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| Tuesday, September 5, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Finance panel grants 52 pc more to Punjab Death in custody: 7 cops
suspended Project to check spurious
drugs GND
Univarsity sets up panel Teachers to court
arrest
today Tributes paid to Kumaramangalam, Pilot,
others |
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| Youth stabbed 57 times
by 4 acquaintances AMRITSAR, Sept 4 — Twenty-year-old Tejpal Singh was stabbed by his acquaintances today at Ramnagar Mohalla here. New drain to
end waterlogging
Remarks on
Shaheed Bhagat Singh objected to Protest against MLA’s
behaviour Sikhism distorted at millennium summit:
Ahluwalia Candidates await
interview call Bandh against killing of woman Seeing films at the cost of classes Trust to upgrade
Jalandhar hospital
Mystery surrounds illegal digging in
haveli
Man kills son Co-accused of KLF man
surrenders 15-day judicial
remand
for jail warden Two held in
rape case Villagers
assault three forest officials
Implement pay panel
report:
teachers Badal lauds role
of teachers NSUI members
hold protest rally
Spare part dealers flay ST hike
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Finance panel grants 52 pc more to Punjab NEW DELHI, Sept 4 — The Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Mr Jual Oram, said today an analysis of the recommendations of the 11th Finance Commission and the supplementary report with that of the 10th Finance Commission report indicated that Orissa would get 113.82 per cent more following the latest recommendations. “Orissa is gaining a lot. While the 10th Finance Commission awarded Orissa Rs 9706.55 crore, the 11th Finance Commission recommendation is Rs 20754.50 crore,” Mr Oram said. A comparative study of the recommendations of the two commissions indicates that the 11th Finance Commission has recommended more than 100 per cent transfer of funds from the Centre to eight states. These states are Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. However, Haryana will get 50.5 per cent more from the Centre, Himachal Pradesh 56.6 per cent more and Punjab 52 per cent more. While the 10th Finance Commission recommended Rs 2793.1 crore, the 11th Finance Commission has increased it to Rs 4205.7 crore. In the case of Himachal, it has been increased from Rs 4761.6 crore to Rs 7460.4 crore and for Punjab it has been increased from Rs 3569.4 crore to Rs 5428.5 crore. The overall increase between the two commissions have been 91.9 per cent. It has been increased from Rs 226623.3 crore to Rs 434905.4 crore. Mr Oram said the net proceeds of the sharable central taxes and duties was distributed as per the recommendation of the finance commission based on different weightages. While the 10th commission accorded 20 per cent weightage to population, it was reduced to 10 per cent by the 11th commission. The difference between the incomes of rich and poor states was given 60 per cent weightage by 10th commission and it was increased to 62.5 per cent by the 11th commission. Geographical area was given 5 per cent weightage by the 10th commission and it was increased to 7.5 per cent by the 11th commission. On the basis of the index of infrastructural developments of the states, the 10th commission distributed 5 per cent of the funds and it was increased to 7.5 per cent by the 11th commission. The 10th commission had reduced the weightage based on tax efforts from 10 per cent to 5 per cent. Because of this, rich states would get relatively less funds and poor states like Orissa would gain, he said. Further, the 11th commission put greater importance on fiscal discipline and it gave 7.5 per cent weightage to it, which was not earlier there in the 10th commission. And, to bridge the non-plan revenue deficit, the 11th commission has provided Rs 673.60 crore, which is Rs 300 crore more than that of the 10th commission. For calamity relief expenditure, grants to local bodies and for upgradation and special problems, the 11th commission has recommended Rs 1054.26
crores. |
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Death in custody: 7 cops
suspended SANGRUR, Sept 4 — All seven policemen of the Malerkotla police allegedly involved in the custodial death of Balbir Singh, a dalit youth from Malerkotla, and nephew (sister’s son) of Mr Sarwan Singh Phillaur, a Punjab Minister, who died on September 2 at Malerkotla, have been suspended. None of them has been arrested so far. Talking to The Tribune this afternoon, a senior police officer on condition of anonymity, said the seven policemen had been suspended as they faced a criminal case under Section 302 of the IPC registered at Malerkotla. The suspended policemen are Inspector Ram Kumar, head constables Bahadur Singh and Harbhajan Singh, and constables Dilbar Khan, Bhim Chand, Sukhwant Singh and Hans Raj. The police officer added none of them had been arrested so far as they had absconded. However, they would be arrested soon as police parties had been sent to different places to nab them, he added. The police has received the post-mortem report of the deceased, Balbir Singh, but the doctors who conducted post-mortem have not yet ascertained the cause of death. The viscera of the deceased has been sent for examination, after the report of which the cause of death will be ascertained, it is also learnt. The officer also disclosed that in the post-mortem report everything had been discussed at length by the doctors. He indicated that the doctors had not found any major external injury on the body of Balbir Singh. Balbir Singh was arrested by the Malerkotla
police alongwith three other youths on September 2 on the
charge of gambling. He was allegedly beaten up
mercilessly which reportedly proved fatal, later.
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Project to check spurious
drugs SAS NAGAR, Sept 4 — The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has chalked out a multi-pronged strategy to check the manufacture and use of spurious drugs in the country. Monitoring of drug testing laboratories by the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation was also on the anvil. This was disclosed by the Drugs Controller-General of India, Mr Ashwini Kumar, in an interview with the TNS here today. Mr Kumar, who was at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research ( NIPER) to inaugurate a programme on “Preparation and assessment of pharmaceutical registration dossier” , said the ministry was providing an assistance of Rs 5 crore to the respective state drug controller authorities to purchase drug testing equipment. To improve the national network of surveillance, the ministry has planned an electronic date base and consultants had been appointed to develop the software for the Rs 5-crore project. The project also envisages computerising the state-level and the divisional-level headquarters and hook it on to the national network so as to have a uniformity in the enforcement activities. Mr Kumar said officials of the ministry were interacting with the respective state authorities to know their requirement so that the project could be commissioned by the end of next year. “With a more responsive approach towards the problem of spurious drugs, the states in the northern region had been asked to regularly interact with the pharmaceutical industry and the traders involved in the trade. The industry and the traders have more sources as compared to the government”, he said adding that the officials in the four zones of the central drug authorities will regularly interact with the representatives of the industry and the trading community. On being asked the problematic areas as far manufacturing and use of spurious drugs was concerned, he said the area in and around Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu figures high in this regard. The enforcement part was, however, a state subject, he said. He also disclosed that changes in the drug licencing system which includes longer duration of the licences and a reasonable hike in the licence fee structure were on the anvil. The draft notification of the regulation of imported drugs was likely to be issued by the end of this month, said Mr Kumar. * Rs 5 crore project for national information system to check spurious drugs. * Pharmaceutical industry and traders dealing in drugs to be involved in the checking of spurious drugs. * Reasonable hike in the drug licence
fee and duration of the licence to be increased.
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GND
Univarsity sets up panel AMRITSAR, Sept 4 — On the confidential demi-official letter of the Principal Secretary, Higher Education, Guru Nanak Dev University has decided to constitute a sub-committee to implement UGC recommendations for having 180 teaching days, reducing summer vacations and gazetted holidays. Mr G.P.S. Sahi, Principal Secretary, Higher Education, in a demi-official letter to the Vice-Chancellors of various universities in the state had communicated the desire of the Punjab Government that the universities and colleges must have 180 teaching days. Apart from this, the lecturers and readers must teach for 16 and 14 hours a week, respectively. Their stay in colleges should not be less than 40 hours a week. The demi-official letter of the Principal Secretary reads that as per the UGC recommendations there should be only eight restricted holidays. The gazetted holidays should be observed on Independence Day, Republic Day, Gandhi Jayanti, Divali and Baisakhi only. Interestingly, neither the letter of the Principal Secretary nor the university authorities have mentioned whether Sundays and Saturdays would be part of the 180-day schedule or not. While the university has a five-day week there is a six-day week in colleges affiliated to it. The decision of the Punjab Government and Guru Nanak Dev University to implement the UGC recommendations in a piecemeal manner has evoked mixed response. Mr Ashwani Sharma, president of the Punjab State Private Colleges Principals Federation and Guru Nanak Dev University Principals Association, said if the government wanted to implement the recommendations of the UGC it must be in toto and not piecemeal. Mr Sharma said Principals were ready to implement the recommendation on 180 teaching days on the condition that the retirement age must be increased to 62 years as per the UGC recommendations. He said the universities which were having five-day week could not implement the 180 teaching days condition. If the university was serious about implementing this clause of the UGC recommendations it must have six-day week on the pattern of the colleges. He said Guru Nanak Dev University had already shifted its Mass Communication Department to Doaba College. The teachers of Doaba College did not mind teaching six days a week to the students of mass communication while the university teachers give the logic that they can teach for five days only. However, Principal J.S. Nagpal appreciated the decision of the state government to implement the UGC recommendations. He said such a decision would improve the quality of education. However, the Government College Teachers Association has strongly opposed the decision of the state government to mark attendance and stay for 40 hours in a week. Prof Jaipal Singh and Prof Balwinder Singh, president and general secretary of the association, respectively, said the teachers could not accept this “draconian” decision of the government. They said lecturers were class I officers and would not mark their attendance on registers. Mr Sharma said, “The federation of Principals of 165 colleges agrees in principle to have 180 teaching days in universities and colleges but stress that recommendations of the UGC must be implemented in toto.” He suggested the university and colleges could save at least 10 days by having only one house examination instead of two at present. Another 10 days could be saved by introducing leave encashment scheme for the college teachers. He said 20 more days could be saved by coordinating the date sheets of the board and university examinations as far as plus one and plus two examinations (including practicals) were concerned. There must be drastic changes in the present system, he held. He said the colleges and universities should not be closed under the Negotiable Instruments Act if it wanted to implement the condition for 180 teaching days. Though Guru Nanak Dev University had announced the results of various tests/examinations well in time, other universities waste many days on this. Apart from this there are many other factors which would hamper the implemenation of 180 teaching days unless drastic corrective measures were taken. Mr Sharma said the examinations for BA, MA, B Com and BSc etc could be conducted by the colleges concerned as a similar system was existing earlier. It would be a big step towards granting autonomy to the colleges as suggested by the UGC. It would also help in curbing copying. Mr Sharma opined teaching days could not be increased if results were declared late. The college and university teachers
say they cannot stay for 40 hours in a week under the
prevailing conditions. Colleges and universities do not
have enough infrastructure to facilitate their stay for a
longer time. They say the Assistant Registrar who is
equivalent to a lecturer enjoys much more facilities as
compared to him. Similarly, the Deputy Registrar, who is
considered equivalent to reader and Registrar, is
equivalent to a professor and enjoys the facilities of a
cooler, an airconditioner etc which are not available to
the teaching staff. In such poor conditions lecturers are
not ready to accept the recommendations of the UGC
piecemeal. They have given ample indications to launch a
peaceful struggle to oppose the move of the government.
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Teachers to court
arrest
today PHAGWARA, Sept 4 — In an unprecedented move, various units of Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) today sent telegrams to the President and the Chief Justice of India seeking their intervention in the pension, gratuity case. Prof Jasbir Singh Dhaliwal, executive member, PCCTU, said here that these telegrams were sent to brought to the notice of these two dignitaries about how the Punjab Government was refusing to implement its own notification and the Act about pension and gratuity for the non-government college teachers. Meanwhile, a meeting of coordination committee of colleges run by the SGPC was held to express resentment over exclusion of unaided posts from revised pay scales, said Mr Dhaliwal, who is also convener of the committee. Revised scales should be given forthwith to such teachers in all 12 SGPC-run colleges, demanded the committee’s meeting. Prof KBS Sodhi President, PCCTU, also attended the meeting. Meanwhile, four lakh
teachers, under the banner of their apex body AIFUCT,
would observe the Teachers Day as “dhokhadhari
divas” (betrayal day) throughout country tomorrow.
While activists would court arrest outside the office of
the HRD Ministry, others would hold one-hour campus
dharnas against having been ditched by HRD Minister Murli
Manohar Joshi on the demands of career advancement
scheme, 14,940 scale to DPEs and librarians, two
increments to Ph.D holders as conceded on September 5,
1998, in wake of agreement reached after 26-day
countrywide strike according to AIFUCT.
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Tributes paid to Kumaramangalam, Pilot,
others CHANDIGARH, Sept 4 — Tributes were paid in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today to Mr P. R. Kumaramangalam, Mr Rajesh Pilot, Mr Dilbagh Singh Daleke, Mr Jasdev Singh Sandhu and other leaders who died in the recent past. The Leader of the House, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, said both Mr Kumaramangalam and Mr Pilot were promising and talented political leaders but unfortunately they were no more with the people of the country. In their death, the country had suffered a big political loss. Mr Badal also paid tributes to Mr Sandhu, Mr Bhagwan Dass Arora, Mr Partap Chand Bhandari, Comrade Darshan singh Jhabal, Dr Usha Mehta, Mr Tara Singh, Mr Santokh Singh Klota, Mr Bakhtawar Singh and the Amarnath yatris killed near Pahalgam. The Leader of the Opposition, Choudhary Jagjit Singh, Mr Hardev Arshi (CPI), Mr Ajit Inder Singh Mofar (SAD-A), Mr Balramji Dass Tandon (BJP) and Mr Dhanwant Singh Dhuri, an Independent MLA, paid tributes on behalf of their respective political parties and the people of the state to the departed leaders. The Speaker, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, also paid tributes. A two-minute silence was observed by the members in the House. Mr Arshi, Mr Mofar
and Choudhary Jagjit Singh urged a judicial probe into
the killing of the Amarnath yatris while Mr Dhanwant
Singh sought an inquiry in connection with the death of
Mr Bhagwan Dass Arora. Youth stabbed 57
times by 4 acquaintances AMRITSAR, Sept 4 — Twenty-year-old Tejpal Singh was stabbed by his acquaintances today at Ramnagar Mohalla here. A matriculate and a son of Satpal Singh Randhawa, a junior engineer and teacher mother Tejpal was stabbed 57 times before he succumbed to his injuries at his residence. Both his parents were away to work when four of his
acquaintances came to his house. The guests were served tea and cold
drinks in the drawing room. The guests started opening cupboards. When
Tejpal protested he was stabbed with a screw-driver about 57 times.
Reportedly the acquaintances decamped with Rs 70,000 in cash and six
tolas of gold. New drain to
end waterlogging KALALWALA (Bathinda), Sept 4 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said a new drain would be dug in Talwandi Sabo subdivision to end waterlogging in many villages of the state bordering Haryana. Mr Badal, who held a “sangat darshan” here last evening, said for digging a drain to remove waterlogging in Kalalwala, Nathea, Fatta Balu, Golewala and Rayyia villages, a special project would be prepared so that waterlogged land could be made fit for cultivation within one month. He added that the new drain would be linked with the Rori drain falling in Haryana. For this, the Punjab Government had been holding talks with the Haryana Government. He added that only the new drain would be a permanent solution to the problem of waterlogging.He claimed that the Punjab Government would take all steps to enable the farmers owning the waterlogged land to sow wheat crop in the coming season. He added that efforts for eradicating waterlogging had been started in these villages by planting the seedlings of eucalyptus.Mr Badal said the focal point at Kalalwala village would be set up shortly while the schools of these villages would be upgraded on priority basis. He also announced Rs 5 lakh for constructing a siphon under the canal so that works related to removal of waterlogging could be expedited. The Chief Minister also announced that a common water works for the three villages would be set up shortly while all link roads which leading to Haryana from these villages would be strengthened on
priority. He directed Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) officials to give power connections to the tubewells in the waterlogged belt in these
villages.Mr Amarjit Singh, member, Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), Mr Balwinder Singh
Bhunder, MP, and Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner,
accompanied Mr Badal. |
CPI Executive meeting CHANDIGARH, Sept 4 — Dr Joginder Dayal,
secretary, Punjab State Council of the CPI, said today
that a meeting of the state Executive of the party would
be held here on September 7 to decide about the Sunam
byelection and issues pertaining to the procurement of
paddy.
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Remarks on
Shaheed Bhagat Singh objected to AMRITSAR, Sept 4 — The Shiromani Youth Akali Dal (Kahlon) (Syad) has taken strong objection to unnecessary comments on Shaheed Bhagat Singh by the institute of Sikh Studies. In a press note today the dal said that the comments had caused hurt not only to the Sikh community but to the whole country whose freedom was achieved by supreme sacrifices of our freedom fighters. Mr Kuldip Singh Kahlon, president, in a statement, reminded that Shaheed Bhagat Singh was one amongst 121 freedom fighters of India who fearlessly accepted the fate of being hanged for the sake of the country. He said by making light of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and making uncalled for remarks has hurt the feelings of families of freedom fighters. The dal has appealed to the Institute of Sikh Studies to show restrain before making any comments on historical personalities held in great honour by the country.
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Co-accused of KLF man
surrenders JALANDHAR, Sept 4 — Bhupinder Singh Bhupi, co-accused in the conspiracy of escape of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) terrorist from the police custody at Nabha, surrendered before the district police authorities. Jassa, KLF terrorist had escaped from the custody of Patiala police outside Nabha courts on August 25 with three persons in a white gypsy. According to Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, Bhupinder Singh along with Amritpal Singh and Nishan Singh had participated in the escape. However Nishan Singh was arrested by the district police on August 26. He further said that raids were made at various places to arrest the remaining culprits. Meanwhile the Nurmahal police has arrested two persons for the murder of Rakesh Kumar in Pasla village on August 31. According to the police Rajesh Kumar had a dispute with Prem Pal and Surjit Ram which was settled by the village panchayat three months back. But Prem Pal and Surjit Ram accompanied by another
person way-laid Rakesh Kumar near bus stand at Pasla and
attacked with sharp-edged weapons. Rakesh was admitted in
civil hospital Jalandhar where he succumbed to his
injuries. The accused were produced before the
magistrate, the police said. |
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Protest against MLA’s
behaviour PATIALA, Sept 4 — Employees of the Municipal Corporation, including the octroi staff, staged a massive protest rally against the alleged misbehaviour of the city MLA and former minister Mr. Surjit Singh Kohli against the octroi staff of the corporation, here today. Mr S.S. Kohli had misbehaved against a octroi superintendent of the Municipal Corporation, Mr Amrik Singh, on September 2, when Mr Amrit Singh tried to check the goods loaded in a truck owned by Mr Kohli. While checking the goods loaded in the truck, Mr Amrik Singh suspected that at least 20 sacks were filled with dry fruit stocks being brought in the city. When the truckload was being downloaded, Mr Kohli and his supporters reached the spot and had an altercation with Mr Amrik Singh. Mr Kohli allegedly started misbehaving with the corporations octroi staff and used unparliamentary language against Mr Amrik Singh and other members of the octroi staff. When contacted, the commissioner of the corporation Mr K.S. Kang said that when he called up Mr Kohli to verify the facts, the later denied that he had misbehaved with any official of the octroi staff of the corporation. Mr Kang did not rule out the possibility of getting a case registered against Mr Kohli. After the protest rally, which was
held by more than 300 employees of he corporation inside
the premises of the corporation, the employees submitted
a memorandum to the Commissioner, Mr K.S. Kang, in which
they said that if no action was taken against Mr Kohli,
they would resort to agitational means.
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Sikhism distorted at millennium summit:
Ahluwalia PATIALA, Sept 4 — Punjabi University Vice Chancellor and Guru Gobind Singh Foundation President Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia today said that Sikhism had been poorly represented and distortingly projected at the New York Millennium World Peace Summit which was held in the United Nations General Assembly hall from August 28 to August 31. In a statement here, in his capacity as president of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, Dr Ahluwalia said, Sikh scholars were shocked at the summit’ s formal approach to the Sikh religion which was described as a branch of the Vaishanava sect of the Hindu Bhakti movement. He said he along with other special invitees, including Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, Punjabi University Foreign centre’s Director Dr Balkar Singh and himself had protested against this projection and circulated their view among the delegates. The foundation chief said the Sikh delegates had stressed that Sikhism was an independent religion. He said following this the misrepresentation was rectified and a fresh folder was circulated the next day by the organisers which made respectful reference to Sikhism and Guru Nanak in particular. He said it was unfortunate that Sikhism, which claimed to be on the five major world religions, was little represented at the summit. He said the mainstream of the Sikh religious leadership was represented by Takht Keshgarh Sahib Jathedar Bhai Manjit Singh who was given just two minutes by the organisers. He said the public address system was switched off when Bhai Manjit Singh had hardly finished the opening paragraph of his address. Dr Ahluwalia said a little more time was given to Yogi Harbhajan Singh Khalsa who is the representative of the American converts to Sikhism and to Baba Jagjit Singh of the Namdhari cult. The foundation chairman said during different sessions the Sikh delegates tried to get incorporated in the declaration of peace not merely the platitudinous expression ‘equal respect for all religions’ but the really meaningful expression ‘equal respect for all religions in their self defined identities’. He said despite overwhelming response from fellow delegates the organisers were not prepared to change the declaration for the concept of self defined identies appeared to be anethema to them. He said the spiritual
and religious leaders of other religions not only made
massive appearance at this summit but also came well
prepared. He said the Sikh religious leadership showed
how ill-equipped and unprepared it remains for such
global meets. |
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Tributes paid to
bank manager AMRITSAR, Sept 4 — Paying rich tribute to the Senior Manager of the local Punjab and Sind Bank, Mr Rajinder Mohan Singh, the acting chairman, Mr M.S. Kapur, said it was a great loss not only to his family but also to the entire banking sector. Mr Kapur said all possible help would be given to the family of the manager. Mr Rajinder Mohan Singh along with a bank guard, Mr Gurdeep Singh, was shot dead during the daring dacoity in the Sultanwind branch on August 22. The
chairman also added that a library in memory of Rajinder
Mohan Singh would be set up at the zonal
office. Besides, the chairman, the entire top brass of
the bank was present at the bhog ceremony held at the
Gurdas Hall. The BJP MLA, Mrs Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, Mr
Ajay Pal Singh Mirankot and others paid tributes to the
manager. The President of the PSB Officers Federation,
Mr Dhanwant Singh, urged the government to review the
bank’s security as was done during the peak period
of militancy.
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Medicare for
28
lakh pensioners sought JALANDHAR, Sept 4 — The All-India Central Government Pensioners Association (north India region) has demanded free medicare for nearly 28 lakh Central Government and family pensioners. According to Mr V.S. Jolly, General Secretary of the association, in a memorandum submitted to the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Ms Vasundhara Raje, the association has drawn her attention to the proceedings of the 16th meeting of the standing committee of voluntary associations of Central Government Pensioners, presided over by her in Delhi on July 7. The association has also demanded that as per recommendations of the 5th Pay Commission departmental dispensaries in the country should either be upgraded or closed down due to the lack of medical facilities. The association has
demanded that the Central Government and family
pensioners of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu
and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, should
also be allowed free medicare in the PGI, Chandigarh,
which is a prestigious Central Government Medical
Institute in the northern India, Mr Jolly said. |
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SSP: arrest
of bank robbers soon AMRITSAR, Sept 4 — Mr Parampal Singh Sidhu, SSP, today stated that the police was “inching towards the arrest of the accused” who committed the murder of a senior Bank Manager and his bodyguard before decamping with Rs 1.97 lakh from a bank. The murder-cum-dacoity was committed on August 27 in the Punjab and Sind Bank branch on the Sultanwind road. Three young turbaned men entered the bank in broad daylight, committed the dacoity and decamped. The SSP,
addressing presspersons said the police had found a clue
to the identity and whereabouts of the accused in the
crime and said, “Their arrest is possible within a
day or two”. Earlier, an alert was sounded in the
entire border belt and security beefed up following the
incident to nab the culprits. |
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Candidates await
interview call FAZILKA, Sept 4 — The Punjab Government is understood to have shelved the proposal to conduct interviews for the recruitment of panchayat secretaries in the Rural Development and Panchayat Department. Announcements for holding interviews were made earlier. About two years ago 1.50 lakh candidates appeared for the test of posts of panchayat secretary on November 22, 1998, for filling about 700 vacancies. Of these 33 per cent of posts were reserved for women. Out of the 1,50,000 candidates only 3826 of them cleared the test. The result was declared on August 14 this year. It is learnt that there was a tussle between the minister and ruling party politicians and the then Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayat Department over the issue of declaration of results. The secretary, reportedly, did not yield to the pressure for passing certain candidates. Instead the then Secretary, Mr Jai Singh Gill, released the result on merit basis. After declaring the result he, reportedly, took the floppy containing the result in his own custody. Knowledgeable sources say that as a consequence of this tough stand the favourite candidates of ministers and ruling parties politicians could not cleared. Out of the 3826 candidates who have cleared the test only 700 have to be recruited. The government has reportedly not been able to finalise the list of the candidates. Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Minister Rural Development and Panchayat, Punjab after the declaration of the test result on August 14 had stated that the interview for selection of the panchayat secretaries would be held soon. In the Fazilka area 14 candidates have cleared the test. |
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Bandh against killing of woman BHUCHO MANDI (Bathinda) Sept 4 — All commercial organisations, including shops, petrol stations factories and schools, remained closed today at the instance of residents of the town in protest against the killing of Nirmala Devi by suspected members of the Kale Kachchhewale gang on the night of September 2. The husband of deceased Nirmala Devi, Mr Raj Kumar, her two daughters Alka and Veena, father-in-law Mr Madan Lal and one other relative Mani Ram Jindal were injured severely when they were also attacked by the looters. The residents also blocked the traffic on the Bathinda-Barnala main road for six hours. Even the car of a senior official of Muktsar district was not allowed to proceed towards Bathinda from the Bhucho Mandi side. The residents along with activities of political and social organisations also staged a dharna in front of the local police chowki. The residents alleged that the authorities concerned had failed to check the looters who had been striking in the area at will. They pointed out that from June, 2000, to till date, the looters had killed two women and injured more than 12 persons by entering their houses. The criminals had also looted the jewellery along with cash. They said fear had gripped people of the area as such incidents had been increasing day by day but the Punjab Government had failed to take any step to contain such crimes. They alleged that under Mr Parkash Singh Badal’s rule, no law- abiding citizen was safe even in his or her house. The reports of criminals looting people in their houses by attacking them had been pouring in from every nook and corner of the state. Police sources said a massive hunt had been launched to nab the culprits and some suspected persons had been rounded up also for questioning. Mr Kapil Dev, SP(O), Mr Harbaz Singh SP(H), Mr P.K. Rai, ASP(City), Mr S.S. Khosa, DSP, Phul, and Mr Bhupinder Singh, SHO, Nathana police station, were present at the dharna site.
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Seeing films at the cost of classes BATHINDA: The trend of watching a Bollywood blockbuster by bunking their classes has been catching on among school-going children in this city. Whenever a box-office hit comes to a cinema hall, children leave no stone unturned to watch the matinee show of the first day of its screening. The craze among the students to watch a movie by bunking classes has emerged as they have been finding it convenient to watch the movie at the matinee show without fear of being caught by their parents or other kin as the school and matinee show timings are the same. This phenomenon has become so common that school children can be seen in uniform at cinema. Films having good music, less violence and a good story attract the biggest rush. Says one boy: “I watch the movie on the first day, first show, as I find no time to watch my favourite movie after school time because of tuitions. Moreover, my parents do not allow me to go to cinema alone on Sundays or other holidays.” Apart from children, college students also flock to cinema houses by bunking classes. A cross-section of teachers talking to TNS said it had become a fashion among the school kids to watch movies during their classes. They added that most students who used to go to see cinemas during school hours also indulged in drug addiction and smoking. Obscene posters of “adult” movies also attracted students to cinemas. Some of the parents with whom the TNS talked to pointed out that they could not keep a watch on the activities of their wards while they were in school. They said that every school should develop its own system to check such activities. Mr Sadhu Ram Kusla, General Secretary of the Public Grievances Association, has urged the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to ban the display of obscene posters. He added that the authorities should also take steps to protect public property from defacement as a result of pasting of movie posters on it.
Trust to upgrade Jalandhar hospital GURDASPUR, Sept 4 — Sant Kashmira Singh, President of the Sant Samaj, and head of the Swami Gurbachan Lal Charitable Trust, Jalandhar while addressing a largely attended congregation at Ghot Pokar, 2 km from here, yesterday said he would start a 10-bedded hospitals in backward areas of Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts very soon. A survey in this regard was already under progress. The president of the samaj said he had sought permission from the Central Government to start a medical college near Gurdaspur for which an adequate land had been offered to him free of cost. But, the government did not give him permission and instead was probing the sources from where his trust was getting donations. He said that the trust was already running a 101-bedded hospital at Jalandhar. The hospital would shortly be upgraded to 202 beds. As many as 35 per cent of the patients being treated at the hospital are given free medical aid irrespective of the high cost of surgery or medicines they require. Sant Kashmira Singh, earlier,
inaugurated a medical camp at Ghot Pokar at the premises
of Kuldip Rice mill. More than 2,000 patients were
examined for various diseases. At least 50 patients were
recommended for being operated upon for various diseases
at a charitable hospital in Jalandhar. Medicines worth Rs
2 lakh were distributed free of cost. |
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No dearth of employment
opportunities PATIALA, Sept 4 — Despite computerisation in almost all fields of life, there is still ample scope for job opportunities. This was stated by Mr R.S. Nanda, General Manager, Planning and Development, State Bank of Patiala while inaugurating the millennium batch of the MBA streams of the Punjab School of Management Studies (PSMS) on the Punjabi University campus here today. Mr Nanda said the present phase of globalisation had poised serious challenges but at the same time provided more opportunities in a larger perspective. The banking industry faced a big challenge as by incorporating computerisation at nearly all levels, nearly 60,000 working personal would be retrenched. He added that at the same time keeping in view the growth of the service sector in the banking industry, there were enough employment opportunities. Mr Nanda said banks had
been permitted to invest 5 per cent of their surplus in
the equity based securities which would lead to the
creation of specialised jobs in the area of investment
decision making in the banking industry. |
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Cowshed
project inaugurated AMRITSAR, Sept 4 — A committee has been formed under the Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to maintain the Valmiki Ashram at Sri Ram Tirth Temple and its sarovar. This was disclosed by Mr Balram Ji Das Tandon, Minister for Local Bodies, at the temple where he inaugurated a cowshed project worth Rs 20 lakh. He
announced a grant of Rs 50,000 towards the project from
his discretionary fund and also instructed Mr Subhash
Sharma, Mayor, to double the annual grant from Rs 50,000
to Rs 1 lakh. |
Mystery surrounds illegal digging in
haveli PATIALA, Sept 4 — Mystery surrounds the illegal digging up of a room in the Kaur Sahab ki Haveli shortly before its demolition was started by a private contractor on behalf of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) which has acquired the ‘haveli’ and the adjoining three acre land in the heart of the city to ensure it is put to “optimum use”. A rectangular trench has been dug up illegally in one of the rooms in the ‘haveli’ after it had been taken over by PUDA from the Public Works (Building and Roads) Department. The trench is nearly six feet deep and around nine feet long. Mud has been taken out from the trench which has partly filled the room. A visit to the room revealed an empty bottle of English liquor besides a few glasses. A part of the wall has also been investigated with a pick axe. The excavation seems to be the work of a professional. The discovery of the trench two days back has sent ripples among the workers dismantling other structures in the ‘haveli’ complex besides PUDA officials with various speculations being cast about the purpose of the trench. The trench was discovered by a chowkidar and reported to the private contractor who has been assigned with the demolition job. The private contractor confirmed this adding he had informed the two security staff deployed by PUDA about the incident. Security personnel Jaspal Singh said he had informed PUDA officials about the incident adding the room had been dug up before he was deputed on duty at the site. PUDA official Chhote Lal, who conducted a survey of the building two months back before PUDA formally took over its possession from the PWD told TNS that the trench had not been dug up when he conducted a survey of the building. He said PUDA had been informed about the incident . PUDA officials, are, however, baffled about the incident and have not conducted any inquiry into it. The matter has not been reported to the police by either the contractor or PUDA. Mr Sudershan Khosla, Estate Officer, PUDA has, however, ordered round-the-clock security at the haveli. Earlier, two police personnel on deputation with PUDA had been giving duty at the haveli during the day only. Mr Khosla stated that the security personnel had been directed not to allow any person into the building after dark, including the private contractor responsible for dismantling the structure. He stated that according to the terms of the tender, the private contractor assigned with the job of dismantling the structure would be given Rs 13 lakh and all masonry and wooden objects would be his to keep. He said, however, according to the terms of the contract any treasure found at the site would be taken by PUDA on behalf of the government. It is a mystery as to how the trench was dug
up in the inner room because no one seems to know about
it, including government employees living on the first
floor above the dug up room. Employees still occupying
the first floor of the ‘haveli’ said though
they had come to know of the excavation they did not know
how it happened. The room had been occupied by one
Rajpal, who is presently working at the officers hostel
of the PWD for nearly 20 years before he shifted out
around one and half years back. Rajpal says he had locked
the room and handed it over to his department. |
Man kills son BATHINDA, Sept 4 — Ghansham Dass was allegedly murdered by his father Fakir Chand late last night when he was sleeping in his house in the Lal Singh Basti area of this town. Police sources said Fakir Chand, who retired from the Indian Railways about 10 years ago, hit his son on the head with a sharp-edged weapon twice. He also attacked with the same weapon another person, a relative of his son, who was also sleeping on an adjacent cot. After committing the crime, the accused came down and went into his room and slept. The son who was injured also came down and told his mother that he was having a severe headache. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was given first aid. Ghansham Dass was then shifted to the Civil Hospital here for treatment. The doctor there referred him to a hospital in Ludhiana. By the time, the victim’s mother managed to collect money for the treatment, he had succumbed to his injuries. Police sources added the body was handed over to deceased’s relatives after the post-mortem. A case in this connection had been registered in the city police station under Section 302 of the IPC.
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15-day judicial remand for jail warden ROPAR, Sept 4 (PTI) — Ombir Singh, Warden of Burail jail in Chandigarh allegedly having links with killers of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, detained in the jail, was today remanded in judicial remand for 15 days by a local court. The warden had, earlier, been remanded to police custody for custodial interrogation for eight days. Additional Civil Judge Ropar D.S. Malwai sent him to central jail Patiala till September 18 after the accused was produced before the court by the Ropar police requesting further police remand for 10 days. The judge rejected the police demand. Ombir Singh was arrested on August 22 by the Morinda police for allegedly trying to fax a message of terrorists lodged in the Burail jail to their supporters in England. The warden admitted before the judge, he was
given Rs 50,000 by some person whom be declined to know
to fax a message of terrorist Balwant Singh lodged in the
jail. |
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Two held in
rape case PHILLAUR, Sept 4 — A girl was gangraped by two youths near Muthadda-Kalan village when she was coming from Dallewal village to Muthadda-Kalan yesterday, the police said. According to an FIR lodged with the Phillaur police by the girl, she was coming to her village on foot when the two accused stopped her near a well and raped her. She also alleged that both the accused also snatched her ear rings after the rape. Medical examination of the girl confirmed the
rape. The police has arrested Jeevan Singh and Nabal
Kishore under Sections 376/506/34, IPC. They were
produced before a judicial magistrate who sent them in
police custody. |
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Villagers
assault three forest officials FEROZEPORE, Sept 4 — Three forest officials were allegedly assaulted by some residents of Manjli village in Dharamkot, when they visited a reserved forest area for plantation. Tension between the two sides over the encroachment of a forest land is said to be the provocation behind the incident. Talking to TNS, the divisional forest officer, Mr Karamjeet Singh, said that a case had now been registered against the assailants, although the incident occurred on the evening of August 31. The assailants, who had reportedly encroached upon the forest land, were annoyed at the forest officials’ refusal to allow their cattle to graze in the restricted area. Besides, the forest officials had also filed a damage report against these villagers for allegedly axing a “tali” tree. Subsequently, the enraged villagers assaulted the three forest officials, seriously injuring the block officer, Inder Dev. A department labourer, Resham Singh, received minor injuries. Forest Guard, Jasveer Singh was also among those assaulted. The police registered a case against dozen odd residents on the complaint of Resham Singh. The DFO confirmed that the injured block officer was still in hospital and was unable to give his statement to the police who had initially tried to delay the legal action, allegedly due to differences with the forest staff. The Forest Department had earlier slapped a fine of Rs 32,000 on a police official for illicit felling of “tali” in Dharamkot area. It was on the intervention of the SSP, Moga, that the accused cop paid the fine. |
Implement pay panel
report:
teachers CHANDIGARH, Sept 4 — A deputation of the Punjab Government College Teachers Association led by its general secretary, Prof Balwinder Singh, met the Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, here today. The deputation sought the implementation of the UGC Pay Commission report in toto, permanent appointment of principals in government colleges, a minimum of Rs 8,000 as pay for part-time lecturers and more opportunities for teachers to attend refresher courses. Prof Anup Singh Virk, Prof Darshan Singh, Prof Karamjit Singh and Prof Gursharan Singh were also part of the deputation.
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Badal lauds role
of teachers CHANDIGARH, Sept 4 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has extended his felicitation to the teaching community on the occasion of the first “Teachers Day” of the millennium. He appreciated the teachers by comparing them with sculptors who shaped the human mind. Jathedar Tota Singh,
Education Minister, in his message lauded the role of
teachers. He said there was an urgent need for teachers
to play constructive role in developing the personality
of the students. To eradicate unemployment in the state,
the Education Minister pointed out, the state government
had recruited thousands of teachers in schools. |
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NSUI members
hold protest rally AMRITSAR, Sept 4 — The National Students Union of India (NSUI), in protest against the anti-student policy of the government held a protest rally outside Hindu College here today. Students from schools, colleges and university participated in the rally. Addressing the rally Mr Sachin Mehra, chief secretary of the state unit of the NSUI, said the government should look into the genuine problems and demands of the students’ body. The rallyists decried the hike in tuition fees in schools, technical, engineering, medical and arts colleges by the Punjab Government. They demanded students elections in colleges and university. They also demand that private schools and institutions should be deterred from taking thousands of rupees in donation. They demanded education, free of
cost, for girls, stopping the NRI quota of seats and the
mushrooming of private schools which were being freely
opened without any permission from the government. |
Spare part dealers flay ST
hike PATIALA, Sept 4 — The Patiala Spare Parts Dealers Association has condemned the decision of the Punjab Government to place under the 8 per cent category the items of spare parts of tractors and harvestor combine parts. In a press release, the association said the state excise minister, Mr Tikshen Sood, had publicly declared recently that tractor and harvestor combine spare parts would be reduced from the present 8 per cent to 4 per cent, but now the government had reneged on its promise of slashing the sales tax rates. The association members said they had written numerous representations for placing these items in the 4 per cent category but the government had turned a deaf ears to their demands. The association urged the government to reconsider the imposition of 8 per cent sales tax and reduce it to 4 per cent.
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