Jalandhar, September 8
The civilians of Jalandhar cantonment today staged a dharna outside the Jalandhar Cantonment Board office against the denial by the board authorities to attend the monthly board meeting.

A group of nearly 25 civilians gathered outside the Cantonment Board office in the morning to air their grievances during the board meeting.

Agitated at the denial, the civilians raised anti-Army slogans for almost two hours, leading to chaos.

Vipan Luthra, a resident of the cantonment, said residents gathered around 9.30 am to apprise the authorities of their problems but they were refused permission.

“The Army authorities often pose problems for the civilians leading to differences every now and then,” he added.

The monthly board meeting is headed by Sub-Area Commander, Brig A.K. Sharma, Cantonment Executive Officer Rakesh Mittal and councillors of the seven wards.

Another resident maintained that the tall promises of the Cantonment board to conduct weekly Lok Adalat had come to a halt as nothing had taken place till date.

“The Army authorities had promised to conduct a Lok Adalat in a week’s time but nothing has materialised till date,” he said.

It needs mention here that the cantonment residents had observed “ghulami divas” on the eve of Independence Day and registered their protest against the “barbaric attitude” of the Army authorities.

The issue had come to a conclusion after an open meeting was held between civilians and the Cantonment Board officials.

Meanwhile, despite attempts, the Cantonment Executive Officer was not available
for comments.

Amritsar, September 8
The Communist Party of India (CPI), Left parties and various organisations, including electricity board employees, farmers and labour unions, would jointly fight against the unbundling of Punjab State Electricity Board.

Stating this, Dr Joginder Dyal, national secretary of the CPI, said the PSEB was the largest public sector institution and had been providing employment to thousands of people of the state.

He said its unbundling would not only lead to a large-scale unemployment but also rise in electricity tariff, much to the detriment of the common man.

Talking to The Tribune, Dr Dyal, who was here to participate in the workers meet, demanded a special package for the revival of the industry in Punjab on the lines of the special economic package given to Himachal Pradesh.

He said industry in the state was in the doldrums due to the wrong policies of the SAD-BJP combine, which has failed to come out with a new industrial policy during its last two-and-a-half-year-rule, to give thrust to the sagging industry in the state, especially in the border area.

Pathankot, September 8
A resident of local Ramsharnam Colony was crushed by a Pathankot-Joginder Nagar narrow gauge train (3PB) at an unmanned railway level crossing near the Ramsharnam Colony here this morning.

The deceased had been identified as Arun Dutta (46) manager of the local branch of the State Bank of Patiala at Ladhori.

The deceased was returning on his motorcycle to his house situated in the Ramshrnam Colony, after dropping his daughter, student of 10th class, to her school van in the morning.

As soon he reached the unmanned railway crossing, it developed a snag following which the motorcycle was stranded on the railway track.

The train from Pathankot shortly hit the vehicle resulting in Arun’s death. His motorcycle was dragged by the train for about 25 meters before it stopped.

When questioned about the existence of a proper way to enter the colonies on both sides of the main road near the railway crossing, Anil Vij, President of the local Municipal Council, said the colonies fall in the radius of 7,00 yards near the ammunition depot of the army due to which these colonies had not been approved by the council.

The development works have not been carried out here due to this, he added. He further claimed that Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur had ordered that approval would not be given for the site plans, irrespective of the fact that many commercial and residential buildings had sprung up in the area.

The dead body of the deceased was handed over to the family members after conducting post-mortem examination at the civil hospital here. He is survived by his wife Amita Dutta, a daughter Anushree Dutta and a son Anuj Dutta.

Hoshiarpur, September 8
In separate press notes today, Harish Saini and Amarjit Singh Amar, social activists, condemned the SAD-BJP government for its proposed enhancement in the power tariff and bus fares.

None of the leaders of any of the political parties had raised their voices against this uncalled for increase in the prevailing skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.

The industrialists in state are already facing acute power crisis as a result of which many of the units have either been closed down already or are on the verge of it.

Instead of arranging power to save dying industries or giving any relief to the industrialists, the SAD-BJP government has been enhancing power rates to meet the losses of the PSEB through which free power was being supplied to tube wells and BPL families, they said.

Punjab Transport Minister Mohan Lal had also indicated an increase in bus fare. The proposed increase in the power and bus fare would add fuel to the problems of the common man, said Harish Saini and Amarjit Singh Amar, urging Chief Minister, Punjab, to rethink over on the above proposals.

Instead of enhancing the tariff, the government should first make arrangements for regular power supply and provide facilities to bus passengers.

They also urged the leaders of other parties, particularly Congress, to rise to the occasion to oppose the unjustified proposed hike in power tariff and bus fares.

While crossing the road near Dhussi bandh on the Sundian village choe, two youths hit his bike with their own motorcycle.

Due to the impact, Lakhbir fell down. They then snatched the bag containing the cash and fled.

The drains, which had been constructed by shopkeepers, had been filled with debris by the Municipal Council.

Encroachments were removed from both sides of Dera Road to the railway crossing. Municipal Council president Ambika Khanna said the whole of the town would be cleared of encroachments.

Nawanshahr, September 8
The coordination committee of the paramedical staff, on a call given by its state body, would organise a dharna here in front of the office of the Civil Surgeon on September 10.

It would protest against the dilly-dallying attitude of the state government towards their demands, including regular release of salaries of multipurpose health workers (female), reinstatement of more than 200 multipurpose health workers (female), re-merger of 1,139 rural dispensaries into the Health Department, etc.

Jaswinder Singh Patti, president of the district unit, said the paramedical staff would hold dharnas in front of the office of the Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, in Chandigarh from September 23 to 25.

Nawanshahr, September 8
Agriculture technocrats in collaboration with the farmers would hold a state-level protest rally at Ajnala Mandi on Wednesday to press the state government for registering a case against Varinder Kumar Sareen, alias Kaleshah, an Ajnala-based dealer, for allegedly misbehaving with the high-level team of the Agriculture Department during checking.

Stating this, Dr Jasbir Singh Parmar, Chief Agriculture Officer-cum-convener of the Agriculture Technocrats Action Committee, said the technocrats had taken serious note of the incident and demanded immediate stern action against the errant dealer.

Dr Sushil Kumar Attri, president, Plant Doctors Services Association, while condemning the incident, urged the government to take immediate action against the errant as well as anti-farmer dealer.

“If such dealers are not punished, they would not only continue to harm the interests of the farming community but would also have a demoralising effect on the law enforcing officials,” he said.

Nawanshahr, September 8
Members of the local Doaba Ladies Club are up in arms against the alleged high-handedness of the local Block Development and Panchayat Officer as he has prohibited them from organising their weekly kitty party on the premises of Baradari Garden here on Friday.

They had to shift the venue to the residence of Kulwant Kaur, MC, for the purpose. They termed the incident as discrimination against women.

Joginder Kaur Kahma, Kulwant Kaur and Amarjit Kaur, president, secretary and treasurer, respectively, of the club, while sharing their woes with mediapersons, said though the club had been paying monthly rent as well as meeting the repair and maintenance expenses of the building for the past many years, they were denied entry by the BDPO today.

BDPO Rajesh Chadha, when contacted, while denying the allegation of discriminatory attitude towards women, said the Doaba Ladies Club was asked to shift the venue of the kitty party as the building was needed for accommodation for NREGA teams.