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Suraj Muni killed in Hanumangarh
Abohar, June 11
Suraj Muni (60), who had triggered protests in different states for throwing a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib (the supreme holy book of Sikhs) in a canal located on the Malout-Dabwali road few months back, has been killed.

CBI sleuths probe sale of Central govt land in F’pur
Ferozepur, June 11
For the third consecutive day, sleuths from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) along with the officials of the Defence Estates, the Cantonment Board and the State Revenue Department, conducted physical verification of the premises where the central government land had allegedly been usurped in contravention of the norms.

Pre-monsoon showers bring cheer to farmers
Muktsar, June 11
Pre-monsoon showers that lashed the region twice this week have cheered up farmers in Muktsar district, who were worried about their crops due to persistent heat wave.
Farm labourers transplant paddy at Rupana village of Muktsar district. Photo by writer

Deeksha of Abohar does city proud
Abohar, June 11
The colleges on the DAV campus here have achieved 100 per cent results in the Panjab University (PU) examinations.

Topper loses out to PPSC’s selection process
Ferozepur, June 11
Raising a question mark over the selection process of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), a local youth Nitin Singh has alleged that even after clearing the screening test for the post of CDPO (child development project officer) held on March 25, 2012, in which he was placed at “Rank No 2” in the merit list, he has been left out of the list of applicants called for the interview for the reasons not very convincing.

Suraj Muni killed in Hanumangarh
Had thrown the holy book of Sikhs in canal
Raj Sadosh

Abohar, June 11
Suraj Muni (60), who had triggered protests in different states for throwing a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib (the supreme holy book of Sikhs) in a canal located on the Malout-Dabwali road few months back, has been killed.

As per information, three unidentified persons forced entry into his dera in ward number 16 at Peelibanga in the neighbouring Hanumangarh at 11 am and attacked him with sharp-edged weapons. Some people noticed the killers escaping with the blood-stained weapons.

The police found his body lying in a pool of blood inside a meditation hut. Most of the injuries were spotted on his neck. The body was shifted to the local civil hospital for autopsy.

The police has cordoned off the locality, called for forensic science experts and deployed an additional force apprehending violence.

Notably, Sikh organisations had held agitations at Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Abohar, Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar to condemn the action of Muni, who was also known for growing 15 metre long mane.

Born in Haryana, Suraj Muni had migrated to Peelibanga about 30 years ago, set up a dera there and carried spiritual activities.

The Haryana police had registered a case against him and some of his disciples for hurting religious sentiments of the Sikh community. He was arrested but released on bail later. Since then he was staying at his dera.

Additional superintendent of police Daleep Jakhar said the police was working on different theories. Some persons have been rounded up for interrogation, he added.

CBI sleuths probe sale of Central govt land in F’pur

Ferozepur, June 11
For the third consecutive day, sleuths from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) along with the officials of the Defence Estates, the Cantonment Board and the State Revenue Department, conducted physical verification of the premises where the central government land had allegedly been usurped in contravention of the norms.

The team led by SP (CBI) Punit Brijlal had descended on the cantonment here on Saturday to take first hand stock of the alleged irregularities in construction of some houses and sale of land.

Earlier, the CBI had launched preliminary investigations into the matter following the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the CWP No 13992 of 2010, in which the court had directed the agency to look into all the transactions that may have taken place during the last four decades where the central government land had allegedly been sold which was later purportedly regularised by the Cantonment Board by granting separate property identification numbers besides water and electricity connections.

JV Singh, CEO, Cantonment Board, said the board had not regularised any such sale of the central government land nor given any separate property numbers. However, we are extending all possible cooperation to the agency in the investigation, he added.

It is learnt that after completing the preliminary investigations, the CBI will submit its report to the court, following which further action would be taken. — OC

Pre-monsoon showers bring cheer to farmers
Archit Watts/TNS

Muktsar, June 11
Pre-monsoon showers that lashed the region twice this week have cheered up farmers in Muktsar district, who were worried about their crops due to persistent heat wave.

Experts say the rain would benefit all crops, including cotton which was earlier getting damaged due to hot weather.

“Rain will help in several ways, as it will moist the fields and improve the germination of plants and their growth,” said the experts.

Muktsar Chief Agriculture Officer Beant Singh said, “The rain has saved the cotton crop, especially those sown behind the scheduled period. Those who had not sown cotton, they may now opt for paddy, pulses or guar as the pre-monsoon showers have pre-watered their fields. This is the optimum time for sowing.”

Ranjodh Singh, a farmer in Lambi, said, “Rain will help us in transplantation of paddy.”

Deeksha of Abohar does city proud
Our Correspondent

Abohar, June 11
The colleges on the DAV campus here have achieved 100 per cent results in the Panjab University (PU) examinations.

DAV College principal Dr SK Arora informed that Deeksha has got second position in the PU merit list for BCA II.

Gopi Chand Arya Mahila College principal Dr Neelam Arun Mittu said 100 per cent result has been achieved in BCA II and B.Com III. Kamaljit Kaur and Grima topped in the college.

Faridkot lad cracks AIEE

Avi Goyal

Faridkot: Avi Goyal with 296 marks out of total 360 in the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) has stood first in the Faridkot district and secured 14th rank in Punjab.

The results of the AIEEE 2012 were declared on Saturday (June 9). — TNS

Topper loses out to PPSC’s selection process
Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, June 11
Raising a question mark over the selection process of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), a local youth Nitin Singh has alleged that even after clearing the screening test for the post of CDPO (child development project officer) held on March 25, 2012, in which he was placed at “Rank No 2” in the merit list, he has been left out of the list of applicants called for the interview for the reasons not very convincing.

Nitin said, "I scored 87 out of 100 marks and stood second in the test. However, my candidature has now been rejected for not having requisite qualification."

As per the advertisement No 4 of 2011 released by the PPSC for recruitment of 41 CDPOs, the candidate should have passed BA/BSc with social science, social work, sociology, child development, nutrition, psychology, economics, philosophy or anthropology as a subject, from a recognised university or institution.

Nitin said since he had done MA in philosophy from the Panjab University, which was a higher qualification in the subject, he should have been considered for the post. "Moreover, if I was not eligible for the said post, the PPSC should not have shortlisted my name and allowed me to sit in the exam in which they declared me second in the merit list," he rued.

When contacted, PPSC secretary Amrit Kaur Gill said since the essential qualification for the post of CDPO was BA in one of the shortlisted subjects, the candidate had been left out as he had done BTech in computer science and not BA. “The candidate may have done post-graduation but the essential qualification remains BA due to which he has probably not been called for an interview,” she added.

Nitin said if not given justice, he would move the court.