drunk driving

A policeman uses an alcometer.

Zirakpur, March 3
It seems that the Mohali Police is ill-equipped to deal with drunk drivers. Only 145 challans were issued in 2011 and only a few in the past two months. There is no regular checking at Zirakpur despite the place being the venue for weddings and social functions.
Sources said the Mohali Police had only two alcometers whereas the highway police had three. They added that one of the alcometers did not work properly.
They said the police was not well-equipped to deal with such cases.
“To check various traffic violations, a Bill proposing amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, is likely to be introduced in Rajya Sabha during the coming budget session. In the Bill, it will be proposed that a drunk driver should be awarded a four-year term,” said a police official.
Another official admitted that the police might not find itself in a position to implement the new rule in the absence of adequate equipment and manpower. The department is already reeling under staff crunch.
Another police official said police officials were hardly left with any time to enforce measures as VIP duties kept them preoccupied and they had no time to check drunk driving.
The problem intensifies during wedding season as the police officials are compelled to spend time in manoeuvring traffic jams and ensuring smooth flow of vehicles.
“It becomes difficult for the officials if the marriage function is being organised by some VIP,” says another police official.
“Also, during international matches at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali, we have to literally sweat it out,” he added.
In case of some international event at the stadium, security arrangements begin several days prior to it, resulting in diversion of the police force.
The official added that another problem bugging the department was that the state and national highways cut through the length and breadth of the district which helped law breakers escape easily. It became difficult for the Mohali police to set up barricades on the highway. Long duty hours, too, leave them fatigued.
The traffic police remains on its toes for 12 hours (from 8 am to 8 pm). Most of the incidents of drunk driving take place after 8 pm.
Mohali SP (Traffic) Swarandeep Singh said the Mohali Police would take steps to check drunk driving. Nakas would be set up and challans would be issued to violators.
He added that the alcometer which did not work properly would be repaired. “We have demanded more alcometers from the higher authorities,” he added.
The SP said a police team would educate truck drivers about the demerits of drunk driving.

Wrongful confinement in jail

National human rights’ body leaves matter open
National human rights’ body leaves matter open
Chandgarh, March 3
In a case where a person was wrongfully kept in jail for two months owing to a mistake by the court staff, the NHRC has left the matter open and said that the complainant can approach the court of law for relief.
Pankaj Chandgothia, Advocate and national convener of NGO, Harmonious Omni-Directional Public Endeavour (HOPE), had filed a complaint with the NHRC on June 18, asking for compensation and corrective measures in case of a person who was put in jail for over two months desspite being acquitted by the court.
The NHRC has left the matter open and said that "the victim may seek redressal of his grievance from the court of law”.
Ironically, in the judgement he was acquitted but due to inadvertence or clerical mistake, his conviction warrant was prepared by the reader of the court and got signed by the AD and SJ in a routine way. Later, the mistake was detected and release order was sent on June 17 for victim Ravi Kumar.

NRI falls prey to drug menace

Wanted to set up orphanage
Gurdaspur, March 3
A US-based NRI's dream of building a home for the orphans near Kapurthala has been dashed with the former getting addicted to drugs. Assisted by his wife Esme Ralda Sangha, Mandeep Singh is now undergoing treatment at the local Red-Cross De-Addiction Centre.
He arrived in India 18 months ago and started scouting for land to set up an orphanage near his village Kala Sangiah in Kapurthala district. This venture was the brainchild of his wife.
Esme used to work as a manager in a hotel in Lodi, a town in California, while Mandeep worked as a JCB operator in the same city. They got married in 2007 and decided to do something for society.
Esme, a member California-based Calvary Bible Church, discussed the proposal with other members. The church assured her of $10,000 financial aid while Esme's friends too agreed to contribute for the cause.
The couple's dream got wings when Mandeep arrived at his village in 2010. However, his next door neighbour one day made him inhale some heroin and unmindful of the consequences, Mandeep continued with the dreadful habit.
Sensing that all was not well with her husband, Esme flew to India about three months ago. She was stunned to see the plight of Mandeep. Esme managed to get him admitted to the local de-addiction centre where project director Romesh Mahajan says Mandeep is on his way to recovery.
"Once Mandeep gets normal, we will continue to work on our project of opening a home for orphans," said Esme, who never lost her calm despite adversity being her only ally.

HC stay on colony in ‘green zone’

Chandigarh, March 3
PUDA’s plan of developing a colony in Fazilka was put on hold by Punjab and Haryana High Court after it directed the authorities to maintain status quo.
The directions came after a social worker, Navdeep Asija, sought judicial intervention in the matter, stating that the new colony was being developed under eco-sensitive zone of Badha Lake wetland.
The petitioner said the decision of developing the colony on the banks of Badha Lake wetland was solely aimed at earning revenue. The decision would destroy hundreds of grownup trees, which provide natural shelter, biodiversity and ecological balance in Fazilka, which is home to national bird peacocks as well, counsel for the petitioner APS Shergil stated.

Govt, Jats strike deal, quota stir called off

Chandigarh, March 3
The Haryana Government can finally heave a sigh of relief with Jats agreeing to call off their ongoing agitation demanding the Other Backward Classes status for the community.
The decision to end the stir was taken after the 26-member committee, spearheading the protest in the state, arrived at a “compromise” with the government following a four-hour meeting at Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s residence here today.
Sources said according to the compromise worked out between Hooda and the committee headed by Nafe Singh Nain, the Haryana Government has agreed to forward the recommendations of the Haryana Backward Classes Commission to the Centre. The commission is yet to submit its report.
The contours of the agreement between the Jats and the government were not disclosed by either side and will be formally announced tomorrow at Mayyar in Hisar where the protesters are camping.
Talking to The Tribune, the secretary of the committee, Kuldeep Dhanda, confirmed that a compromise had been struck and the Jats will call off their agitation tomorrow. “The talks were held amicably and the agitation will be called off after we make the agreement public in Mayyar tomorrow,” revealed Dhanda.
While all the members of the Nain-led committee were present at the meeting , the government team led by Hooda comprised Haryana Public Works Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Dharambir Singh and former Member of Parliament Jai Prakash. Surjewala said, “The delegation held a discussion with the Chief Minister in a cordial atmosphere and their issues were resolved amicably.”
The government seems to have won the final round after talks twice failed in the past, once in Delhi and then again in Pipli (Kurukshetra) last week, after Jats pressed for an assurance from Hooda that the government would implement the OBC quota in the state before forwarding the recommendation to the Centre.
The agitation had started on February 19 after the six-month deadline by the Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti, announced in September last year, ended. The Samiti was supported by the khaps this time. However, mid-way through the agitation, the khaps decided to take matters in their own hands owing to a spilt in the Samiti.

Lt-Gen Bikram Singh next Army Chief

General Bikram Singh

To take over on May 31, when COAS General VK Singh retires

New Delhi, March 3
General Bikram Singh, has been appointed as the next Chief of the Indian Army. Ending months of speculation, the Ministry of Defence today made a formal announcement saying he will be the next Chief of Army Staff and will take over on May 31.
The ministry made a formal announcement this evening. Lt Gen Bikram Singh will be second-ever Sikh, after General JJ Singh (retd), to command the 1.3 million-strong Indian Army.
The ministry’s spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said in a statement: “Lt Gen Bikram Singh, has been designated as the next Chief of Army Staff, in the rank of General, with effect from the afternoon of May 31, 2012. He will succeed the present, General VK Singh, who retires from the service on May 31 2012”.
The present Army Chief, General VK Singh superannuates on May 31. The process to announce the Army Chief is normally done in advance. In this case the Government has strictly followed the principle of seniority.
At present, Lt Gen Bikram Singh is heading the Eastern Army Command and is stationed at Kolkata. The security of the sensitive North-East and the Eastern states is under his domain of duties.
The Army-chief-designate was the Delhi-based spokesperson of the Indian Army during the Kargil conflict in May-July 1999. At that time he was a Colonel and was on the verge of being promoted as a Brigadier.
The retirement date of the present Army Chief had led to all sorts of theories in the past few months. It was only on February 10 this year that the Supreme Court refused to reconcile the date of birth (DoB) of General VK Singh. It said the DoB would remain as May 10 1950 and not May 10, 1951 as claimed by Gen VK Singh.
Had the apex court accepted the DoB of May 10, 1951, then General VK Singh would have retired after completion of a three-year tenure that is March 31, 2013. In that scenario Lt Gen KT Parnaik, the present Northern Army commander, would have been the next Chief as Lt Gen Bikram Singh would have retired in the intervening period.
An Army Chief retires at 62 years of age while all Lieutenant Generals retire at 60 years of age.
Had General VK Singh quit after the February 10 SC order, Lt Gen Shankar Ghosh would have been the senior-most officer. Unfortunately for Gen Shankar Ghosh, he retires the same day as Gen VK Singh.
Lt Gen Bikram Singh, the Army-chief-designate, was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry (Sikh LI) regiment on March 31, 1972.
During his distinguished career, he has headed the Srinagar-based 15 Corps. Lt Gen Bikram Singh has served as deputy force commander of a multi-nation UN peace keeping mission in Congo. He had also served as UN observer in Nicaragua and El Salvador during the early 1990s.
His long list of decorations include a Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM), a Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM), an Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM), Sena Medal (SM) and a Vishist Seva Medal (VSM).
Lt Gen Bikram Singh has studied with distinction at the Defence Services Staff College, the Army War College and the US Army War College, Pennsylvania. He has also done an M.Phil in Defence Management from the Indore University.
He is married to Surjeet Kaur, who is a housewife. The couple has two sons.

Punjabi singer K S Makhan was sent to jail

Punjabi singer K S Makhan was sent to jail by a local court on Friday when he appeared in the court in connection with a case registered against him under NDPS Act for allegedly smuggling Heroin to Canada, where he was staying, in 2006.
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Jalandhar,3 MAR (Press Public News):-Punjabi singer KS Makhan, accused in a drug trafficking case, landed behind bars today after he appeared before the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge.Makhan appeared in the court in a case registered against him under the NDPS Act in 2006 at the Nakodar police station. He was accused of running a network of smuggling heroin from Canada.The police had booked Makhan after nabbing his aide Rajwinder Singh for his alleged involvement in drug trade.Makhan's counsel Vijay Bhushan Mehta said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had granted a bail to him in August, 2011, following which he joined the police investigations.The police presented a challan against him and the court summoned him for personal appearance. Mehta alleged that the police submitted a false report about Makhan, following which the proceedings to declare him a proclaimed offender (PO) were initiated.