Jalandhar, October 16
The district administration has warned farmers of strict action if the latter did not clear encroachments along the roads in the district. DC Ajeet Singh Pannu has said the encroachments were coming in the way of road widening measures underway in the state. Farmers have not even spared the land meant for road berms with the result that not even an inch of space is available along the roadsides.

This not only causes obstructions but often leads to serious accidents, he pointed out. He says the authorities would be forced to initiate action under the relevant laws in case farmers did not do the needful.

The DC has already reviewed the progress and implementation of various government schemes. He urged the officers to make optimum use of the allocated funds so that maximum number of persons could benefit from them. The officers should submit the utilisation certificates at the earliest, he added.

He has asked the officials concerned to submit reports of checks conducted by them on beneficiaries of the atta dal scheme. “This would help he government to see whether the intended section of society were benefiting,” he said.

Kapurthala, October 16
A week after the district police had found an unidentified body of a youth, no headway has been made either in ascertaining the identity of the deceased or solving the blind murder.

The body of the youth, aged about 22 years, was found lying in the fields in the Miani Bakarpur village last Tuesday. It appeared that the deceased was strangulated to death before being dumped in the fields.

Admitting the lapse on their part the investigation officer Hardayal Singh said despite attempts the police has not been able to establish the identity of the deceased.

“At first we made public announcement in the various areas falling under the Dhilwan police station about the recovery of a body. But, no one claimed the body. After that we published the photographs of the body in the newspapers, but in vain,” said the IO.

“A list of the missing persons has been asked from the Kapurthala and nearby districts in a bid to identify the body. Until the identification is made it is not possible to nab the killer,” he added.

Hoshiarpur, October 16
Joint forum of Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) employees has decided to observe a strike in the state on November 21. The strike has been called to protest against the centre and the state government for not extending PSEB’s tenure beyond December 9 and against its proposed abolition.

In a press release here today, the state general secretary of Ministerial Services Union and leader of the joint forum, Om Parkash, has said after a meeting with farmers and employee organisations on October 3 and 6, respectively, it has been decided to jointly protest against board management.

A state level demonstration would be staged before PSEB head office at Patiala on November 6, he added. Besides, marches will also be held in villages to make the public aware about the proposed abolition and its implications. He alleged that the management of the board had introduced a spot billing scheme in 12 divisions under the garb of Power Act, 2003. Om Prakash also alleged that the board management was victimising employees who are opposing its policies by either suspending or transferring them to far flung areas. — OC

Phagwara, October 16
The police registered a case under section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act against eight villagers - Narinder Kumar, Dinesh Kumar, Kashmiri Lal, Sanjeev Kumar, Harbhajan Lal, Sheena, Chhinda (all belonging to Jagpaulpur village) and Lakhan of nearby Ranipur village - on charges of manufacturing adulterated jaggery through “belans” around Rawalpindi village here today.

Though the "belans" have openly been manufacturing jaggery, nobody has been nabbed till date.

The Tribune revealed that 43 such “belans” were installed around the Phagwara-Banga, Phagwara-Nakodar, Phagwara-Hoshiarpur and Phagwara-Ludhiana highways for the last several years, but only few could be raided by the police parties due to reasons best known to them. Several sugar mill owners (including Phagwara Sugar Mills) have termed this practice as illegal, but it has still been continuing right under the nose of the food and supplies department, health department and the police. The mill managements alleged that the “belan” owners did not possess valid licenses. Meanwhile, Phagwara DSP HPS Khakh, assured to take strict action against the “belan” owners. He said more than 15 quintals of sugar, a huge quantity of gurr (jaggery) and chemicals used for manufacturing the adulterated gurr were seized from the “belans”. — OC

Batala, October 16
“The state government has released Rs 20 crore for the maintenance of elementary school buildings,” Punjab chief parliamentary secretary Jagdish Sawhney said while addressing a deputation of the non-gazetted employees rganisations, Batala unit, here today. Besides, Rs 125 crore had been sanctioned for the maintenance and development of the education facilities under the Sarb Sikhya Abhiyan, he added. Meanwhile, Batala Non-Gazetted Employees Organisation president Parbhat Bhushan Sharma urged Sawhney to present organisations demands before the Chief Minister.