 Another wait for PoW’s release begins
Vir Chakra winner missing since 1971
Ludhiana, May 19
Though the release of 20 persons from captivity by the Pakistan Government was the end of a long wait for their family members, for scores of other such families, another chapter of a seemingly endless wait has just begun.
File photo of Flt-Lt Gurdev Singh Rai
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Wheat for BPL families finds easy way to market
Chander Parkash
Bathinda, May 19
On April 10, the Tapa Mandi police of Sangrur district seized 90 bags of wheat meant for the below poverty line
category from a flour mill. The suspect, in connivance with an official of a procurement agency, was to sell it in the open market.
CPI to hold dharna on May 26
Chandigarh, May
19
The Punjab unit of the Communist Party of India here
yesterday gave a call for a state-level dharna here on May 26 to
demand the withdrawal of a steep hike in college fee and sewerage
charges.
Dal Khalsa holds training camp
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 19
The Dal Khalsa held a two-day political training camp for its members to understand Sikh culture and imbibe its, spirit. The message to the youth was to give politics a positive turn and discover the spirit within.
MC contractors ‘violating’ EPF Act
Ropar, May 19
The EPF Act is being violated by contractors at various government departments and municipal councils.
This was revealed in an investigation by the correspondent.
According to the correspondent, most of the contractors working in municipal councils and government departments such as the Building and Roads and PWD Department were not depositing the provident fund
of the employees working under them.
PSEB richer by Rs 1.50 cr
Patiala, May 19
The Punjab State Electricity Board may buy power from Central Generating Agencies during the coming paddy season with the money collected from consumers.
The Board has collected Rs 1.50 crore in the first few days of the Incentive-based Pre-paid Scheme launched by it in all zones.
No respite from intrusion bids
FEROZEPORE: The confidence-building measures by the Indian and Pakistani Governments notwithstanding, there is no respite in infiltration bids by Pakistani intruders.
Several such cases have been reported from the Ferozepore sector in the past couple of months.
Billa accused of collecting funds in temple’s name
Amritsar, May 19
The Durgiana Temple Committee today accused Mr Surinder Kumar
Billa, president, All-India Hindu Shiv Sena, for collecting funds in the name of the temple and misusing his security.
Temple panel begins
fast over land row
Phagwara, May 19
The 21-member Thakurdwara Bairagian Action Committee today began a relay fast in the temple complex to press for a public apology from the officials who had allegedly violated the 'maryada’ of the temple by lathicharging the followers in the temple on May 9.
Punjab moots drastic changes in public transport policy
Chandigarh, May 19
The Punjab Government plans to make drastic changes in its public transport policy. Sources said the government wanted to remove all restrictions on the plying of private airconditioned and deluxe buses.
Truck operators hold protest
Rampura Phul, May 19
In a significant development, hundreds of truck operators, along with members of various employees, trade organisations and a section of Congress leaders, held a procession here today to lodge their protest against Mr Gurdev Singh, a resident of Gill Kalan village, taking over as president of the local Truck Union without any election.
Nod to residential areas’ conversion into commercial ones
Jalandhar, May 19
The Jalandhar Municipal Corporation has finally given nod for the conversion of residential areas along Bhagwan Mahavir Marg, from the BMC chowk to HMV chowk and certain other major parts of the city into commercial areas.
SSP dares Samra
Jalandhar, May 19
The much publicised CBI case against two judicial officers on the basis of a complaint filed by the Kartarpur-based Dr Gurvinder Singh Samra, who had also levelled serious allegations against the Jalandhar SSP, took a new turn today, with the SSP, Mr Varinder Kumar, challenging Dr Samra to prove his allegations against him or face legal action.
Dental college told to refund Rs 2 lakh
Mansa, May 19
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Mansa, has directed Mr Naginder Singh
Harika, Managing Director, Khalsa Rural Dental College, and Hospital for Women, Nangal Kalan, to refund Rs 2 lakh with 12 per cent interest each to Ms Manmeet Kaur and Ms Maninderjit Kaur, of Ludhiana district.
Charges against Ahluwalia framed
Patiala, May 19
A court here framed charges today against former Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia and former student leader Bhupinder Singh Cheema in a case of attack on varsity’s sociology teacher Dr Harwinder Singh Bhatti.
HIGH COURT
Dismissed
Chandigarh, May 19
Coming down heavily on the Punjab National Bank authorities for unnecessarily dragging a matter pertaining to the release of fix deposit receipts, Mr Justice Viney Mittal of the high court dismissed their petition after imposing a fine of Rs 10,000.
Fresh warrants against Bihar MP
Patiala, May 19
A court here today issued non-bailable warrants again against Motihari MP Radhe Mohan allegedly for
kidnapping a minor girl from Bihar. The warrants were issued for June 3. Earlier the warrants were issued in the case against the MP for today.
Judicial remand for EO
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 19
Mr Surinder Kumar, former Executive Officer of the Sirhind Municipal Council, and now posted as EO Mahalpur MC, who was arrested by the district Vigilance department allegedly for accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000, was sent in judicial custody up to May 31 by Chief Judicial Magistrate
Neelam Arora after the expiry of his police remand.
Judicial complex inaugurated
Mansa, May 19
Mr Justice N.K. Sodhi of the Punjab and Haryana High Court inaugurated a judicial complex at Mansa yesterday. Mr Justice J.S. Kehar of the high court was the guest of honour.
Illegal detention by police alleged
Amritsar, May 19
Ashwani Kumar, a resident of Deviwali street near Jora Papal area here, in an affidavit issued to media today alleged that he was kept in illegal captivity by some CIA officials.
Seminar on challenges
before police
Chandigarh, May 19
The Punjab IPS Officers Association will organise a two-day seminar on “Challenges before Punjab Police — Terrorism and Aftermath” at the northern region headquarters of the Confederation of Indian Industry
here from May 22.
| Squatters detain Jan Shatabdi for 20 minutes |
Rampura Phul, May 19
Hundreds of residents of this town, including activists of different political parties and trade organisations, today detained Jan Shatabdi Intercity Express for about 20 minutes to press upon the authorities concerned to make the train halt at the local railway station.
Senior police officials argue with the residents when the latter stopped the Jan Shatabdi Express at Rampura Phul (Bathinda) railway station on Monday.
— Photo Kulbir Beera
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Action sought against Dalit leader
Bathinda, May 19
Some panchayats, political and employees’ associations have urged the authorities concerned to take legal action against the state president of a Dalit organisation for allegedly being instrumental in the registration of a “false” case of murder against some residents of Mehma Sawai village.
Reasi Fort closed to general public
REASI: The historic 286-year-old fort of the Dogra rulers, which is a protected monument, and many other government buildings in this small town have been declared out of bounds for the general public as these have been occupied by the Army and security forces which are deployed here to fight terrorists.
Dr Singla retires from contest
Sangrur, May 19
Dr Surinder Singla, secretary of the Punjab unit of the Indian Medical Association and a candidate for the elections to the Punjab Medical Council, today announced his retirement from the elections in protest against the voting right being provided to only 7,468 doctors instead of the nearly 34,000 doctors registered with the
PMC.
Cleaning of Harike wetland on
Ferozepore, May 19
The areas of the Beas and the Sutlej with Harike and its satellite wetlands can add to the eco-tourism potential of Punjab, and the scanty forest and wildlife wealth of the state can be increased by developing vast riverine systems and species-rich wetlands, said Mr Rajan Kashyap, Chief Secretary to the Punjab Government, who visited the Harike wetland today to take stock of the ongoing process of the removal of water hyacinth from the wetland.
Land freed
from
illegal occupation
Patiala, May
19
The Punjab Forest Department today freed 6.5 acres of prime land
from its illegal occupant in Lang village, near here, which had been
in his illegal possession since the past 25 years.
50 coolers burnt in godown fire
Rampura Phul, May 19
As many as 50 desert coolers worth more than Rs 1 lakh were burnt in the fire which broke out in a godown located in Patiala Mandi here this afternoon.
Information gathered by TNS revealed that the fire broke out in the godown when it was closed for lunch.
Water shortage delays cotton sowing
Bathinda, May 19
Even as the acute shortage of canal water last month has caused a delay in the sowing of cotton crop in the state, the Agriculture Department has pressed its field staff into service to motivate farmers to complete the sowing by the end of this month.
4 IT Commissioners transferred
Phagwara, May 19
The Central Board of Direct Taxes has transferred four Additional Income Tax Commissioners from Punjab, including Mr
M.P. Singh of Phagwara IT range, who goes to West Bengal from the north-west region.
Life term for rape, murder of step-daughter
Moga, May 19
The Additional Sessions Judge, Moga, Mr Jagmohan Singh Chawla, has sentenced Darshan Singh of Bhinder Kalan here to life imprisonment for committing rape and then murder of her three-year-old step-daughter and also imposed a fine of Rs 9,000 on him.
Accused not arrested
Bathinda, May 19
Resentment prevails amongst a section of residents of Chak Ram Singh Walla village, near here, as the district police has not arrested the accused in a case registered after the death of a girl of their village.
Punjab Forest Corpn ex-chief
in custody
Barnala, May 19
Mr Bharpur Singh Dhanaula, former Chairman, Punjab Forest Corporation, and Akali Dal leader was produced before Mr Jagnahar Singh, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Barnala at his residence on Sunday evening (May 18).
Gang of looters busted, 6 held
Amritsar, May 19
With the arrest of six armed persons the district police today busted a gang of looters active in the area. They were nabbed from Dhapai area in Islamabad where they were planning some looting.
Chemist shop owner held
Amritsar, May 19
Shamsher Singh of Chheharta who has a chemist shop at Khasa 13 km on the Amritsar Attari road from here was arrested allegedly for possessing intoxicating drugs.
Booked for minor daughter’s rape
Jalandhar, May 19
A man allegedly raped his minor daughter at Bhumbotar village near Talwara in Hoshiarpur district late last night. The victim alleged that finding her alone her father forced her to fields and raped her after gagging her with a piece of cloth.
Ex-sarpanch held
Bathinda, May 19
The Talwandi Sabo police today arrested Baldev Singh, former Sarpanch of Nathea village, for allegedly stealing forest wood weighing about 50 kg.
JET form submission
date extended
Amritsar, May 19
Guru Nanak Dev University has extended the last date for submission of forms for the joint entrance test to May 26. The test is held for admission to B. Pharmacy, B.Sc. Honours School (three-year course in botany, chemistry, human genetics, physics and B.Sc. industrial microbiology for the session 2003-2004, said Prof A.J.S. Bhanwar, co-ordinator, JET (UG) science-2003.
| Short-circuit
guts hostel room |
Patiala, May
19
An accident seemed waiting to happen in the ill-maintained senior
boys’ hostel of Government Medical College here and it did take
place last night when a fire broke out, probably due to a
short-circuit, and completely destroyed a room in the
hostel.
Two students stand amid the gutted room at the ill-maintained hostel of the Government Medical College
in Patiala on Monday.
— Photo Subhash Patialvi
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