Ardas of kirtans and discourses, Kada Prasad (sweetened semolina) is distributed amongst all present.  Later, people sit in rows to relish the langar or community lunch prepared and served by kar sevaks or volunteers.

In Punjab, the robust farming communities celebrate with rambunctious songs and dances.  Melas or fairs are held over a couple of days and people participate in the fun, games and entertainment. 

Even the farmers in Punjab, UP and Haryana celebrate the festival of Baisakhi with lot of joy and enthusiasm, since for the Baisakh marks the time for harvest of rabi crops.  This is a time of hard work but also a time when the community gathers together to mark the end of a successful agricultural season.  Prosperous with the bountiful produce they look forward to celebrating Baisakhi will all eagerness. 

Ludhiana, April 13, 2013: The Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) fully endorses the statement by the Medical Council of India (MCI) asking the aspirants for admission to medical colleges  to beware of the middle men who are out to fleece huge amount from them.

In a joint statement here on Saturday, Dr L S Chawla and Dr Arun Mitra, president and general secretary, respectively, of IDPD, said vast majority of the private medical colleges have been admitting students through back door by charging large amount of money in addition to exorbitant tuition fees. They added MCI  has very rightly introduced the single National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET).

“But unfortunately the decision has been challenged by the private medical colleges. Students are in agony of awaiting the outcome of the Supreme Court Judgment in this regard”, they said, adding IDPD has written to the Chief Justice of India requesting for a speedy judgment so as to save the stress on the students.

Ludhiana, April 15, 2013: Kashmiri Sabha had organised a two-day grand havan samaroh at Sai Baba Mandir, Basant Avenue, Ludhiana, which got concluded today evening.

The function was organised to celebrate the arrival of the Kashmiri New Year  ‘Navreh’ which started from April 11, 2013 and was well-attended by a  large number of people from the Kashmiri Pandit community.

President Sanjay Kaul, extended warm welcome to all those present on the occasion and congratulated the members of Sabhato sincerely make this event a grand success.In his message, Sanjay Kaul emphasised that there is a strong need on the part of young generation of the community to come forward and actively participate in community-oriented activities. Navreh for the Kashmiri Pandit community is a special occasion, which is celebrated with gaiety, devotion, joy and festivities. Arrival of Navreh gives the community an opportunity to identify with its roots and energise it for endeavours in the coming year.

Vice-President A K Gadoo expressed that the Kashmiri Pandit community has a unique and distinct social, cultural, spiritual and philosophic tradition which dates back thousands of years and it is imperative for us to preserve and promote the tradition of our fore-fathers to maintain our identity and also to fulfil our responsibility of maintaining its continuity. Festivals like Navrehhelp us in reinforcing that commitment. 

General Secretary Ramesh Seli proposed a vote of thanks those present on the occasion and expressed that organising of ‘Havan Samaroh’ gives the community an opportunity to identify with its roots and energise it for endeavours in the coming year.

At the conclusion of the havan, all devotees were treated to a sumptuous vegetarian feast of sanctified food, which in the Kashmiri language is called ‘naivad’

Ferozepur , April 14, 2013: On the information of Army Intelligence to the police, 37 training bombs were recovered from Basti Bhattian Wali (Bharat Nagar), Ferozepur City from the godown of junk dealer, said Jasbir Singh, SHO, Ferozepur City Police Station.

SHO said, a secret information was received by the Army Intelligence that some bombs are lying in the godown of a junk dealer near the petrol pump and on conducting the search operation in the designated godown of Surinder Kumar junk dealer, by taking all the safety measures,  37 bombs of TPT 8 mm, were found in the bag lying in the godown.  He further said that the bomb disposal team will disclose as to whether these bombs are live or already exposed and at present, nothing can be said about these bombs. 

On the other hand, the owner of the godown, Surinder Kumar, junk dealer said, he does not know about the bombs and some hawker had sold this as junk to the workers in the godown.

Dhramsala, April 15, 2013: Another deadly road accident in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh claimed 12 lives, this time of the youth between the age group of 10 to 25 years.

All the dead of the accident  belongs  to a Kuthar village in Chamba district, and were returning after playing a cricket match in Chamba. Police officials said the accident occurred Sunday night in Badgran panchayat in Bharmour subdivision, some 85 km from district headquarters Chamba when the private jeep in which the team was travelling, skidded off the road and fell into a 700-metre-deep gorge Sunday night, police officials said.

Eyewitnesses said the authorities had a tough time extricating the victims from the gorge.

All 12 bodies were recovered early Monday from the wreckage of the vehicle, an official told.

Earlier, 51 people, including 18 women, were killed and 46 others injured on August 11 last year when an overcrowded bus rolled into a gorge in Chamba in Himachal Pradesh.

New Delhi, April 15, 2013: Patron of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal accompanied by SAD President and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today called on the Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde at Vigyan Bhawan and handed over a copy of memorandum urging his immediate personal intervention for seeking clemency to Prof. Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar.

Both the SAD Patron and President impressed upon Shinde to explore all legal options to grant mercy to the Prof. Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar. Earlier both these leaders called on the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on the same issue.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Principal Secretary Mr SK Sandhu.

New Delhi/Chandigarh, April 15, 2013: The Shiromani Akali Dal today requested immediate intervention of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for getting death sentence of Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar commuted to life imprisonment.

The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, SAD’s patron in Chief and President respectively, met the Prime Minister at his residence here this morning and requested him to approach the President Pranab Mukherjee to stay any further action on the execution of Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar and to get his death penalty commuted to life imprisonment.”

 “The process must be started for finding ways to ensure that the ends of justice do not clash with the long term interests of the nation and with the objectives and operation of statesman-like approach in such sensitive matters. In the overall national interest and in the interest of peace and communal harmony in the country in general and in Punjab in particular, the death penalty in this case may be commuted into life imprisonment,” said the memorandum submitted by the SAD leaders to the Prime Minister.

The SAD leaders also referred to the psychological and emotional fall out of the case and said that they were “deeply concerned” over these implications. “While we are deeply committed to maintaining peace and communal harmony in the state, the governments have no control over the emotional and psychological damage that such a case can inflict on collective social psyche. This damage must be avoided at all costs.”

The memorandum further said that the SAD and the government in Punjab “are committed to maintaining peace and communal harmony in the state at all costs. But we are firmly of the view that it is the sacred duty of all governments to create and safeguard conditions conducive to the maintenance of peace, communal harmony. Nothing should be done that poses a danger to these sacred values of peace and communal harmony.”

The two leaders apprised the Prime Minister of widespread  perception of the issue, and   while law of the land should be upheld, it must be seen to have been upheld “uniformly” for everyone and for all sections of society. Justice should not only be done but must also be seen to have been done,” they said. They described  the latest developments in the sequence of events connected with the case  as “deeply painful, unfortunate and worrying”.  

The SAD memorandum pointed out that in matters relating to “the extreme penalty of death, there is legal and constitutional requirement for putting the case “beyond all reasonable doubt.” This was clearly not done in the case of Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar. The presiding judge of the Bench of the Supreme Court that decided the appeal in this case had recommended acquittal of Bhullar and delivered a strong note of dissent. Because of this, the case no longer remains “beyond all reasonable doubt.” The dissenting note of the presiding judge can not be taken lightly as this puts a serious question mark over the extreme quantum of punishment in the case. Since a death sentence can never be reversed once it is executed, there is an urgent need to exercise extreme caution in the matter,” more so in the light of the verdict not being unanimous,” said the SAD Chief Patron and President

Arguing that Bhullar’s case could not be seen as just one of many such cases, the SAD leaders pointed out “that even the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India had requested the President to commute the death penalty of Bhullar to life imprisonment. This and the observations of the Presiding judge and several other factors make this case quite unique and distinct from similar other cases in the country.”

Making a strong plea for “going beyond strictly litigtory approach”, the SAD leaders drew  the PM’s attention to constitutional provisions not only justifying but also pleading for going above and beyond such an approach in cases having wider social implications. “The Founding Fathers of the Constitution had created the post-judicial mechanism of presidential intervention against carrying out court verdicts in sensitive cases precisely for such situations. This fact must not be overlooked in our haste to limit our options to merely strict and narrow dimensions of litigation processes.”

Sukhbir Singh also referred to reports that the doctor attending to Bhullar had expressed serious concern over his health. They said that legal and constitutional propriety demanded that the death penalty against Bhullar should not be executed because of the condition of his health. “The long years spent by Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar in jail and the condition of his health is well known to all.” Bhullar has been ailing for over two years as per the statement of his doctor.

The Memorandum also referred to “reports that a large number of independent, responsible and representative individuals and bodies have been moving the Hon’ble President of India to make a statesman-like intervention in the matter even at this stage. This makes it not just  an individual case but one that has wide social and emotional implications. As such, the case requires to be handled with an approach which transcends the narrow litigatory interpretations”, the SAD Memorandum said, making a strong appeal to the PM for immediate intervention.      

Advisor to the Chief Minister on National Affairs and Media Harcharan Bains was also present on the occasion.

Jalandhar, April 15, 2013: The Special Judge for CBI Cases, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) has convicted T. Kandasamy, former Rural development Officer of Indian Bank and sentenced him to undergo three years imprisonment in  five connected cases of bank fraud and sentenced  him  to undergo three years Rigorous Imprisonment in all the five cases with total fine Rs.1,00,000 .

CBI registered a case against T. Kandasamy, former Rural Development Officer of Indian Bank, Udumalpet branch, Coimbatore (Tamilnadu) based on the allegations that during the year  1995 to 2002 , the accused person had abused his official position  and   got sanctioned agricultural crop loans in the names of fictitious persons by way of creating forged & fabricated loan documents in the names of the fictitious loanees. Further, he en-cashed the loan proceeds of such fraudulent loans by opening fictitious accounts in the names of the non existing loanees and operated them by forging the signatures.

After the investigation of the case, CBI filed charge sheet before Special Judge for CBI Cases, Coimbatore on 07.01.2004 against T. Kandasamy in five connected cases covering 15  fictitious crop loans raised by the accused person U/s  420, 467, 468, 471 of IPC and  sec 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d)  of PC Act, 1988 for causing total loss of about Rs. 3,32,000 to Indian Bank. 

The Trial Court found the accused guilty and convicted him.

Jalandhar / Ferozepur, April 16, 2013: 112 Infantry Battalion of Territorial Army DOGRA will be organising a recruitment rally for the category of General Duty Soldier and Tradesmen (Chef Community, Tailor, Mess Keeper and House Keeper) at Jalandhar Cantt on 22 Apr 2013 at 0545 hours onwards. Recruitment for the candidates belonging to the state of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Union Territory of Chandigarh.

The age of the candidate should be between 18-42 years, 50 kgs weight, 160cms height and the chest should be 77-82 cms.

Educational qualification required for Soldier General Duty should be 10th pass with 45% marks in aggregate and 32% in each subject. Candidates with higher qualification need not have 45% marks. The candidates appearing for Chef Community and tailor should be 10th simple passed and those appearing for Mess Keeper and House Keeper should be 8th simple passed.       

Preference will be given to Good Shooters/Computer literate/Vehicle Mechanic and sportsmen who have represented at National/State/District level and drivers of heavy vehicles with valid license for recruitment as soldiers (General Duty)

Dharamsala, April 16, 2013: Dharamsala ,the second capital of the Himachal Pradesh and the seat of the Tibetan Spiritual leader Dalia Lama will soon be cleared by the free air electric supply wires and poles.
This was declared by Minister of Urban development Sudhir Sharma to our reporter at Dharamsala on Tuesday. He said that Dharamsala is the favourite tourist destination of Indian and foreign visitors, and it was the summer capital of British days because of its splendid beautify of the Dhouladhar snow range. He said the site looks dirty with the poles and wires of the power supply.
"The department of Urban Development had planned to make underground supply of the electricity within and around Dharamsala," said sharma. He said the DPR of the project is ready and sent to the Director Urban development Shimla, who in turn send it to the UD Ministry in Delhi. Sudheer said that Centre has already nodded in affirmative to the project.
Sharma said, "The total project to make power underground in Dharamsala will cost Rs 120 crore and we are hoping to get money in a single go."  This project will complete in 2 years after approval by the Centre.

Chandigarh, 16th April 2013: Young students chasing dollar dreams and then waking up having them shattered is a well known reality in Northern States of India, specially from Punjab, where thousands of gullible students fall prey to a variety of unscrupulous activities and agents, who provide misleading information to the students planning to study abroad causing students   choosing wrong courses/ institutions and just don’t end up getting student visa refused but also losing on the hard earned money.

Finding a way out of this endemic problem, New Zealand Government’s 2 major agencies Education New Zealand (ENZ) and Immigration New Zealand (INZ) have come together to help expand the awareness of New Zealand Specialist Agents (NZSA) among the students planning to pursue tertiary education in New Zealand.

In a Joint Press Conference held today at Chandigarh, addressed by representatives (Name details and designations  ) of Education New Zealand (ENZ) and Immigration New Zealand (INZ) highlighted the role of New Zealand Specialist Agent (NZSA) in the student visa process.

A New Zealand Specialist Agent (NZSA) is an individual who provides consultancy and education advice to students who are considering travelling to New Zealand for study. NZSA agents work within an accredited company or agency. The New Zealand Specialist Agent (NZSA) programme is administered by Education New Zealand (ENZ), in partnership with Immigration New Zealand (INZ) within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). NZSA agents are accredited by Education New Zealand only after undergoing a thorough training and assessment programme, and demonstrating a sound understanding of the education landscape in New Zealand.

The press conference was also attended by the 11 NZSA members who have their presence in the Northern India region of Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal.

In her address to the media, Jugnu Roy, Education Marketing Manager  said that choosing where to study abroad is a big decision for students and their families, and most students receive information and advice from an education agent in their home country before making this decision. There are several types of education agents operating in our markets, but Education New Zealand only administers those who are part of the New Zealand Specialist Agent (NZSA) programme.

Officials from ENZ, namely Jugnu Roy, Education Marketing Manager, Francesca Hilborn International Market Manager attended the press conference.

A complete list of 11 NZSA members who have their presence in the region of Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal is as follows;

•         Canam Consultants Ltd.

•         Charms Education &  Immigration

•         Counsel One

•         EdWise International

•         Liz Batra's IEGC

•         Kangaroo Studies Pvt Ltd

•         Medway Educational Consultants

•         Oceanic Consultants

•         Silver Fern Education Consultants

•         Sekhri Academy

•         The Chopras

Education New Zealand (ENZ) is a crown/government agency, created to support the New Zealand Government’s ambitious goals to expand export of education services and increasing the value of international students coming to New Zealand to study. ENZ is also responsible for New Zealand’s education diplomacy programme.

 “NZSA agents are selected and accredited by Education New Zealand only after undergoing thorough training and a rigid assessment programme encompassing various parameters, including but not limited to : their professional/ business integrity, quality of service and having a visa approval rate of more than 90%*, which means that these agents work with NZ institutions and Immigration New Zealand as “Trusted Partners”. As per a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ENZ and INZ, the student visa applications lodged through NZSA members are given priority processing.”

ENZ works very closely with the international education sector and those Government entities focused in the international space and have very critical relations with MFAT, NZTE, Immigration New Zealand and the Ministry of Education.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Immigration New Zealand is responsible for bringing the best people to New Zealand to enhance New Zealand’s social and economic outcomes.  INZ directly supports labor market growth by attracting the best people to New Zealand and supporting them into the workforce so they become long-term contributors. INZ also contributes to key export industries like tourism and education.

Immigration New Zealand’s study visa team is located in Mumbai, whereas, the INZ Branch at the NZ High Commission, New Delhi processes all other visa applications.

Jalandhar / New Delhi, April 17, 2013: In an email press release issued  here on Tuesday by  the Spokesperson of the CBI, Headquarter New Delhi,  said,   "Reports have been and are being, published/telecast in a section of the media, speculating about the nature and content of an affidavit to be filed by the CBI before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in connection with the Coal allocation probe".

It is reiterated that CBI is yet to file the said affidavit. The CBI will strictly abide by the directions of the Supreme Court, and is not under any pressure from any quarter.

New Delhi/Jalandhar, April 17, 2013: The Special Judge for CBI, cases, Dhanbad (Jharkhand) has convicted Pravin Kumar Jain, the then Assistant Commissioner, Central Excise and Customs, Dhanbad and sentenced him to undergo three years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs. 10,000 in each section of 7 and Section 13(2) r/w 13(1) (d) of PC Act 1988 in a bribery case.

CBI had registered case against Pravin Kumar Jain and others U/s  7 & 13(2) r/w 13(1) (d) of PC Act, 1988 on 3.6.1996 on the allegation that Pravin Kumar Jain, Assistant Commissioner, Central Excise and Customs,  Dhanbad  had demanded a bribe of Rs. 1,00,000 as illegal gratification form the complainant who was Director of a Private Company in New Delhi. The accused had agreed to accept Rs.20,000 as first installment for not proceeding against him and allowing him to run his business smoothly without any trouble.

A charge sheet was filed on 26.12.1997 in the Court of Special Judge for CBI Cases, Dhanbad U/s 7 and Section 13(2) r/w 13(1) (d) of PC Act 1988 against Pravin Kumar Jain,  the then Assistant Commissioner,  Central Excise and Customs, Dhanbad. The Trial Court found the accused guilty and convicted him.

Ferozepur, April 17, 2013: The inefficiency on the part of  Punjab Government clearly speaks from the fact that a person died in policy custody on 21st August, 1990 has been paid the compensation amount after 13 years that too after the intervention of  the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi.

A cheque amount to Rs.1,75,000 in form of 50:50 cheque and five years bank fixed deposit of Rs.87,500 each, was given to Sukho, wife of Hardip Singh alias Gurdip Sihgh so of Joginder Singh of village Muthian Wala also known as Kamal Wala, by Sonali Giri, ADC (General).

She said that Hardip Singh died in police custody on 21st August, 1990 at Phatak Sarawan Wala Tehsil near Patti, whose wife had been given the compensation amount as per the orders of National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi.

Ludhiana, April 17, 2013: Police Commissioner of Ludhiana Ishwar Singh has placed under suspension three police personnel for not acting on a complaint of a Dalit woman who was allegedly thrashed in public view on April 3 by a few residents of Basant Nagar locality, on Daba Road here.

The Punjab police personnel who have been placed under suspension are; SHO Police Station Daba Jatinderjit Singh, ASI Jaswant Singh and head constable Avinash Kumar.

It was on Tuesday that the police had registered an FIR in this regard and arrested three persons. Still, fourth one is absconding. Police are on toes to arrest the fourth accused too. But, the police came into action only after passage of twelve days of occurrence of the incident, which had already blown up out of proportions. In-fact, the victim (around 30) had produced a video footage of being beaten up publicly before the Police commissioner.

Police have already constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to further investigate this case, sources revealed.

The cause of occurrence of the incident is stated to be that the victim was asking her money worth Rs. 20,000 from one of the four accused following which the person who had taken money from her alongwith his three friends allegedly thrashed her publicly on April 3.

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman National Commission for SCs Raj Kumar Verka visited here on Wednesday and met the victim. During this meeting, the victim narrated the whole story to Verka. She alleged that she was allegedly beaten up with rods and sticks.

Verka also held a meeting with Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana Ishwar Singh and Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tewari at circuit house here today and asked for the report. Verka expressed satisfaction over the investigations.

Rajesh Bagha, Chairman of the Punjab State Commission for SCs alongwith other members also called on victim. He said he had summoned ADGP Crime to his office at Chandigarh April 30 to give him a detailed report about this case and also the overall crime against women and Dalits in Punjab.

Rajesh Bagha, Chairman of the Punjab State Commission for SCs in Ludhiana to meet the victim.