PUNJAB POLICE DGP UNDERLINES THE NEED FOR PRO-ACTIVE POLICING
TO MEET THE RENEWED CHALLENGE OF TERRORISM

Chandigarh, December 10, 2008

Punjab DGP Sh. N.P.S. Aulakh today underlined the need for proactive policing keeping in view the recent terror attack in Mumbai by strengthening the security of vital installations besides ensuring the required preventive measures to face the challenge of renewed threat of terror attacks.

While presiding over a high level meeting to review the security arrangement through out the state to meet any emergent situation, he asked for the institutionalized arrangements for following up of inputs from the state, inter-state as well as from national agencies. He cautioned the field officers against any complacency on their part ..

Directing for the constitution of Quick Response Teams (QRTs) Comprising of fittest security personnel under the leadership of experienced police officers at district level, Sh. Aulakh asked the field officer to submit their requirements in the form of modern weaponry and protective equipments and assured them to provide at the earliest.

Emphasizing on the need to put in order the required preventive measures and to follow the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), the DGP informed that a high level committee would be constituted soon under the leadership of ADGP/Crime and other experienced police officers would be included in it to institutionalize their experience of fighting terrorism in Punjab.

The DGP also asked to keep a constant close watch on the activities of ex terrorists and other Criminal elements and pointed out that for this purpose, the SHOs and In charge Police Posts were the most perfect police officials to update the intelligence inputs.He also directed to strengthen the security of Vital installations through out the state and especially to remain more Vigil on inter state borders and assured to provide more security men for this purpose which were being detached from the protectees under the state police's new initiative to withdraw ten percent security personnel deployed on security duties.

He also emphasized on the need to establish close and cordial relations with the general public to get important and timely information and directed the field officers to devote maximum time for listening to their grievances. On this occasion number of experienced officers expressed their views for countering the renewed threat of terrorism in an effective manner.

Earlier at the onset of the meeting a two minute silence was kept in the memory of those brave heart police officers/officials and NSG Commandos who made supreme sacrifice while fighting with terrorists and those innocent peoples who lost their lives in Mumbai terror attacks.

The meeting was attended by all the ADGsP, Zonal IGs, Range DIGs and SSsP.

BADAL SEEKS BACKLOG OF RS. 113.61 CROREUNDER CRF FROM GoI

Chandigarh December 10, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Union Minister of Shipping and Road Transport T.R. Baalu to immediately release the backlog of Rs. 113.61 crore under for Centre Road Funds (CRF) works.

Addressing a function to mark the dedication of four lane highway from Ambala to Zirakpur (NH-22& NH-21) to the nation by Mr. Baalu here at Dappar near Dera Bassi in SAS Nagar (Mohali) district, Mr. Badal impressed upon the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister to release the entire funds to the tune of Rs. 113.61crore as the Ministry had only agreed to release backlog Rs. 104.92 crore upto year 2006-07. The Chief Minister mentioned that GoI had released only Rs. 275.29 crore against total annual accrual of Rs. 388.90 crore upto year 2007-08.

The Chief Minister also sought Mr. Baalu's intervention to accord approval to the road projects of Zirakpur-Patiala section (NH-64), Dabwali-Malout section (NH-10) besides four laning of National Highways in the state by National Highways Authority of India including Jalandhar-Dhilwan-Amritsar on Jalandhar Amritsar Road (NH-1), Amritsar-Pathankot Road (NH-15), Kharar to Kurali section on Chandigarh-Ropar- Kiratpur Sahib (NH-21), Ludhiana- Talwandi Road (NH-95) and Chandigarh-Ludhiana Road (NH-95). Mr. Badal also raised the issue to revise the compensation to the land owners, because the state government was paying compensation to them on the prevailing market price.

In his address, Mr. Baalu assured the Chief Minister that one of the two toll plazas in the close vicinity in this area would be wound up in view of the lot of hardships caused to the commuters. To another issue about the nonpayment of compensation to the land owners of 5 out of 28 villages in Punjab whose land has been acquired for Zirakpur- Ambala section, he pointed out that compensation to the tune of Rs. 28.96 crore would be given to these owners as per the award against the payment of Rs. 5.85 crore made by the GoI. Mr. Baalu also announced the six laning of Jalandhar-Amritsar- Attari (NH-1) would be completed soon on the top priority. He also assured Mr. Badal that the GoI was committed to give a special treatment to Punjab for best road infrastructure in the state.

Prominent among other who were present on the occasion included Haryana Chief Minister Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Cooperation Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, PWD (B&R) Minister Punjab Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Union Minister of State for Housing Urban Poverty Alleviation (Independent Charge) State Kumari Selja, Chief Minister's Media Advisor Mr. Harcharn Bains and MLA Ambala Mr. Vinod Sharma.

CHANDIGARH PANCHAYAT ELECTIONS BADAL SEEKS GUV'S INTERVENTION FOR ELECTORAL ROLLS IN PUNJABI

CHANDIGARH DECEMBER 10:

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today took a serious view of the neglect of Punjabi language by the Chandigarh UT administration as a medium of official communication. Mr. Badal's strong reaction comes in the wake of the failure of the Union Territory Administration to issue voter lists for the forth coming panchayat elections in Punjabi as the voter lists have been published in Hindi and English alone.

Mr. Badal today officially conveyed his government's objection to this omission. In identical letters to the UT Administrator General (Retd.) SF Rodrigues and State Election Commissioner Dehli & UT Chandigarh Mr. Om Parkash Kelkar, the Chief Minister pointed out that all the villages in the Union Territory are Punjabi speaking areas. A vast majority of the capital city not only speaks but also have strong emotional bonding with Punjabi. The chief minister said that it was necessary to issue electoral roll in Punjabi language in addition to English and Hindi.

In a statement later, Mr. Badal said that the issue had strong emotional, cultural and political implications and the anomaly should be removed immediately. He said that Chandigarh was not only the capital of Punjab but was built solely for the state. He said that the legitimacy of Punjab's rightful claim on the city had never been a subject of debate. The Chief Minister further said way back in 1985, even the then Prime Minister of India had, in a written Accord, acknowledged Punjab's right in this matter and had even set a date for its transfer to the parent state. This had also been ratified by the parliament. He said that this was done in acknowledgement of the fact that Chandigarh and the villages following in it were all Punjabi speaking.

Mr. Badal appealed to the General Rodrigues who is also the Governor of Punjab to intervene personally and immediately to ensure that Punjabi continued to enjoy its legitimate place of respect in the Union Territory. He called for an immediate issuance of electoral rolls in Punjabi. The panchayat elections are due on December 14.

TWO LAC CASES TO BE DISPOSE OFF IN MEGA LOK ADALAT IN DECEMBER 20 AND 21

Chandigarh, December 10, 2008

Keeping in view to reduce the pending court cases, a special campaign has been launched in which target was fixed to dispose off two lac cases in the Mega Lok Adalats going to be held on December 20 & 21, 2008.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab government said that Lok Adalats would be held at the State/District/Sub Division and at state headquarters to settle not only the matter pending before the judicial courts but also Revenue Authorities/Statutory Tribunals constituted under any law including Industrial Tribunals, Labour Courts, Consumer forums and other quasi judicial authorities, to settle pending civil and compoundable criminal cases in the state.

The Spokesman further said that revenue cases relating to Lambardari, partition and mutation proceedings, Land Acquisition Act and Compensation disputes, Punjab Tenancy Act, Land Revenue Act, Punjab Village Common Land Acts, Public Premises Ejectment Act, Election petitions or matters pending before the Executive Authorities under the various relevant laws relating to urban and rural local bodies, Cooperative Societies Act and recovery proceedings, Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, Excise and Taxation cases, Cases under the Electricity Act and Motor Vehicles Accident Claims etc. would also be settled.

The spokesman pointed out that steps would be taken to persuade the parties to resolve the disputes and work out modalities, before the actual holding of Lok Adalat on December 20 & 21, 2008.

Interested parties may bring their cases in these Lok Adalats for the quick dispensation of Justice, the spokesman added.