PEOPLES COMMISSION  FORMED IN PUNJAB
From Sukhbir Singh Osan
JALANDHAR - The president of World Sikh Council and former Supreme Court judge, Justice Kuldip Singh on Sunday announced the formation of three member  "Peoples Commission" comprising Justice K.J.Reddy [retired judge of Supreme Court of India], Justice Devi Singh Tawatia [retired chief justice of Calcutta High Court] and Justice H. Suresh [retired judge of Bombay High Court].Justice K.J.Reddy has been nominated as Chairman of the Peoples Commission while Justice Tawatia and Justice Suresh are designated as members of the commission.
The ‘Peoples Commission’  will prepare a detailed report on human rights violations in Punjab during the last 15-17 years. While announcing the formation of commission, Justice [retd.] Kuldip Singh said that  the ultimatum to the Prakash Singh Badal-led-Punjab government to constitute such an "Investigating Commission" expired on April 13, 1998.  He regretted that the Akali government has gone back on its promise to go into the genesis of  militancy and human rights violations in Punjab - beginning 1980. Justice Kuldip Singh told media person that all the three members will start working by next month. Justice Kuldip Singh said that  commission will submit its report within 18 months. "Peoples Commission will publish report as soon as possible" he said while being optimistic about the success of the Commission - despite the fact that it will receive no co-operation either from the state government or the civil and police administration. It may be recalled that  Parkash Singh Badal had not only gone back on the party’s poll promise of setting up such a commission but has - after coming to power - often emphasised on the futility of raking the past.

BADAL AND DOGRA  BETRAYED US - HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
Burning Punjab Bureau
CHANDIGARH - The memorandum by the Coordination Committee on Disappearance of the Human Rights activists Jaswant Singh Khalra,  submitted to the Chief Minister of Punjab on April 14, 1998 sums up the inadequacies in the charge-sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation [CBI] and the perfunctory manner in which the prosecution has allowed the accused policemen to undermine the administration of justice.  Ram Narayan Kumar claimed that the Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal expressed concern when the Committee’s delegation told him about the brazen attempts of the accused policemen to intimade and suborn witnesses, and their audacity in openly threatening the lawyers who represent Mrs Paramjit Kaur Khalra [wife of Jaswant Singh Khalra] inside the court room. "In particular, we appraised the Chief Minister about the vulnerable situation of Kuldip Singh, former SPO, who has deposed before the CBI Kuldip Singh was atttached to one of the SH0s who removed Jaswant Singh Khalra from the Kang police station on 24 October 1995.  This was the last time Jaswant Singh Khalra was seen alive.  After giving his to the CBI, Kuldip Singh requested for security of CRPF escort.  However, he only received bodyguards of the Punjab police", he said. ‘Burning Punjab’ is here under producing the extract from memorandum - "We conveyed to Chief Minister the authoritative information available with us that SHO Satnam Singh had again managed to whisk Kuldip Singh away with the view to make him retract the statement given by him to the CBI. We told the Chief Minister that Kuldip Singh and his family was under enormous pressure, that they are being told that the human rights groups would get Kuldip Singh killed. After listening to us,  the Chief Minister called DGP Dogra and asked him to take immediate action against the accused policemen for tampering with the evidence and threatening Mrs Khalra’s lawyers, to ensure that no one was allowed to undermine the administration of justice, and to provide for the security of the witnesses in the Khalra case and those of the Coordination who were pursuing it. Later, we also met the DGP who promised to take immediate action in the matter. Two days later, we sent another fax massage to the DGP to acquaint him with more information we had meanwhile received on the developments around Kuldip Singh’s disappearance. We were confident of some action as both the Chief Minister and the DGP had categorically assured us that they would not silently acquiesce in the subversion of justice in the Khalra case. Two days after all these meetings comes the news that Kuldip Singh has charged Mrs Paramjit Kaur Khalra of having approached his wife with a bribe so that he would depose in their favour.  According to newspaper reports police station in Jalandhar district has registered a complaint under Sections 8, 9 and 12 of the Prevention of is evident Corruption Act against Mrs Khalra and other.  It that this story .has been cooked up to cover up the fact that the accused policemen had whisked away Kuldip Singh to browbeat him to change his statement.  At this rate, the police can cook up any complaint and go on further implicating the people connected with the Khalra trial.  We repeat: There is no chance of a fair trial until the accused policemen are arrested under the right charges and their bail under section 365 of the IPC cancelled. We also demand the police officers responsible for getting this spurious FIR registered be immediately suspended, and the entire matter be handed over to the CBI for inquiry. We are extremely anguished by the fact that both the Chief Minister and the Director General of Punjab police have betrayed the confidence we reposed in their fairness and neutrality.  We are shocked by the fact that, instead of taking action against the accused policemen as promised, they should acquiesce  in the fabrication of this FIR", the memorandum concluded.   The memorandum was signed by Ram Narayan Kumar, Justice [retd.]Ajit Singh Bains, Inderjit Singh Jaijee, Amrik Singh Muktsar, Maj. Gen.[retd.] Narinder Singh, Dr. Sukhjit Kaur Gill, Advocate Navkiran Singh, Advocate Rajwinder Singh Bains, D.S.Gill, Jaspal Singh Dhillon, Amar Singh Chahal and Baljeet Kaur.

SIX TELGU DESAM ACTIVISTS KILLED IN ATTACK BY RIVALS
KURNOOL -  Six Telugu Desam Party activists, including two women, were killed and several others injured in an attack by rivals at Goolyam village in Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh today. The assailants, armed with crude bombs and axes, went on rampage in the village for about two hours hurling bombs at houses and dragged some of the victims from their homes and axed them to death, police said. Two women were burnt alive when the marauders locked them inside their house and set it afire, police said adding that at least two persons were chased and axed to death while two others died in bomb attack. Tension prevailed in the village following the carnage. The gruesome attack was believed to be in retaliation to the murder of a Congress activist O Jedappa in March last year, police said.

HEGDE MEETS VAJPAYEE ON JAYA LETTER MATTER
NEW DELHI - Indian Union Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde, whose resignation on corruption charges had been demanded by AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha, today met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Hegde is understood to have given his comments on the allegations leveled by Jayalalitha in a letter to Vajpayee when she demanded the sacking of chargesheeted Ministers from the Union Cabinet. The Minister was not available for immediate comments on his meeting with Vajpayee but his reply to the Prime Minister is said to have covered the allegations regarding land allotment deal and receipt of commission from a German firm as Chief Minister of Karnataka, referred by Jayalalitha. Hegde yesterday had told newsmen that his reply would reach the Prime Minister on Sunday. The Prime Minister, who was at the airport to see off the President on his two-week-long visit to Latin America, declined to comment on political issues.

BADAL WANTS BJP-ALLIES TO IRON OUT MINOR UNDERSTANDING
AMRITSAR - Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal today made a sobering intervention in the controversy involving some of the allies in the union government, stating that the irritants causing unnecessary public statements were essentially the result of some very minor misunderstandings which can and should be ironed out at the meeting of the coordination panel. Counselling utmost restraint in a statement here, Badal said that he personally as well his party would play an active role in national affairs to create greater understanding among the alliance partners.  The Chief Minister who heads one of the major constituents of the alliance, described media controversy in this regard as meeting troubles of coalition politics and added that the coalition culture best represents the country’s federal character and that it is here to stay. He said that the country had long remained under unitary and totalitarian regimes and political parties were taking time to totalitarian regimes and political parties were taking time to adjust to the new national realities, the Shiromani Akali Dal had always acted as a catalyst for forging non-Congress unity in the interest of democratic values and people’s welfare, he said while recalling the days when the sad spearheaded the unity move against draconian emergency in the late seventies, Strongly urging the allies always to keep the sacred mandate of the people urgently in focus, the Chief Minister said that it was the first and foremost duty of all alliance partners to honour that national mandate in letter and spirit, putting partisan interests on the back burner.  Badal expressed the confidence that the seeming crisis would eventually turn out to be "a storm in a tea cup" as, all the allies were fully aware of their solemn commitment to the electorate to provide a clean and viable alternative to the politics of rank opportunism indulged in by the Congress over the past five decades or SG. Reiterating his party’s firm resolve to rid the country of the corrupt and divisive policies of the Congress, Badal said the formation of the alliance government in Delhi was not merely a political arrangement but the climax of a nation-wide movement against a long spell of politics of rank opportunism, fractional bloodshed, state sponsored terrorism, riots, communal divide and other anti-people politics and practises of the congress," this is a historic, opportunity for all of us to put democracy on a firm footing and a to work purposefully towards peace, amity and welfare and prosperity for all", he added.  Badal said that the BJP led government was committed to provide a transparent and responsive national alternative to the forces that pushed the country into so much misery, property and exploitation and brought it so much disgrace in the comity of nations. Badal also appealed to all the political parties in the state and people of all sections and shades of opinions to accord a rousing reception to Vajpayee on his first visit here on Monday next after taking over the reigns of administration.

CM ASKED TO RAISE UP SIKHS’ ISSUE
PATIALA -The Punjab Bhalai Manch president Balwant Singh Ramoowalia yesterday said the Parkash Singh Badal government in the state should resign in case the BJP government does not accede to the demand for keeping Sikh-settled Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh out of its proposed Uttaranchal state. Talking to newsmen here, Mr Ramoowalia said the present Akali government was not pursuing the case of three lakh Punjabis settled in the Terai belt of Uttar Pradesh with the required vigour despite the latter having made it clear that they wanted to remain in Uttar Pradesh. He, however, said the Punjab Bhalai Manch would not take things lying down and would launch an agitation soon if the central government did not make its intentions, about the fate of Punjabis living in the district clear.  He said he had already visited the state and met its Governor to demand that Udham Singh Nagar district not be transferred to the proposed state.  He claimed the Punjabi population had a strong legal point in its favour as hill state territory began above 2200 feet above mean sea level.  Udham Singh Nagar territory was well below this altitude. Mr Ramoowalia said Punjabis living in Udham Singh Nagar district would be ruined if they were included in the proposed Uttaranchal state. The former Union Minister said snatching away of land made fertile by Punjabis through such fraudulent means may have a domino effect in other states, particularly in Madhya Pradesh, where Punjabis had similarly made thousands of acres of land productive in recent years. Mr Ramoowalia said Mr Badal was also silent on the issue of the ban on Punjabis buying land in Rajasthan.  He said though Punjabis had transformed Sriganganagar district into a white gold belt they were now being discriminated against in the matter of buying land there. He said the silence of the Chief Minister on both issues was strange as BJP governments were in power in both Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and the Akalis were their alliance partners at the Centre as well.

RAJASTHANI OPENING PLAN GROUNDED
AMRITSAR - The commissioning of the Raja Sansi airport here remains a pipe dream as the plan for the inauguration of the airport by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during his one-day visit here on April 27 was shelved today. This has been done due to the announcement of by-elections for Tarn Taran Lok Sabha seat in June. This is the second time in the last four months that the inauguration of the airport by the Prime Minister has been cancelled at the eleventh hour. Earlier on December 17 last year, former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral could not perform the ceremony due to announcement of elections.  In the absence of Gujral, the expansion work of the run-way, which incidentally, is yet to begin, was inaugurated by M. K Kaw, secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation when an extended Delhi-Sharjah flight via Amritsar was announced.  The launching of a Amritsar-Delhi Birmingham flight was also announced by April 13, this year but the proposal is yet to rum into a reality. Actually, the district authorities have not even given physical possession of the land to airport authorities.  When the press team visited the site today, it found wheat crop standing on the acquired land which, however, on paper, has been given to airport authorities.  The land measuring 139 acres has been provided by the Punjab Government free of cost. A government official said that compensation for land had been paid to farmers and wheat would  harvested by the district authorities for which Deputy Commissioner Amarjit Singh had constituted a committee of revenue officials. M.S. Singh, Senior Aerodrome Officer said that he had no knowledge of any new flights on international routes being launched in the near future.  He said that he had not received any written information available with him regarding the proposed ‘hub and spoke’ service to be launched between Amritsar and Delhi from May 10. "I have come to know about the revival of passenger service only through newspapers", he maintained.

POSECUTION OF CHAHAL ORDERED
CHANDIGARH - The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has ordered the prosecution of Mr Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, Joint Director, Information and Public Relations Department, Punjab, in a criminal case registered against him for amassing wealth beyond his known sources of income. An enquiry conducted by the Vigilance Department had, official sources said, indicted Mr Chahal for procuring moveable and immovable property worth Rs 23.13 lakh in his name and those of his relatives during the period from 1990 to 1996. The sources also claimed that, Mr. Chahal had allegedly procured assets worth Rs 30.11 lakh during the same period even when his income from known sources was only Rs 6.98 lakh.

BUTA TO WAIT FOR PM’s REPLY BEFORE FILING FIR
PHAGWARA - "I have, not yet received any reply from Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee of my, detailed letter of, April 20, but I will fully wait fruit before loading any FIR against Parmod Mahajan, Political Advisor to Prime Minister. This was stated by former Union Communication Minister Buta Singh, while talking to this correspondent this evening. Replying a question, Buta Singh clearly said, he will not join any party in full team of present Parliament, "because I win elections as independent candidate." He said he will support or oppose, present BJP lead government on. merits and issue based support or opposition will be given.  When asked if, he had got any invitation from Sonia Gandhi to join Congress.  Buta Singh said, he had not received any offer from any corner of the Congress.  He said, he had full regard for Sonia Gandhi, personally.  Buta Singh said, he will go to Rajasthan after April 27 and will stay there for one week to chalkout programmes for floating of new party, which will be discussed in a convention of like-minded at Jaipur. Buta Singh said BJP-lead Union Government will have to cost more, if it continued acceptance of all demands of Jayalalitha.  Buta Singh said.  He has close coordination with Mamta Banerji and will setup joint forum in.  Parliament after panchayat elections in Bengal. He described as "hasty" the step of union govt for appointment of new governors.

CLASH OVER LAND
LUDHIANA - Hundreds of supporters of managing committees of a gurudwara and a mandir on GT Road, near Dholewal Chowk, here fought a pitched battle for over an hour this morning following a dispute over a vacant piece of land.  Both the sides indulged in stone pelting and brick batting till the police arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.  According to a report which could not be confirmed, some gunshots were also fired in the clash. According to an information gathered by pressmen, the bone of contention was the vacant piece of prime land belonging to the municipal corporation which the gurudwara and mandir committees had been allegedly trying to grab for some time. Early last week, the gurudwara management raised a makeshift shed on the plea that the site was to he used for preparing langar and a shade was required.  Irked at the move, the temple management also constructed a passage to the plot by breaking its boundary wall. Tension had been building up since last night, when supporters of the temple management allegedly demolished the shed.  While shopkeepers and residents of the area alleged that some gun shots were fired, the police could not confirm it. Manjit Brar, SDM (East),, who had visited the spot and discussed the matter with representatives from both the sides, told pressmen that situation was under control and the police force had been deployed to avert any untoward incident. DSP (industrial area) Gurjit Singh said that at the initiative of managements of gurudwara and temple, a joint meeting would be cried later in the evening.

DEFENCE GRILLS WITNESS IN BEANT SINGH CASE
CHANDIGARH - Former chief minister of Punjab Beant Singh’s assassination case continued here today with Avtar Singh, a witness, stating that sub-tenant, accused Gurmeet Singh, was not seen at his residence after August 1995. The deposition of Avtar Singh, owner of the STD booth in S.A.S. Nagar over which Gurmeet Singh had rented a room, assumes significance as, according to the prosecution, the belt containing explosives, allegedly used by believed-to-be human bomb Dilawar Singh was prepared at his residence on August 28,1995. Deposing before UT District and Sessions Judge Amar Dutt the witness stated that Gurmeet’s belongings, along with those of Satinder Pal Singh alias Simmpy, were handed over to the latter’s aunt, also residing in S.A.S. Nagar. He stated that the STD booth was closed down soon after his statement was recorded by the CBI on September 9,1995 as he had to his native village to attend to his ailing father.  Denying the defence counsel’s suggestion regarding his inability to continue with commercial activity in a residential area, the witness stated that the house was constructed in accordance with the approved plan.  Replying to the defence counsel’s prayer seeking direction to the witness to produce the approved plan, he stated that the same would be placed before the court if availab le with his father.

NEELDHARI  SUMMONED
NAUSHEHRA MAJHA SINGH (GURDASPUR) -  Bhai Ranjit Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht visited Gurdwara Bhora Sahib where the mortal remains of Sant Harnam Singh Qila Wale have been lying in the basement of the gurdwara for the past more than 18 years. Followers of the sant believe that he will return to life after bursting the roof of the basement to reform the world. The visit of the Sikh clergy was marked by unprecedented security arrangements made by the district administration.  A full company of the Central Reserve Police Force and 300 security personnel led by SP (Operations) Shammi Kumar was deputed as the gurdwara, causing a lot of resentment. Bhai Ranjit Singh asked both warring groups of Neeldhari Panthis to appear before him on April 28 at his official residence at Amritsar. He said five members of both groups should appear before him so that further action regarding the controversy could be taken. He said a ‘hukamnama’ (edict) on the issue would be issued on May 9.  He said ‘maryada’ (Sikh code of conduct) would be restored at all costs.  Talking to pressmen, Bhai Ranjit Singh a precautionary measure.  The police said it was objectionable that Guru had a tough time controlling the Granth Sahib was installed at a place above the mortal remains of the sant. He said this was against the traditions of Sikhism.  However, representatives of the Neeldhari Panthis, who accorded a warm welcome to the Jathedar pleaded that everything in the gurdwara was as per the Sikh traditions. Bhai Ranjit Singh said the late Sant Harnam Singh was a true follower of Guru Nanak.  However, the Neeldhari Panthis were allegedly violating his teachings by keeping the holy granth above the mortal remains of the sant. As a goodwill gesture, Bhai Ranjit Singh accepted the ‘siropa’ (robe of honour) bestowed upon him by a section of Neeldhari Panthis.  He listened to the representatives of both groups of the Neeldharis separately. Both groups said that they would send their five-member teams at the residence of the Takht chief on April 28 as directed by him.

URGENT NEED FOR CORRECTIVE MEASURES IN COUNTRYSIDE
MOONAK (SANGRUR) - There have been  number of reports of suicide by farmers recently.  These have been attributed to rural indebtedness by the Movement Against State Repression (MASR), an organisation engaged in collecting data in this connection.  This has kicked up a controversy about rural indebtedness itself and the state of agriculture. Investigations by this correspondent revealed a few cases of suicide directly attributable to indebtedness but not as many as made out by the organisation. The issue of farmers suicides came into focus following a large number of farmer deaths in Andhra Pradesh where the cotton crop was damaged following a pest attack and Maharashtra where farmers suffered heavy damage to their crops following incessant rain.  The cotton belt in Punjab also suffered heavy damage but there were no reports of suicide. Mr Inderjit Singh Jaijee convenor of the MASR has listed 24 cases of suicide from Chotian village 26 cases from Baleran village, 12 and 10 cases from Bakhora Kalan and Chural Kalan villages and 15 cases from Banga village.  He says these cases occurred within a period of four years and urged Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to take notice of this initiate corrective measures. Most villages named by Mr Jaijee are located on the Patran-Moonak road within a short distance of each other.  Banga, with a population of 4000 and a land area of 14,000 houses all castes. It is a short distance from the Ghaggar river which overflows almost every year during the rainy season flooding the low lying villages and wiping out the paddy crop in the process. While farmers in most other parts of the state have adopted a three-crop pattern, the villagers have to be content with a single crop of wheat as paddy, although they faithfully transplant it has not been harvested in any of the past several years.  Owing to the havoc wreaked by the Ghaggar, most farmers are neck-deep in the debt.  As a result, acre of land is available for Rs 60,000 in flood-prone low-lying areas of the village perhaps the lowest rate for agriculture land in the Malwa belt.  Even the yield of wheat has been very low this year because of wet weather. Admitting that unnatural deaths had taken place in the village in the past years, Mr Leela Ram sarpanch of the village said there were several reasons for these although the primary cause appeared to be the deteriorating financial state of the farmers and by extension of others.  Atleast one case he knew of was directly linked to indebtedness.  Requesting anonymity for the victim, he said a farmer set himself on fire a few months ago when he was unable to return loans he had raised from various sources. Banga is just one of several villages which affected by annual flooding from the Ghaggar.  There are least 15 other villages around it when farmers similarly harvest one crop year. Mr Leela Ram says that living just one crop was totally unviable given the pattern of holdings and it was very difficult to return loans take for buying tractors, cultivators an other equipment and money borrowe at "unbearable" interest rate from aahrtiyas (commission agent).  This burden of debt often creates tension among families resulting open fueds occasionally leading to the extreme steps by its members. At about 10 km from Banga lies Baleran village with a population 6500 dominated by small farmer MASR has reported 26 cases of suicide from this village alone sarpanch of the village Mr Sensi Singh who was away to Jakhal to sell wheat when contacted by this corresponds admitted that the number of cases suicide cited was correct but many these were not related to debt.  He s that one man distantly related to him, had committed suicide when he was unable to return a loan. A resident of the village, Mr Gurcharan Singh confirming the suicide reports also said all of them were not related to indebtedness.  Although in many cases poverty, directly or indirectly, was a contribution.  He cited the case of a recent death in the village in which man died simply because his family was unable to pay for his treatment. Another village from which a large number of suicides have been reported is Chotian.  The sarpanch of this village Mr Leela Singh supervising harvesting operations from under the shadow of a tree at his tubewell was reluctant to talk about the cases of suicide.  But after a little bit of cajoling, he admitted that the problem of suicides existed. Perhaps fear of the police stopped people from talking on the issue openly.  After talking to cross section of the villagers at least two recent cases of debt-related suicide came to light.  One family had taken a loan for marrying three sons with the elder son standing guarantee for returning the loan.  But when he asked his two brothers to sell some land to help return the loan they did not allow it and he committed suicide.  Another case related to repayment of a tractor loan. When contacted in this connection for comments, Mr Amarjit Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, refused to comment.  He said that no cases of suicide had been brought to his notice.  But some other police officials, on condition of anonymity, said that most such cases were dealt by the police under Section 174 of cr. p.c. as no one made a complaint of foul play and no evidence was available.  These were not pursued. Despite MASR’s claim, after meeting people in this rural belt it became evident that many of the suicides were attributable to drug abuse although poverty was a factor.  Each village has several drug addicts of especially of poppy husk, in each village.  The free flow of poppy in this rural belt ought to be as great a cause of concern for MASR the district administration and the state government as rural indebtedness and the spate of unnatural deaths.

VAJPAYEE HOPEFUL OF END TO ‘INTERNAL BICKERINGS’
AMRITSAR - Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Monday ruled out fresh elections and expressed hope that bickerings among constituents of his coalition government would end.  Rejecting Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde’s suggestion to seek a fresh mandate to end pinpricks from coalition partners, he told newspersons here that "there is no need for fresh elections. I have stated it clearly that we have the mandate and we have got majority in Lok Sabha. Elections have been held recently and the government is taking concrete steps to implement the national agenda,’’ he said after a day-long visit to the holy city during which he offered prayers at Sri Darbar Sahib [Golden Temple] and Durgiana Mandir and laid wreath at Jallianwala Bagh martyrs memorial. To a question on coalition parties being at loggerheads, the Prime Minister said "I hope in future this will not happen.’’  Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee clarified that the government did not want to impose the Presidential form of government on the nation. He said in Amritsar that Parliament and the people will be taken into confidence before taking any such step. He said that that in the national agenda a proposal had been made for setting up a commission to study the Constitution and its relevance in the present political scenario. This commission would examine the Constitution in detail and the BJP would also put its views before it, he added. It would be upto the commission to suggest or  ecommend Presidential form of government but the final decision would not be taken without the people’s cooperation, he added. The suggestions of the commission would be tabled in Parliament and then only would a final decision be taken, he added. Vajpayee also dismissed the recent comments made by the Union Commerce Minister saying it was better to seek fresh mandate to succumb to the AIADMK’s demands. "There is no question of fresh polls since we have been given mandate to rule the country," he said.  Asked what steps his government proposed to take to resolve the contentious issues between Punjab and Haryana, the Prime Minister asserted that they would be resolved amicably through talks. On whether his government would express regret in Parliament for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Mr Vajpayee said: "It is a good suggestion.’’ The Prime Minister also promised to look into the problems faced by farmers, particularly cotton growers. He said a comprehensive analysis of their problems was being made and the government proposed to take remedial measures soon. On his arrival, Mr Vajpayee was received by Punjab governor Lt Gen (retd) B K N Chhiber, Rajasthan’s governor-designate Darbara Singh, chief minister Prakash Singh Badal and his cabinet colleagues. Before his departure, Mr Badal presented a book on "gurdwaras’’ and a religious painting to Mr Vajpayee.

SONIA ABOLISHES POST HELD BY PRASADA
NEW DELHI -  Congress president Sonia Gandhi today abolished the post of vice-president held by Jitendra Prasada and dropped Chief Ministers J.B. Patnaik and Lalthanhawla from the CWC while bringing P.A. Sangma, Rajesh Pilot and Sushilkumar Shinde into it. In her first major decision after taking over as party president, Mrs Gandhi retained all the 10 elected members of the Congress Working Committee, including Prasada, and nominated members Dr Manmohan Singh, A.K. Antony, Oscar Fernandes and Meira Kumar. The ousted party president, Sitaram Kesri, has been made a permament invitee to the CWC along with senior leaders, K.Karunakaran and Motilal Vora. Prasada was appointed vice president by Kesri for his help in his election as Congress president. Madhavsinh Solanki and V.N. Gadgil have been made special invitees to the CWC. Gadgil, who was party spokesman for seven years, will no longer hold the post. The new party spokesmen are Salman Khursheed, Ajit Jogi and Ambika Soni. In a minor reshuffle at the AICC secretariat, she has retained all the general secretaries and treasurer appointed by Kesri but did away with the post of joint secretaries.

YOUTH BURNT ALIVE AMIDST BEATING OF DRUMS
JAIPUR - A youth was burnt alive in public amid beating of drums and bursting of crackers in Kanpur village of the tribal-dominated district in Rajasthan yesterday. According to police, some people of a community in Kanpur village in retaliation to an old dispute, surrounded the house of Banke Lal, 22, and beat him up mercilessly. His mother, brother Rajendra and sister-in-law were also manhandled. Though his family somehow managed to escape from the scene, the youth was trapped. The assailants subsequently poured kerosene on him and set him on fire. When he tried to escape to a nearby house, he was dragged back and more kerosene was poured on his body. The assailants were said to be beating drums and bursting crackers. The sources said that Banke Lal was reportedly involved in a stabbing last year and that led to his being burnt alive. Ten persons have been arrested and additional police force deployed in the village in view of the tense situation. Banke Lal was cremated last evening.

19 KILLED IN BUS-TRUCK COLLISION IN PANIPAT
PANIPAT - Nineteen persons, including three women, were killed when a Delhi-bound Punjab Roadways bus collided with a truck near Siwah, in Panipat district, on the G T road early Monday morning.  While seventeen persons died on the spot, two succumbed to injuries in a hospital. Twenty eight injured were admitted to the Civil Hospital at Panipat from where they were discharged after
first-aid while the seriously injured have been rushed to the Rohtak Medical College hospital.

SHIV SENA NOT TO ALLOW PAKISTANI ARTISTES TO PERFORM
BOMBAY - The Shiv Sena which disrupted Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali’s performance in Mumbai on Sunday evening, announced that it would not permit any Pakistani players or artistes to visit Mumbai. In an announcement on Monday it said when Pakistan did not permit Indian artistes to perform in their country, why should Pakistanis be allowed to perform here. Meanwhile, Pakistani poets visiting Delhi were among those who condemned the incident.They said voices like that of Lata Mangeshkar and Ghulam Ali could not be throttled by politics.

PROBE SOUGHT INTO DEATH OF HARJIT
BAJAKHANA - Even nine days after the death of Harjit Singh, an international along with three other players in a road accident near Morinda, villagers and sports lovers herb state of shock. All markets of this small towns remained closed today as a mark of respect to their departed hero who had brought this tiny hamlet on the international kabaddi map. Thousands of men and women came here today from surrounding villages and various parts of the country to attend the Bhog ceremony of Harjit Singh, also known as Bajakhana. A resolution was adopted on the occasion demanding a high-level probe into the accident. Meanwhile, a former member of Parliament, Mr Jagmit Singh Brar and general secretary of the PPCC, Mr Avtar Brar, and deputy Leader of CPI in the state Vidhan Sabha alleged that the ruling Akali Dal had converted the Bhog ceremony of Harjit Singh into its party conference. Talking to  mediapersons here, they alleged that representatives of other Political parties were denied opportunity to express their condolences with the family of the deceased player.  They said even the stage was conducted by a local Akali leader. They alleged that Mr Mantar Singh Brar, who was the local MLA, was not allowed to speak on the occasion. They criticised the ruling combine for using the occasion for their vested political interests.

INDEPENDENT THIS TERM: BUTA
PHAGWARA - Former Union Minister Buta Singh said he was not joining any political party, adding he had been misquoted that he would join the Congress if invited by its president Sonia Gandhi. Talking to reporters here last night, he said he has great regards for her and the Gandhi family but he never said he would join the Congress if invited by her.  He replied in the negative when asked if he has received invitation from any quarter to join the Congress. Buta Singh stated categorically "I am not joining any party. I won as Independent and will remain Independent during the present term of the Lok Sabha". On forming new political party, he said he would shortly visit Rajasthan and hold a convention at Jaipur to explore the possibility.  However, he disclosed that he was in close contact with Mamata Banerjee and would form a joint forum with her party in parliament after the panchayat elections in West Bengal. While claiming that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and the BJP-led coalition at the Centre lacked political will, Buta Singh warned that Jayalalitha’s demands would cost the Centre dear because these were going to rise every day.  It would become increasingly difficult for the BJP to run government if its coalition partners diluted their support to it, he added. He said the BJP has failed to set up a coordination panel with its partners for fear of surfacing of tensions in the government. Asked if he would support or oppose the BJP-led government now when he has been sacked, he quipped, "It will depend on issues." He described the governors appointment as hasty.  However, Buta Singh said people should welcome the prime minister during his visit to Amritsar, adding he fully cooperate with the government in finding a solution of the Punjab problem. He said he has not yet received reply to his April 20 letter to the Prime Minister. On his threat of lodging a case against Prime Minister’s political advisor Pramod Mahajan, he said he was in touch with legal experts and will take a decision after receiving reply from the Prime Minister.. "I will register case against Pramod Mahajan if no reply was received or if received but was found unsatisfactory by me", he added. Buta Singh reiterated his claim that he mobilised support of MPs for Vajpayee the same way he had done for P.V. Narsimha Rao.

PEOPLE COMMISSION TO DOCUMENT TROUBLED PUNJAB
JALANDHAR - World Sikh Council President justice (Retd) Kuldip Singh today announced a three-member people commission headed by retired Supreme Court Judge K J Reddy to document all that happened in troubled Punjab in the period 1978-79 to 94-95 so that history of the turbulent period survived, concerted attempts being made to forget it. Stating this at a press conference here in the presence of several human rights activists, including Justice (Retd) Ajit Singh Bains and Ram Narayan Kumar, he said the Commission, which have Calcutta High Court Former Chief Justice D S Tewatia and Bombay High Court Former Judge H Suresh as its members, would complete its findings and submit report in about 18 months. Justice Kuldip Singh said the decision to set up the Peoples Commission has been taken after the ruling Akali Party failed to fulfil its pre-assembly poll promise of setting up a Judicial Commission to probe how and why of all that during that turbulent phase in this border state. Justice Kuldip Singh, a former Judge of the Supreme Court, said while the precise of terms of reference of the Commission would be chalked out shortly, it would broadly probe violation of human rights by individuals or class of people genesis of trouble to find out as to which individual or class of people were responsible for it and whether state machinery or any instrument of the state violated human rights during the period.  The term of reference would be thrashed in consultation with members of the Commission, he added. He said the Commission with its secretariat to be set up at Chandigarh would hold its first formal meeting towards May-end or early June and will review all evidence collected so far by various human rights bodies in Punjab. He said visits by the Commission to collect evidence to any place in Punjab would be widely publicised well in advance so that any aggrieved could approach and submit evidence of repression either by any state agency or individual or class of people. Justice Kuldip Singh said common objective of the Commission was protection and preservation of human rights and to avoid the epithet those who forget history are condemned to repeat it we want peace and hindu-sikh brotherhood in Punjab to prevail, he added. He said we want to document and preserve history of the turbulent phase in Punjab so that coming generations learnt lessons and did not repeat all that happened. He replied in negative when asked if he personally met Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to remind him of his party’s pre assembly poll promise of setting  Judicial Commission as mentioned in his party election manifesto.  He said there was no nee to meet the Chief Minister because the Akali government did not respond to our repeated reminders made from public for a he further asked what was the need for a personal meeting when the Akali Party and government said during the recent Lok Sabha election that there was no need no for such a Commission. Akali Dal (Amritsar) President Simranjit Singh Mann today hailed the People Commission saying it is the need of the hour as the Badal government is following the same repressive policies of the previous Congress government and not taking action against the perpetrators of genocide of the sikh people.

BADAL - TOHRA, CONGRESS CO-ACCUSED FOR PB TROUBLE: MANN
JALANDHAR - Akali Dal (Amritsar) President Simranjit Singh Mann today launched a frontal attack on the Badal-Tohra combine holding them co-accused with the Congress for all that happened during more than fifteen years of the turbulence in Punjab. Describing the Nirankari and river water issues as the main causes of turmoil in Punjab at a press conference here, he charged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC President. G S Tohra with having reneged on both the issue.  He said Badal’s silence on the state subject of sharing of river waters issue having been brought on the National Agenda by the BJP-led coalition at the centre and Tohra’s acceptance of white siropa from Nirankari prachark Ram Lal at Patiala has undone in one stroke all that led to Dharamyudh Morcha which subsequently resulted in operation Bluestar, desertion by Sikh soldiers from the army, quit of IFS and IPS services by some Sikhs, assassination of Indira Gandhi and General Vaidya, anti sikh violence in Delhi and elsewhere and the hanging of Kehar Singh, Satwant Singh, Jinda an Sukh and above all the inhuman torture and carnage Tohra and Badal as also Surjit Singh Barnala, who followed the repressive policies of the Congress have a lot of explaining to do, he added. Mann appealed to the Akal Takht jathedar to punish Tohra on the basis of his alleged confession of having accepted the robe of honour from the Nirankari pracharak.  When told that Captain Amarinder Singh of the Congress, who had raised the issue, has yet to provide evidence against Tohra to the Jathedar, the Akali leader quipped Tohras confession if sufficient for meeting gout punishment to him. He said the Akal Takhts edict to the sikhs to socially boycott Nirankaris can not be withdrawn as Nirankaris have not shown any remorse and repetance on Captain Amrinder Singh suggestion to the Akal Takht Jathedar that the boycott should be withdrawn, Mann a brother-in-law of the Congress leader, quipped it is wrong for any sikh to suggest withdrawal of the hukamanama (edict ) against the Nirankaris. Asked what punishment he would suggest for Tohra by the Jathedar, he said let the five sikh high priests decide it. The Akali leader took exception to Union Home Minister L K Advani suggestion that all people living on Indias borders should carry identity cards, asking if sikh and other living along borders are some sort of criminal.  He said Advanis statement violated article fourteen of the constitution which gives equality to all citizens before the law.  He said sikhs will not carry identity cards and we will defy Advanis fanatic order. Mann also took exception to the appointment of Governors saying most of them are right-wing ultranationalists, having their base in the jingoistic RSS which believes in a purely Hindu nation.  He alleged that with the appointment of Gary Saxena as Jammu and Kashmir Governor the daily killing of nearly 25 Kashmiris by Indian forces would double. He also took a serious note of the appointment of Darbara Singh as Governor of Rajasthan, charging Badal with having appointed a Congress diehard, ignoring all senior Akali leaders. He said Darbara Singh never suffered during the Punjabi Suba agitation or during the emergency and enjoyed the plums of offices as member of the Congress party which perpetrated atrocious crimes on the sikh people he said Darbara Singh kept quiet on operation bluestar and its agreement when thousand of sikhs were rounded up, tortured and killed in fake encounters. He said the appointment of Darbara Singh and abortive nomination of Mrs Amarjit Kaur for the Rajya Sabha on Akalticket only showed Badals insensitivity to the sacrifices of Akali workers and contempt for democratic practices because Badal did not even call a eating of his party’s political Affairs Committee on the two issues.

WOMAN TORTURED, ILLEGALLY CONFINED BY COPS FOR SEVENTEEN DAYS
LUDHIANA - Ranjit Kaur, a widow, and mother two, was allegedly kept in illegal Confinement at the Mahal Kalan Police Station in Barnala police district for 17 long days and subjected to brutality third degree methods not excluded.  A resident of Haibowal in Ludbiana, she had none to Barnala along with Aman Singh, her brother-in-law, and two kids, to recover Rs 60,000 from Devinder Singh, a distant relative. Little did an unsuspecting Ranjit Kaur know that she was walking into a well-laid trap and would be hauled up and tortured by the police for carrying opium which had been apparently planted in the scooter she and Aman had been given to reach the Mahal Kalan police station, 16 km from Barnala. When contacted over the telephone, Hardev Singh Dhaliwal, SSP, Barnala, under whose jurisdiction Mahal Kalan falls, said that he had received no complaint but promised to look into the allegations of torture as soon as he received one.  "All that I can recall is that Hartej Singh, SP, Detective, had told me about the recovery of opium from a scooter.  Should it be proved that the opium had been planted in the vehicle, the police would drop the challan," Dhaliwal added.  Narrating her ordeal, a harried and hapless Ranjit told pressmen yesterday that as her efforts to recover the money during the last one year proved futile, she approached Pappu Singh and Kaur Singh of Mahal Kalan, who had stood surety for the loan, to help her out. In the meantime, she lodged a complaint with the DIG. According to Ranjit, SHO, Mahal Kalan came down to her house in Ludhiana and threatened her with dire consequences if she insisted on getting the money back from Devinder. The SHO also offered to settle the matter if she was prepared to accept Rs 20,000 in full and final settlement of the loan case. She declined the offer. Ranjit suspects that the SHO had been sent by Pappu Singh and Kaur Singh. On April 5, Ranjit Kaur received a phone call from Pappu Singh asking her to come to Mahal Kalan on April 7 to sort out the matter in the presence of the SHO. Accompanied by her two kids, and brother-in-law, Aman Singh, she took a bus to Barnala. Pappu Singh and Kaur Singh met them at Barnala. They offered them a scooter and asked them to proceed to Mahal Kalan, saying that they would follow in another vehicle. On the way police intercepted the scooter, recovered opium from the vehicle and took Ranjit Singh and Aman to the Mahal Kalan police station for interrogation. It was here that the family had a taste of the third degree torture. According to Ranjit, policemen threatened to book them under the NDPS Act as opium had been recovered from the scooter. "I was disrobed in the presence of my brother-in-law and kids and the policemen kicked me and beat me with lathis all over the body," she said. The police also beat up Aman and administered him electric shocks. They asked her to give in writing that the loan amount had been received. Ranjit, Aman and the two kids were confined to a police quarter adjoining the police station for 17 days. On the night of April 23, the police let her off along with the kids directing her to manage money to secure the release of Aman Singh. She apprehends harm to Aman, who is still in illegal confinement of the police. Ranjit Kaur, in her complaint to the Chief Minister, DGP Punjab, DIG, Patiala Range, and SSP, Barnala, asked them to intervene in the matter and save her and ensure the safety of her brother-in-law. 

PRESIDENT OF INDIA CLEARED ROSECUTION OF SUKHRAM, SHIELA & THUNGON
NEW DELHI  - President K R Narayanan has sanctioned prosecution of three scam-tainted former ministers, Sukh Ram, Shiela Kaul and P K Thungon, in two different cases, CBI sources said today. Chargesheets against the three former ministers would be filed soon, the sources said, adding that documents relating to the sanction reached the CBI office last evening. In the case of former communications minister Sukh Ram, who now heads the Himachal Vikas Party which is a partner in the state government led by the BJP, prosecution has been sanctioned in one of the three cases against him relating to reallocation of contract for the supply of 3.5 lakh km of cables to Haryana Telecom Ltd. Two other cases against him, relating to alleged possession of assets disproportionate to his actual income and a contract for rural telecom equipment to a Hyderabad-based firm, are currently under trial. Sanction for prosecution against former urban affairs minister Shiela Kaul and her minister of state P K Thungon has been granted in the case in which they are alleged to have abused their official positions to allot 21 shops and kiosks to various persons.

SC POSER TO CENTRE ON FREEING CBI FROM STATE INTERFERENCE
NEW DLEHI - The Supreme Court today asked the union government to tell the court by May 5 what it proposed to do regarding the implementation of the apex court judgement in the Jain-hawala case, freeing the CBI from state interference while conducting investigations. A three-judge bench comprising justices S C Aggarwal, S.P.Bharucha and B.N.Kirpal hearing the Indian Bank scam case said now that the government had accepted the judgement it should be able to respond as to what it proposes to do regarding its implementation. On January 29, the court had passed an order recording the stance of the Attorney General of India that the government had decided to obey the orders of the court. The order stated that "in other words the stance of the Union of India is to carry out the orders of the court as they stand in letter and spirit.’’ During the proceedings in the Indian Bank scam case today, the amicus cureae Anil Diwan told the court that since the new government had come to power, it was imperative that its response regarding the action taken to implement the directions of the court in the hawala case be ascertained.

REFORM IN POLICE FORCE : SUPREME COURT DIRECTS UOI TO SET UP PANEL
NEW DELHI  - The police force is in for some "serious reform’’ with the Supreme Court today asking home minister L K Advani to consider constitution of a high-level "independent review committee’’ to go into the recommendations of the police commission report as well as suggestions by the national human rights commission to free the force from "excessive political control’’. A three-judge bench comprising justice S C Aggarwal, justice S P Bharucha and justice B N Kirpal told the solicitor general Santhosh Hegde appearing for the Union of India that the IRC should be on the lines of a similar committee constituted by the government to go into the freeing of the CBI from executive control in the matter of investigations. The apex court had in the Jain-hawala judgement adopted the report of the IRC while directing the government to set up a structure for the selection of the CBI director by the central vigilance commission whose chief in turn would be chosen by a committee comprising the Prime Minister, leader of the opposition and others.

CBI SHOULD PROBE ASSETS OF VIRBHADRA, PILOT - SUKHRAM
CHANDIGARH - Himachal Vikas Congress leader Sukhram today accused former state Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and former union minister Rajesh Pilot of amassing ill gotten assets and demanded a CBI probe against them. The former communications minister, now a senior minister in the Himachal government, alleged that Singh was involved in several land deals and a cement scam. Singh was not available for comments on the allegations as he was out of Shimla. Sukhram, whose party is an ally of the BJP in Himachal Pradesh, said the CBI should probe Pilot’s assets, which he (Sukhram) claimed were worth crores of rupees. Pilot, when contacted denied the allegations saying he was "hurt by the remarks. But in public life and democratic system levelling of charges is common.’’

SUSPECTED ‘HUMAN BOMB’ ARRESTED
AMRITSAR - The security forces nabbed a young girl, believed to be a "human bomb", from Jallianwala Bagh just before the visit of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. According to reliable sources the girl in her early twenties in a police uniform was nabbed while moving about in suspicious circumstances.  A fake identity card has been recovered from her. Known as Dolly, alias Rani she belongs to Ludhiana.  Her accomplice managed to escape. The police is interrogating Rani. The arrest was reportedly made just when the Prime Minister landed at Raja Sansi airport. No senior police officer was available for comments. It is learnt that Rani was dismissed as special police officer (SPO).  One of the police inspectors identified her when she was moving about in police uniform near the Jallianwala Bagh.  Originally, she belongs to Tarn Taran and has of late been staying at Ludhiana with a journalist. According to police sources, during interrogation, she told that she wanted to see Mr Vajpayee to seek a job. The interrogation is still in progress.

NO REMARKS IN VISITORS’ BOOK
AMRITSAR - Overshadowed by an unprecedented security cover, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today concluded his visit to the Golden Temple without registering any remarks in the visitors’ book.  This was Vajpayee’s second visit to the Golden Temple as Prime Minister in two years, and is the only Prime Minister to have done so.  He had earlier visited the temple on May 26,1996. Vajpayee was presented a siropa and a plaque of Golden Temple by president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Gurcharan Singh Tohra.  Addressing mediapersons at the airport before leaving for Delhi, Vajpayee said his visit to Amritsar was only a pilgrimage and was not governed by any other motive. Vajpayee also paid obeisance at the Akal Takht and inquired about the kar sewa connected with the gold-plating of the Golden Temple.  Vajpayee was presented a siropa at the Darbar Sahib by head granthi Bhai Mohan Singh . Others who received siropas included Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Surjit Singh Barnala, Madan Lal Khurana and Punjab Governor B. K.N. Chhibber. Surrounded by the SPG guards and human chains formed by Punjab policemen, the Prime Minister was taken around the temple like a prisoner.  Many newsmen were refused permission to go to the prescribed spots for coverage.

TOHRA FLAYS JAYALALITHA
PHAGWARA - Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee (SGPC) President and Rajya Sabha member Gurcharan Singh Tohra flayed AIADMK Chief Jayalaitha’s present attitude towards the BJP-led alliance government at the centre and said "this would be harmful for her own future". As a alliance partner in the Vajpayee government it was not good on the part of Jayalalitha to resort to pressure tactics, said Tohra while talking to newsmen here yesterday. As Jayalalitha had given support to the government she should not put pressure on government on each and every, issue, Tohra added. The Akalis would not adopt "adament attitude" but get Punjab demands accepted through brotherly dialogue with the government, he said. He said that there was tip threat to the Vajpayee government due to "pin pricks" by some alliance partners.  "People are with the government as they are not prepared to burden the country with collossal expenditure of any other poles", said Tohra.

MEMORANDUM TO PM AGAINST UTTARANCHAL
AMRITSAR - A Delegation of residents of Udham Singh Nagar today met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and presented him a memorandum regarding their resentment on the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar in the proposed new Uttaranchal state of UP. The residents of Udham Singh Nagar, situated on the Northern border of Rohoilkhand, are not willing to become part of a new state being carved out of UP. The memorandum stated that their area was composed of mixed culture, comprising of aborigines, Tharus, Bauxas, Bengali refugees, Haryanvis and Punjabis uprooted in the Partition and geographically it was a plain area. Whereas the eight proposed districts of Uttaranchal were of hilly terrain and their living habits, customs social manners, festivals, folk-lore, art and literature of the people were markedly different from the rest of UP. The memorandum further said that Britishers while demarcating the hill districts in 1905, kept the Udham Singh Nagar area within Rohilkhand and later converted this region into Terai government estate. The residents further alleged that the Central government was overlooking the fact that the residents of Udham Singh Nagar had cultivated this area and were responsible for the present prosperity. They reminded the government that on August 28, 1996 in a public meeting in Kashipur, the then Prime Minister had made a public declaration that while carving the new state of Uttarakhand, the wishes of local people would not be ignored. The memorandum of the delegation reminded the Prime Minister that about 90 per cent of the elected members and chiefs of the 300-odd gram panchayats of Udham Singh Nagar had expressed their desire for non-inclusion in the proposed Uttarkhand state.

19 DIE IN BUS-TRUCK COLLISION
PANIPAT - Nineteen persons, including three women and a minor girl, were killed and 30 injured in a head on collision between a Punjab Roadways bus (PB-12-C-9552) of the Hoshiarpur depot and a truck near Siwah, near here, early today. The accident occurred when the Delhi-bound bus from Hoshiarpur collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction in a wrong lane, the police said. Eight of the dead have been identified as Malkeet Singh, Lal Chand, Mahinder Singh, Surinder Kaur, and Jasbir Singh (all from Delhi), Amar Singh (Hoshiarpur), bus driver Balwant Singh and Punjab Police Inspector Ram Krishan. Among the 11 unidentified bodies, two are of women and one of an infant. These bodies have been kept in a make-shift mortuary. The following is the list of those injured: Rup Lal, Navtesh Singh, Madan Lal, Surinder Pal, Buta Singh, Avtar Singh, Mardol Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Vikcy, Anita, Bakshi Ram, Swarn Dass, Sham Singh, Balinder Singh, Gagandeep Singh, Gurdas Ram, Virender, Sukhjinder and Gurmeet (all from Hoshiarpur district), Narinder, Surinder Pal, and Ajit Singh (all from Delhi), truck driver Mukesh and Musadi Lal (both from Gurgaon district), Ved Ram and Mrs Sukhdei (both from UP).  Of these,  Surinder Pal of Delhi and Avtar Singh, who had sustained serious injuries, have been referred to the Rohtak medical college hospital. Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal said the injured would be provided free medical aid by the state government.  State Governor Mahabir Prasad and Chief Minister Bansi Lal have expressed shock and grief over the incident.  They also expressed sympathies with next of kin of the deceased and wished speedy recovery to the injured. Haryana Lok Dal chief Om Parkash Chautala expressed grief and shock over the accident. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal expressed grief and sorrow over the accident.  He announced that Rs 50,000 would be given to next of kin of the deceased and Rs 20,000 each of the injured persons.  The Chief Minister conveyed his sympathies to members of the bereaved families. Punjab Governor Lt-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd) expressed profound grief and sorrow at the tragic accident and conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to members of the bereaved families.

YOUTH FRAMED, TORTURED?
PATIALA - While the masses have still not forgotten the infamous ease of torture of four women by the Punjab police when the word "jebkatri" had been forcibly inscribed on the forehead of these women, another case of alleged police torture has come to light in which the thighs ,of a 26-year-old youth,  Sher Singh alias Gogi were pierced with hot iron rods.  His name, Gogi, was inscribed in Punjabi on both thighs. This time it is the police at Ghanouli police station which is in the dock over the alleged torture of Sher Singh that continued for 10 days in February and March this year. The case has been brought to light by another undertrial, Tarlochan Singh, lodged in Central Jail here, who is facing charges of murder.  At one such hearing in the district courts, Tarlochan Singh revealed to a couple of mediapersons he had been writing letters to the National Human Rights Commission, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission and senior police officers in the state over the alleged inhuman torture of Sher Singh by the Ghanouli police in Ropar district. Revealing the whole episode, Tarlochan Singh said he had met Sher Singh in the jail hospital here in March where he had also gone for a routine check-up.  He was horrified to see there were burn injuries on both the thighs of Sher Singh along with his name incribed in Punjabi on both the thighs.  The name was totally legible on the left thigh and not completely so on the right thigh. Tarlochan Singh said Sher Singh was in acute pain at that moment and had it not been for the timely medical care given at the hospital his condition would have deteriorated further. On inquiries, Sher Singh told Tarlochan Singh an SDO suspected him of having illicit relation with his wife. The SDO in connivance with the police allegedly got a false case of theft registered against Sher Singh. The police picked him up on February 22 and tortured him for 10 days before getting a formal Police remand.  During this period, he was beaten several times with rifle butts and tied for several hours.  The police was forcing Sher Singh to admit that he had stolen some jewellery from the SDO’s house.  However, Sher Singh die not relent.  One night, the police officers allegedly pierced both his thighs with iron rods and inscribed the name Gogi on them. Investigations by the jail authorities confirmed inscribed the name was there on the thighs of Sher Singh when he was brought to jail on March 16. One of the jail officials speaking on condition of anonymity said medical examination of Sher Singh was conducted on his arrival in jail.  This stated that burn injuries and marks in Punjabi language forming the word Gogi were found on both the thighs. Tarlochan Singh said he had written to the officials concerned but no one had come to deliver justice to Sher Singh.  The Ropar police posted at the Ghanouli police station could not be contacted.

COPS BRAND UNDERTRIAL
PATIALA  - Reminiscent of the infamous tattooing case in which three women had been branded "jeb katri" on their foreheads, the Punjab Police have subjected 26 year-old Sher Singh, to the tattooing treatment but with a difference. They have done it on his thighs.  Beer drugging him, the cops tattooed in Punjabi  "Gogi", his nickname, on his thighs with red-hot iron rods.  The victim showed what the cops had done to him when this reporter met him in the jail the other day. Employed as a peon in a concern under the Ropar Thermal Plant, Sher Singh alleged that he had been implicated in a theft case.  He was picked up by the police on February 22, kept at the Ghanauli police post in Sadar thana of Ropar for 10 days during which he was subjected to severe beating, torture and the tattooing.  Then he was produced before the court and was remanded to judicial custody.  Now he is lodged in the Central Jail in Patiala as an undertrial.  When contacted, the SP (Operations), Ropar, Gurmeet Singh, confirmed that Sher Singh had been arrested in a case of theft on February 28 and not on February 22. Articles worth more than Rs 75,000 had been stolen from the residence of Ravi Kumar Wadhwa at the Thermal Colony in Noohon near Ropar.  Though the area fell under the jurisdiction of the Ghanauli police post, the case was registered at the Police Station Sadar. Gurmeet refuted the charge that Sher Singh had been kept under illegal detention without arrest.  He was held on February 28 and presented before the court the next day.  Denying the charge of torture and tattooing, he said, "This has to be confirmed from ASI Jarnail Singh, who is away to Chandigarh". He, however, did not rule out the possibility of Sher Singh inflicting upon himself injuries to defame the police. This reporter learnt about the case from another undetrial Tarlochan Singh - an accused in a murder case and a human rights Uactivist -with whom Sher Singh had shared his plight after he was lodged in the jail here early last month.  Tarlochan has shot off complaints to the Human Rights Commission, Satpal Dang and the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Sher Singh who belongs to Jodhpur Ramana village in Bathinda, told pressmen in the jail that he had been implicated in a case of theft of jewellery and was picked up by the police on February 22.  "They took me to the Ghanauli police post.  There I was kept for ten days during which I was beaten up mercilessly and tortured.  My legs were tom apart, I was hung from the ceiling with both hands tied at my back and was assaulted with rifle butts", he said. "One night, I was given some intoxicant in tea and in the morning I woke up to find both my thighs bleeding profusely.  They had burnt my flesh with hot iron rods and tattooed Gogi in Punjabi," he said.  "I was then produced in the court at Ropar after being threatened with dire consequences by ASI Jarnail Singh.  Thereafter, they lodged me in the Central Jail in Patiala," he added. When he disclosed the incident to the jail authorities, they got him examined by a doctor and was given medical aid.  The medical report mentioned "burn marks on the inside of both his thighs bearing the word ‘Gogi’ in Punjabi." 

NO THREAT TO VAJPAYEE GOVERNMENT - BJP
BANGLORE -  The BJP chief, Khushabhau Thakre, has asserted that there was no threat to the Vajpayee government in the wake of the President, K R Narayanan, sanctioning the prosecution of former union minister, Sukh Ram, and said "the law will take its own course’’. Thakre, who was here to call on the ailing RSS general secretary, H V Seshadri, told reporters last night that the BJP-led coalition was stable. "He (Sukh Ram, who is the deputy Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh in the BJP- led government) had a different version (on the charges against him)’’, Thakre said. Asked about his personal view on the matter, Thakre said "I have no personal view’’. Replying to questions, he said in a coalition government, problems do crop up and were solved. "Problmes are solved as they come’’, he quipped. To a query on the coordination committee, Thakre said ``there is amity among the various constituents of the government’’.

SUBRAMANIAM SWAMY PARTS WAYS WITH RULING COALITION
NEW DELHI - Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy today announced his break with the ruling BJP-led coalition and plans to work for a secular and patriotic front against the BJP but said he would not try to topple the Vajpayee government without `clearance’ from Jayalalitha. Swamy, who has been campaigning against the government ever since he was refused a berth in the ministry, said "the BJP is only nominally a political party but in reality it is the political front of the RSS.’’ Swamy, an ally of Jayalalitha-led AIADMK, said "I shall not endeavour to topple the BJP-led front at the Centre unless I have the express clearance from Jayalalitha; that it is in the interest of Tamil Nadu and the nation in general to do so and the moment is appropriate. "I do not know whether I shall ever get such a clearance, but I rely on the BJP’s fascist controller, the RSS, to create such an inevitability,’’ he said.

JAYA CHALLENGES DMK FOR FRESH POLL
MADRAS - AIADMK general secretary Jayalalitha today discounted the validity of poll surveys and challenged the DMK to contest fresh elections if it relied on a recent survey favourable to it. If the DMK continued to rely on surveys which had been proved wrong during Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu, then it should opt for a mid-term Assembly election, she told AIADMK cadres at a social function here. Referring to a recent survey which said if elections were held now, DMK would get 65 per cent of the votes, Jayalalitha, who has demanded DMK government’s dismissal, said in fact the people’s faith in AIADMK ``is growing and their anger towards DMK is increasing.’’ She said surveys prior to Lok Sabha elections had forecast that the AIADMK-led front would bag only four seats and this was proved wrong. Even after this, the DMK was relying on such surveys. If the DMK was confident, then it should go in for fresh elections, she added.

FORMER SUPREME COURT JUDGE WANTS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ABOLISHED
NEW DELHI - Making a forceful plea for abolition of capital punishment, former Supreme Court judge V R Krishna Iyer has said the death sentence given to 26 persons in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case "is a kind of judicial terrorism’’. "Let the judges arrive at a decision. But in my opinion it is a kind of judicial terrorism,’’ justice Iyer said at a public meeting on the abolition of capital punishment, organised by the Human Rights Trust here yesterday. "An eye for an eye...A death sentence for a death is absolutely ridiculous and could not be termed as justice but a violent or barbaric act,’’ he said and suggested extension of the period of imprisonment in place of death penalty. "It is foolish to think that by awarding death sentence to a person who has committed murder you can prevent other murders,’’he said, adding "the death sentence has no effect at all on future murderer. In most of the cases murder is committed in a sudden outburst and rarely is it planned.’’ Urging the government to join the 70-odd countries who have abolished the capital punishment, justice Iyer argued that there was no justification for execution if one wants to abide by the principle of deterrence.

KHALRA CASE FOR SESSIONS
PATIALA - The case pertaining to the alleged disappearance and liquidation of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra has been committed to the sessions court.  The next hearing in the case will be on May 9. The case was committed to the sessions court by the special magistrate Amarjit Singh at a hearing in the CBI courts here today. Policemen in large numbers, were deployed outside the court premises in view of the security threats received by counsel for the complainant Brijender Singh Sodhi.  All the accused except DSP Jaspal Singh were present.  Sodhi, however, rued that the local police had not registered any case in spite of his reporting the matter to them.

TORTURE CASE: ASI SUSPENDED
CHANDIGARH -The Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) of police allegedly involved in torturing one Sher Singh at Ghanuli police post in Ropar district was today suspended and transferred to Ropar police lines following a preliminary inquiry conducted by Mr G.S. Aujla, I.G. Jalandhar (Zone).  It has been alleged that the ASI concealed facts. A case under Sections 342 and 323 of the IPC has also been registered in this connection at Ropar Sadar police station.  Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab Chief Minister, after reading a news item, which appeared with regard to the torture of  Sher Singh directed Mr G.S. Aujla to conduct an inquiry immediately and report the facts to him. Mr Ajula today visited the Patiala central jail to record the statement of Mr Sher Singh, who is detained there is connection with a theft case which he described as a false one.  Mr Aujla ,was accompanied by Mr Ranbir Singh Khatra, SSP, Ropar district. In a  statement issued here today on behalf of Mr Aujla by the police, it has been stated that the police officials, involved in the torture case would be dealt with strictly as per the law.  An officer of S.P. rank has been deputed to conduct a regular inquiry in this. Arise, according to the statement.

POLICEMEN ACCUSED OF EXTORTION BY TRADER
JALANDHAR  - A Punjab Police head constable and two special police officers (SP0s) have been charged with having extorted Rs 1.24 lakh from a Rajasthan trader in the city on April 21. Shakti Ram of Rajasthan, in his complaint lodged with a city police station on April 25, alleged that the money was extorted by Head Constable Joginder Pal and the two SPOs, having the identical name of Balkar Singh, at Shastri Market Chowk here when he was coming in a cycle-rickshaw. Shakti Ram, who had Rs 3.64 lakh cash collected from local clients, was deprived of Rs 4,000 in the market and then taken to a local hotel by one SPO who stayed overnight with him and the second SPO joined them the next morning. After having extorted another Rs l.,20 lakh gem him, the two SPOs travelled with the trader by bus to Ludhiana to ensure he was out of the district.  At Ludhiana, the SPOs saw off Shakti Ram in a bus bound for Ganganagar and returned to the city. When the victim reported the crime to his employers, the latter pulled strings in Chandigarh and a case was registered against the cop and the SPOs in Police Division No 4 under section 384,342,134 IPC yesterday.

ZP POLL ON SAD SYMBOL
CHANDIGARH - Akali Dal would contest the forthcoming elections to the block samitis and zila parishads in Punjab on party symbol.  The decision was taken at a meeting of its political affairs committee at Amritsar last, evening. Talking to the media persons here, party secretary general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa today said the elections to the gram panchayats, which are being held along with the block samiti and zila parishad poll, would not be contested on party symbol. He said Chief Minister and Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal, who has been authorised by on the PAC to finalise candidate for the Tarn Taran Lok Sabha bye-election, would announce the decision within the next four or five days.  He is going to Sham Chaurasi on April 30 to consult the party workers on the choice of the candidate for the Vidhan Sabha bye-election for that seat. Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh, Food and Supplies Minister Madan Mohan Mittal and party general secretary Balwinder Singh Bhunder would supervise the party campaign in Sham Chaurasi. Dhindsa appealed to the panthic forces not to oppose the Akali Dal in Tarn Taran.  He was referring to the announcement made by Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann to put up a candidate.  Prem Singh Lalpura who was elected to the Lok Sabha from Tarn Taran but preferred to retain the Vidhan Sabha membership, necessitating the bye-election, is also holding consultations with the splinter Akali factions to oppose the ruling Akali Dal. Dhindsa said these Panthic forces should honour the mandate given by the people to the Akali Dal in the Lok Sabha elections and support the party candidate.  The PAC took a strong note of the proposal to transfer Udham Singh Nagar of Uttar Pradesh to the proposed state of Uttaranchal. The meeting called upon the Centre to retain this district in UP. It was decided that a party delegation led by Badal would short call on the President and the PM in this regard.  Dhindsa said the issue was disccused with Atal Behari Vajpayee during his Amritsar visit yesterday.

HUMAN BOMB WAS A MERE IMPOSTER
AMRITSAR - A terribly earnest desire to serve in the police ultimately landed her in the police net.  Rani was mistook for a human bomb while moving about in a police uniform in suspicious circumstances from Jallianwala Bagh just before the visit of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, here yesterday. Destitute after her divorce, the uneducated and unemployed Rani, in her twenties, had been going from pilliar to post in search of a job in the police department.  She had been using the Police uniform to travel with-out ticket in buses, impersonating as a constable.  A few days ago, she met the district police chief, Mr Parmjit Singh Gill, with a request that she be recruited as a constable or a special police officer.  However, it was.  "jolt" for Rani when she learnt that recruitment had been closed for the time being. During interrogation, Rani first confessed that she was a human bomb and was "planted" at the historic Jallianwala Bagh to "assassinate" the Prime Minister.  However, security officials later learnt that the jobless Rani was only a "little bit insane" and not a catch for the police.  A senior police officer had earlier claimed that the police had made a "big achievement" with the arrest of another "human bomb". According to sources, Rani was arrested by a woman police inspector at Jallianwala Bagh when she approached her for a meeting with Prime Minister to seek a job in the police.  After reportedly twisting her arms, the police inspector took her to senior police officers as she was wearing a uniform under suspicious circumstances.  The woman inspector knew Rani from the days she had been seeing her in connection with her (Rani’s) divorce. The district police chief while talking to pressmen said Rani had no connection with militants in any way or any criminal background. However, she has been arrested under Section 171, IPC, for wearing a  police uniform.  Further investigations, however, are on.

NOTICE TO BHAJAN, SON IN MURDER CASE
CHANDIGARH - Mr Justice R.L. Anand of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, today, issued fresh process to Mr Bhajan Lal, former Chief Minister and son Chander Mohan, besides Anil Diwan and a girl, Raju alias Raj Kumari, in the rape-cum-murder of Sushil Kumari, a lecturer of Hisar district. On April 24, the high court had issued notice  to them for today but the summons could not be served. An advocate, Mr R. S. Dhull, had filed a criminal miscellaneous application seeking the summoning of Mr Bhajan Lal and the son in the case. Earlier in the very same case, Subhash Bagri, a son of former MP Mr Mani Ram Bagri and Mr Kuldip Godara, a close relation of Mr Bhajan Lal, and one Salinder Bishnoi were summoned in the case, of which hearing has been fixed for May 22. It was alleged in the application that the lecturer, was abducted, raped and then murdered by these persons as she had refused to allow use of unfair means in the plus two examination by a daughter of a DSP, who was the gunman of Mr Bhajan Lal.

BADAL REVIEWS POLICE WORKING
CHANDIGARH - The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal today asked the police officers to strength the vigilance wing and make it more effective. Reviewing the law and order situation Mr Badal said inquiries end to the Vigilance Department should be completed under a time-bouhd programme so that the culprits committing economic offences could be brought to book. Mr Badal gave directions to the officers to be humane in approach and firm in action and the complaints received by the police stations should be dealt with expeditiously to ensure speedy justice to the needy.  He said an atmosphere should be created in police stations so that the common people could approach the police station without any fear.  He said efforts should be made to settle the cases by ensuring compromise and mutual understanding. Exhorting the police officers to be more courteous and sympathetic to the problems of women and children the, Chief Minister made it clear that the cases pertaining to these sections should be dealt within a manner that did not cause inconvenience to them.  He said priority should be given to open more women police stations in major cities.  He sanctioned a women’s police station and some police posts in Ludhiana to cope with the increasing needs. Mr Badal would soon meet the Union Home Minister to take up various issues and references pending with Government of India for bringing further improvement in the police organisation.  The Chief Minister also reviewed the law and order situation in the state and asked the police department to be fully vigilant. Prominent among others who attended the meeting were Mr R.S. Mann, Chief Secretary, Mr G.P.S. Sahi, Principal Secretary, Home, Mr S.K. Tuteja, Principal Secretary, Finance, Mr Ramesh Inder Singh, Principal Secretary of the Chief Minister, and Mr P.C. Dogra, DGP. Mr Badal directed, the Home Department and the police to separate the Intelligence and Criminal Investigation Departments from the general police. He gave clear instructions that the Criminal Investigation.  Department (CID) that consists of Intelligence gathering and criminal investigation should have an efficient and highly motivated professional cadre.  "Right now those who are Inspectors and above take any posting in the CID as punishment posting and only those below these ranks wish to come to CID for the sake of enjoying comfortable routine and less work.  This is no way of running the intelligence gathering apparatus, particularly when the need due to infiltration and other related terrorist issues is greater", Mr Badal was quoted as telling to senior officers.

POLICEMEN BEAT UP WIDOW, DAUGHTERS NEAR LUDHIANA
LUDHIANA - Police highhandedness continues unabated in Punjab.  In the fourth such incident reported in the last five days, the Punjab Police have let loose a reign of terror on a widow and her five daughters, three of them in their teens.  Their fault?  They refused to vacate 10 acres of land the family claims to be in lawful possession for the last 40 years, a fact contested by two influential persons. Autan Bai and her daughters, residents of the Tihara village, about 40 km from here, were beaten up mercilessly on April 25 by a more than 20-strong police party, led by SHO Gurcharan Singh and Sub-Inspector Surjit Singh of Sidhwan Bet Thanal which fails under the Jagraon police district. "The cops beat them up all.  Two of my five sisters were kicked and caned until they fell unconscious and were thrown out in the field by the raiding party.  What’s more, none was allowed to move out of the village, not even for a medical check-up," Paramjit Singh, 19-year old brother and the only male member of the family who was out in the fields then, told pressmen here today. Giving the sequence of events, Paramjit and Mukhtiar Singh, son-in-law of Autan Bai, told pressmen that the cops descended on their house on the evening of April 25 and asked the women to immediately vacate possession of the land.  "The attempt made by the women to explain that the land belonged to the family attracted the wrath of the cops.  They humiliated and thrashed my sisters.  Two of them - Sukhpal Kaur (19) and Swaran Kaur (17) fell unconscious.  All this continued for about one hour when no male member was present in the house", Paramjit said. The SSP was not available.  When contacted, SP, Headquarters, R. P. S. Bajwa, said that he had received no complaint so far but would look into the matter.  Reached over the telephone at Sidhwan Bet, SHO Gurcharan Singh who had led the raiding party, said that the land belonged to Ajit and Makhan and the family of Paramjit was having illegal possession. He kept mum when asked why did the police interfere in a civil matter.  The bone of contention is the 10-acre chunk of agricultural land.  While the family claims ownership and has been ploughing the land for the last four decades, Ajit Singh and Makhan Singh of Tehara and Bhundri villages respectively, maintain that the land had been entered in their names in the revenue records. Being influential persons, they used the police to browbeat the family into handing over the title deed.  Paramjit alleged that Ajit and Makhan had managed to get the land entered in their names by greasing the palms of revenue officials. The victimised family defied the strict vigil of the police and Ajit Singh, left the village in the early hours today and reached the office of Deputy Commissioner Arun Goel, to tell their tale of woes. After listening to the family, the DC asked Assistant Deputy Commissioner K. Shivaprasad to visit the spot, conduct an inquiry and submit a report immediately.  Paramjit also called on the Jagraon SSP and the local MLA. When the press team met the family at the DC’s office, Swaran Kaur, a student of plus I, could hardly walk because of a knee injury.  She had been attacked with a "gandasa".  And Sukhpal could barely stand due to injury in her spinal cord. 

SUKHRAM DECIDES TO QUIT HIMACHAL GOVT
NEW DELHI - Former Indian union minister Sukhram has announced that he will resign from the BJP-led government in Himachal Pradesh following a direction from Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee but made it clear that his Himachal Vikas Congress will continue its support to the Prem Kumar Dhumal ministry. "I will send my resignation in a day or two,’’ Sukhram said after his telephonic talk with Vajpayee who had asked him to quit in the wake of psidential sanction for his prosecution in one of the telecom-scam related cases. However, Sukhram said his party would continue to support the BJP-led government, in which his party is a partner. Sukhram insisted that the presidential nod for his prosecution came as a result of "wrong advice’’ tendered to him. Earlier, BJP spokesman K L Sharma said Vajpayee suggested to Sukhram over telephone that he quit the government till the cases involving him were decided by courts where he could put up his defence. Sukhram holds the Power and PWD portfolio in the state government.

MOVE TO BRING MPs UNDER PURVIEW OF LOKPAL BILL
NEW DELHI -  A move is afoot to bring members of  Parliament under the purview of the Lokpal bill to check corruption in high places. India’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madanlal Khurana on Thursday said he had written a letter to the Personnel Ministry to consider the recommendations of the committee of privileges that complaints against MPs under anti-corruption act should be investigated by Lokpal. The committee also suggested that members also disclose their assets from time to time. Khurana said he had asked the Personnel Ministry to consider these recommendations while finalising the Lokpal bill for its introduction in the budget session of Parliament beginning May 27. He said the step was being taken as the BJP-led coalition promised a transparent and honest government. The recommendations were made by an eight-member study group under the chairmanship of the former union minister P Upendra.

UNION GOVERNMENT TO PRESENT BUDGET ON JUNE 1
NW DELHI -  The maiden general budget for 1998-99 of the new BJP-led government will be presented in the Lok Sabha on June 1. Giving details of the financial and other businesses for the budget session commencing May 27,  India’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madanlal Khurana told newsmen here that the pre-budget economic survey would be presented on May 28. Most probably the railway budget would be presented on May 29 preceded by the tabling of a status paper on railways on the opening day. Khurana said the session would be important because some of the policies of the government would be brought before Parliament in the shape of legislative measures during the session when both the houses would have 33 sittings. There would be a recess from June 13 to July 2 to enable standing committees of Parliament to scrutinise the detailed budgetary demands for grants of various ministries.

GUJRAL DEFENDS UNITED FRONT DECISION ON WHEAT IMPORT
NEW DELHI - Former Indian Prime Minister I K Gujral today defended his government’s decision to import two million tonnes of wheat from Australia during its last leg, saying it was intended to avoid any food grain shortfall. "The experts had projected a reduction in wheat output by about six million tonnes following unseasonal rains and late sowing of the crop. We signed the contract, despite being reduced to a minority government, to avoid any future shortfall of the foodgrain,’’ Gujral said here. The delay in the contract could have resulted in paying higher prices in the global market for the import and also the agreement with Australia was the best available option keeping in view the poor quality of wheat of Israel and USA, he said. He said the decision was taken in the wider interest of the nation and the recent controversy in this regard was unwarranted. During an informal conversation with mediapersons soon after inaugurating an international workshop on WTO agreement in agriculture, Gujral said "there is nothing called caretaker government. A government is a government as long as it is in office.’’

OVER 50 FEARED DEAD
PATNA - Over 50 persons were feared drowned when a countryboat capsized in the midstream of river Kosi near Burhwaghat (Matihani) in Khagaria district today, officials said.  Altogether seven bodies have been recovered so far. The boat, carrying over 90 persons, overturned after it was sucked into a whirlpool, according to official reports. While 50 persons were feared drowned, others swam to safety, it said. Local divers have been engaged to trace missing persons as rescue operations were underway.

37 MORE GURUDWARAS COME UNDER SGPC MANAGEMENT
NEW DELHI - In a major decision, the Union Government has yet another demand of its allies- this time the Akali Dal-by transferring the administration of major gurdwaras to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC). This has been a long-standing demand of the Akalis but was ignored by all the previous governments because of the intense infighting among the various committees managing the gurdwaras.  The local committees had been resisting such a transfer because of the huge amount of money generated by the shrines. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification yesterday transferring 37 major gurdwaras most of them in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to the SGPC.  According to the notification, the administration and management of these gurdwaras will now be under the SGPC, making it richer by nearly Rs 7.4 crore annually. Union Chemicals, Fertilizers and Food Minister and a leader of the Akali Dal in Parliament, Surjeet Singh Barnala, welcomed the move.  "I am happy that the BJP government has agreed to our demand," he said. The local committees so far managing these gurdwaras were controlled by one political party or the other-mainly the Congress.  Thus, the move would, also effectively curtail the influence of that party on these holy places. Union Minister for Tourism and Parliamentary Affairs Madan Lal Khurana - who is also in charge of Punjab affairs in the party-said that as per the order, the SGPC Gurdwara Act will stand amended.  Gurdwaras with an annual income between Rs 18 lakh and Rs 20 lakh are governed by Sections 85 and 87 of the Act and their administration handed over to the local committees.  The gurdwaras falling in this category have been transferred. Khurana said that for administrative convenience 27 different committees of SGPC members will be formed to manage and control these gurdwaras.  He recalled that the Akali Dal had been pressing for the transfer of the gurdwaras for years. However, an SGPC office-bearer in Delhi said it had been one of the main demands listed in the Anandpur Sahib Resolution of 1971.  "The demand had been made for a comprehensive All India Gurdwara Act, with the transfer of all the historic gurdwaras in the country to SGPC.  The transfer of 37 gurdwaras in the formerly  unified Punjab (including Haryana and Himachal Pradesh) is just the beginning," he said. Though some of the demands had been incorporated in the Rajiv Gandhi-Harchand Singh Longowal accord in 1985, they were never implemented, the SGPC office-bearer said.  Former general secretary of Shiromani Akali Dal (of then Longowal faction) Onkar Singh Thapar said it was a right step in the right direction, albeit belated. The SGPC office-bearer said they have been pressing for a transfer because the shrines were being "mismanaged". The office-bearer added: "The local committees were siphoning off the funds and the gurdwaras were in a decrepit state. Moreover, it had also become a politically sensitive issue.  "The Akali leaders thought they were, the real religious heads and theirs the real religious party.  Hence they resented some other political party controlling the gurdwaras. "There are bound to be protests from other parties now which have been deprived of the power and the money," the SGPC leader said.

AMARINDER TO MEET TAKHT CHIEF
CHANDIGARH - Capt Amarinder Singh a senior Congress leader will meet the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, on May 8 to submit a written reply of the queries which he was asked to answer by the Jathedar in connection with a complaint against Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president of the SGPC, with regard to the Nirankari issue. Capt Amarinder Singh told pressmen, here today that he had requested Bhai Ranjit Singh over phone to give him appointment for submitting the reply and for orally presenting other material against Mr Tohra.  Accepting the request, Bhai Ranjit Singh had asked him to come to Golden Temple on May 8 at 11 a.m. Capt Amarinder Singh added. The Congress leader had submitted written complaint alleging that by contacting Nirankaris during the recent Lok Sabha election, Mr Tohra had violated the edict issued by the Jathedar of Akal Takht for bading Sikhs to keep any sort of relation with the Nirankaris. Capt Amarinder Singh said he had a lot of material against Mr Tohra which would also be orally presented to Bhai Ranjit Singh. He said Mr Tohra was also guilty of violating the oath which he had taken as "marjiwara" in 1983 for protecting Golden Temple and Sikh traditions in case of any eventuality.  But Capt Amarinder Singh alleged that Mr Tohra was the first person to march out of Golden Temple complex under the protection of the Army when Operation Blue Star took place.

CONG OPPOSES USE OF REVISED POLL ROLLS
CHANDIGARH - The Congress Party has opposed the use of the recently revised electoral rolls in the forthcoming panchayat elections in Punjab. Addressing a  press conference here this afternoon, Mrs Meira Kumar, General Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee (AICC), said that she had got the feedback from her party leaders that a lot of bogus voters had been added in the revised electoral rolls by the ruling SAD-BJP alliance with the aim of winning the elections. The Congress general secretary who earlier presided over a meeting of the coordination committee formed by the party high command for preparing the party for the forthcoming panchayat elections and byelections of the Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha, said that panchayat elections should be conducted on the basis of the voter-lists used in the last Lok Sabha elections. She said that the Congress party was strongly opposed to the advancement of elections of Zila Parishads and block samitis.  These bodies had not completed their term of five years and there was no reason for holding the elections by dismissing these bodies. She said that if the ruling alliance decided to conduct elections to these bodies, the Congress party would move court against the government’s decision. When asked whether the party would enter into an alliance with any political party for contesting the byelection for the Sham Churasi Vidhan Sabha seat and the Tarn Taran Lok Sabha seat, Mrs Meira Kumar, who was accompanied  by Mrs Ambika Soni said that a decision in this regard would be taken by the party high command.  She said that at today’s meeting of the coordination committee, participants gave their opinion.  While an overwhelming majority said that the party should contest the byelections on its own without entering into an alliance with any other party, some were of the view that the party should not hesitate to enter into an alliance with secular parties for contesting the elections. She said that the views expressed by participants at the meeting would be made known to the party high command for taking an appropriate decision.  She said that though names of some aspirants for the party ticket for the byelection in Punjab were discussed, she refused to say an thing further on this issue.  However, she said that names of candidates for both seats would be announced well in advance. When asked about the ongoing war of statements within the Congress party in Punjab, Mrs Meira Kumar said that it had been brought to her notice today.  Nobody was allowed to discuss party matters through the media, she added.  Issues pertaining to the party ought to be discussed at the party platform only.  She said that after going through the statements appropriate action would be taken in this connection. Asked about there commendations of the Moti Lal Vora Committee which visited the state a few weeks ago to get a first-hand report regarding party affairs in Punjab, Mrs Meira Kumar said that the report was with the party president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, and she would take action after going through the recommendations made by the committee. When her attention was drawn to the fact that Mr Jagmeet Brar and Mr Santokh Singh Randhawa did not participate in today’s meeting, Mrs Kumar said that Mr Brar’s mother was sick and he had informed her in this connection. Mr Randhawa’s wife died recently and he could not come owing to this reason.  Among others who attended the meeting of the coordination committee were Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Capt Amarinder Singh, Mr Surinder Singla, Mr Umrao Singh, Mr Tej Parkash Singh, Mr Jagmohan Kang, Mr Harnam Dass Johar and Mr Gurcharan Singh Galib.

SLP IN KULWANT CASE REFERRED TO FULL BENCH OF SC
CHANDIGARH - Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the case concerning the disappearance of a Ropar advocate, his wife and minor son has been referred to a full bench of the Supreme Court.  This was stated before UT Additional District and Sessions Judge, M. R. Batra, by defence counsel.  The judge, while taking up the case, adjourned it to June 6. Seeking adjournment, the counsel stated that the SLP filed before the Supreme Court against the dismissal of their application by the Punjab and Haryana High Court was yet to be taken up. Counsel had earlier contended that challan could not be presented in the court by the police as, under the provisions of law, the case should have been registered on the basis of a complaint and not an FIR. The incident dates back to January 1993.  Kulwant Singh’s father reported to the police that the advocate, his wife and two-year-old son had disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The police, however failed to trace them. The CBI was directed by the Supreme Court to investigate the matter.  Meanwhile, trial was initiated against Harpreet Singh alias Lucky. The CBI after investigations stated that the Lucky was innocent and DSP Jaspal Singh, Inspector Balwant Singh, Sub Inspector Arvinder Bir Singh and Assistant Sub Inspector Darshan Singh were responsible for fabricating evidence against him.

NO HEADWAY IN LIVE BOMB CASE
AMRITSAR - The police has failed to make a headway in the investigation involving the recovery of a live bomb from a rooftop in the Hall Bazar area shortly before Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was to pass on this route to visit Golden Temple and pay homage to martyrs at Jallianwala Bagh, on Monday. The IGP, border range, Mr J.P. Birdi, stated that the building close to Central Cooperative Bank belonged to the parents of famous police official Kiran Bedi.  Police officials detected the bomb an hour before the arrival of the Prime Minister, he said. The bomb was later defused and sent to Chandigarh for forensic examination, the report is still being awaited, he stated. He admitted that there was no progress in the investigations and no arrest has been made so far. The recovery of the bomb was kept secret.  The news came in the wake of the claim of arrest of a woman, Rani, from Jallianwala Bagh at the time of the arrival of the Prime Minister, which the police first described as a "human bomb".  Later on she was declared as innocent.  The woman was a dismissed special police officer (SPO). The arrest of the woman and the recovery of the bomb are being considered serious lapses on the part of the police and security forces which had been maintaining strict security vigil since the programme of Mr Vajpayee’s visit was known. The incident is likely to cast its shadow on the future visits of the dignitaries to the city.

MAJOR FIRE IN THERMAL PLANT
LEHRA MOHABAT - A major fire broke out in a boiler of the unit one of Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP) here last night. Official sources said the fire was noticed in the air-pre-heater section of the boiler around 9 p.m. and caused a loss of more than 50 lakh to Rs 2 crore according to unofficial sources, to the boiler. The damage caused by the fire had also delayed the commissioning of the first unit of the thermal point which was scheduled for June 15, official sources said. The internal fire fighting system of the plant and fire-engineers from Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant were pressed into service for extinguishing the fire.  The fire was brought under control after eight hours. Sources said one fireman and one SDE (subdivisional engineer) suffered minor injuries while fighting the fire.  More than 15 persons cut the wall of the boiler to send water streams inside to extinguish the fire. Mr V. Sharma, Chief Engineer, GHTP, as per the preliminary assessment, the loss was estimated to be about Rs 50 lakh.  The actual loss to the boiler could be judged only after two days when the boiler would cool down and engineer would be able to go inside.  He did not rule out the possibility of loss more than Rs 50 lakh. He said as per the preliminary investigations the cause of fire was soot of oil gathered on the walls of the boiler as it was being tested on the oil for the past one week.  He said somehow the soot caught fire.  He said it was necessary to test the boiler on oil before putting it on the coal fire.  The unit was to be synchronised today.  He said it would take about two months to repair the boiler after procuring all required equipments for repair.  The plant would not be available for full generation before September. He, however, ruled out any four play in the fire.  He claimed that plant premises were fully secure. He stated that a committee for probing the fire had been constituted which would submit its report shortly.  The Punjab State Electricity Board’s higher authorities had been informed about the incident.  The boiler was being looked after by the engineers of the operation wing of the board. He claimed that the boiler was fully insured and so it was not the loss of the PSEB.  The only worrying aspect was that the PSEB would not be able to generate electricity from the plant during the coming paddy season. He said Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) which had supplied the equipment for the boiler had been contracted to repair the boiler at the earliest. Mr Sharma pointed out that the fire area was not sealed for the inspection of the authorities. Earlier, the GHTP authorities also suffered a loss of lakhs of rupees when furnace oil leaked from the storage tanks on April 17 when it was being transported from a goods train to the storage tank.  An inquiry into this case was being conducted by Mr Sharma.

PROBE WITNESSES’HARASSMENT: AMNESTY
PATIALA - The sensational Jaswant Singh Khalra abduction and murder case which had lost some of its sting after the death of prime accused Ajit Singh Sandhu, SSP, last June is now all set to regain the limelight as Amnesty International a world famous body fighting abuses of human rights, has taken a serious view of the recent reports about the intimidation and harassment of the witnesses, petitioner and members of the Khalra action committee fighting the case. In a report sent on Tuesday to the Union Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a copy to the Prime Minister, the Punjab Government and other persons associated with the case of the disappearance of Mr Khalra since September 6, 1995, and his alleged liquidation by the Tarn Taran police, Amnesty International has called the authorities in India to order immediate investigations into the recent allegations of harassment and intimidation of the witnessess and petitioner and members of the Khalra action committee. The apex international body has demanded that any criminal case found to have been falsely filed against individuals as means of intimidation should immediately be withdrawn and action should be taken against those found responsible for such activities. It has recommended to the Central Government to take steps for the protection of the witnesses and others.  It would be pertinent if the security is assigned to those law enforcement officials who are not attached with the Punjab police, says the international body.  The government has also been urged to take steps that the accused officers do not interfere with the judicial process and all these police officers should be immediately suspended in line with Article 16(1) of the United Nations declaration on the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance.  The investigation to establish the fate of Mr Khalra should continue further. The Amnesty has also called upon the Government of India to demonstrate its stated commitment to protect human rights defenders in their work in the country by ensuring that those responsible for the "disappearance" of Mr Khalra are brought to justice fairly and promptly.  This report of the Amnesty assumes significance as the copy is circulated throughout the world and is also tabled before the United Nations. Amnesty International was formed in 1961 by a London-based lawyer Peter Beneson and has over the years assumed significance fighting abuses of human rights.  The Amnest has also fought for the cause of refugees in several countries. The report of the Amnesty regarding Mr Khalra case comes in the wake of recent reports that one of the key accused Mr Kuldip Singh,, a special police officer who was a witness to the incident when Mr Khalra was taken to some place from Kang police station in October 1995, has filed a complaint that Mrs Paramjit Kaur Khalra and other members of the Khalra action committee had threatened him and tried to bribe for giving statement against the police.  Kuldip Singh has also alleged that was given a promise for being give lucrative life in USA and a house Amritsar. This complaint by Mr Kuldip Singh is contested by Mr Barjinder Singh Sodhi, counsel for the petioner, who says that Mr Kuldip Singh had already given a statement to the CBI detailing the incident when Khalra was taken away by police. Another witness Kikkar Singh been implicated in five criminal cases by the police alleges, the Amnesty report alleges. The report says that Mr Kikkar Singh was illegally detained at Kang police station in October 1995. testified to the CBI that he saw Khalra in custody there, 48 days after his "disappearance" on September 1995 and that Mr Khalra had be severely tortured.  He further testified that Mr Khalra was removed from Kang police station on October 1995. Although Mr Kikkar Singh challenged his own detention as being illegal and was granted compensation when a high court upheld his claims, he has since been allegedly implicated in several cases by the police.  In four of the cases, the high court has granted anticipatory bail but in the latest case in which he has been charged (along with other members of his family) with attempted murder he has been denied bail and at present is in judicial custody in Nabha Jail. Amnesty International has also resented that some accused are still continuing police duties.  Following the submission of the CBI report to the Supreme Court in July 1996, the court ordered the Centre and the state government to transfer all accused police officers from districts of Amritsar and Tarn Taran.  However, the Amnesty has received reports that four of the accused continue to work in Tarn Taran police district.  One of the accused, while duly transferred, was promoted as Station House Officer at Mahal Kalan, Sangrur district. This is in violation of Article 16(1) of the UN declaration which states that persons alleged to have committed any acts referred to in Article 4, paragraph one (enforced disappearance), shall be suspended from any official duties during the investigation referred to in article 13 of the UN declaration. All those accused have been on bail during the run-up to their trial.  In November 1996, in anticipation of their arrest, the accused applied for anticipatory bail to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.  The court granted the accused interim bail. Amnesty International notes that Mrs Khalra has alleged that she has been threatened on numerous occasions by police officers in the state to withdraw her petition. Lawyers acting for the petitioner have also been subjected threats.  At a hearing on March 7, 1998 at the special CBI court in Patiala, the accused policemen reportedly openely abused Mr Sodhi, one of the two lawyers acting for the petitioner (Mrs Khalra) and threatened them in front of the Magistrate.