B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

BJP leader booked for threatening staff on exam duty
Faridkot, April 28
Following a complaint by the district education department, the Faridkot police has registered a criminal case against a BJP leader who is also the director of some educational institutions in the area.

Partial withdrawal of octroi in F’pur cantt limits okayed
Ferozepur, April 28
The long-pending demand of the local residents and traders regarding the abolition of octroi in the cantonment area has finally received the nod from the Ministry of Defence following an amendment in the by-laws of the board which have come into force with the publication of the gazette notification last month.

Brick kiln labourers seek revised wages
Moga, April 28
Thousands of labourers were up in arms against the brick kiln owners in Moga district over the issue of implementation of revised wages for them.

Murder of ex-DGP’s father
Accused alleges police officials taking personal interest in case
Moga, April 28
India-born Canadian citizen Jagdev Singh Gill who is facing allegations of criminal conspiracy in the murder case of former Congress MLA Nachattar Singh Gill, father of ex-DGP Paramdip Singh Gill, has alleged that some senior officials of the state police and the prosecution and litigation department were taking personal interest in the case, which may cause 'indirect interference' in the ongoing judicial proceedings.

Powercom staff electrocuted
Ferozepur, April 28
An employee of the PSPCL, identified as Balwinder Singh, was burnt badly while he had gone to repair a fault in the electricity wires. Pargat Singh, brother of the deceased, said Balwinder was posted at a sub-station in village Botia Wala and was on duty when the incident took place. He was rushed to the DMCH, Ludhiana, in a serious condition. However, he could not survive. — OC

BJP leader booked for threatening staff on exam duty
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, April 28
Following a complaint by the district education department, the Faridkot police has registered a criminal case against a BJP leader who is also the director of some educational institutions in the area.

Deputy District Education Officer (DDEO), Faridkot, Suresh Kumar Arora submitted a complaint to the police, accusing Jagdish Sharma, the director of a group of educational institutions, of trying to prevent the education department officials from discharging their duties during the examinations.

The police has registered a case in this regard.

However, no arrests have been made yet.

In a complaint to the police, the DDEO alleged that Jagdish Sharma was appointed as a member of the flying squad to check copying in the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) exams.

It is alleged that to settle scores with some teachers in government schools, Jagdish Sharma threatened the staff on duty at the examination centre and penalised some students for copying.

However, the PSEB authorities withdrew the charge against the students.

While Jagdish Sharma said he was being victimised for his political links, the education department officials in Faridkot alleged that he was harassing some government school teachers and the staff on examination duty after cases of copying were detected in the school, owned by him. In one case, Bluetooth devices, being used for cheating during the examination, were also found.

Partial withdrawal of octroi in F’pur cantt limits okayed
Our Correspondent

Ferozepur, April 28
The long-pending demand of the local residents and traders regarding the abolition of octroi in the cantonment area has finally received the nod from the Ministry of Defence following an amendment in the by-laws of the board which have come into force with the publication of the gazette notification last month.

As per these amended by-laws, called the “Ferozepur Cantonment Octroi (Amendment) By-laws 2012”, the Cantonment Board, with the prior approval of the Central Government, can enter into an agreement with the Punjab Government to suspend the collection of octroi on goods, except for electricity, petrol, diesel or liquor entering within or transiting through the limits of the cantonment for a period to the extent compensated by the state government.

Notwithstanding the abolition of octroi in other parts of the state, it was still being levied in the cantonment area due to which the traders were bearing the brunt as most people preferred to buy the commodities from the city area situated nearby where the octroi had been suspended a long time ago. However, as the cantonment area does not fall under the administrative control of the state government, the matter was taken up with the ministry which took a long time to decide on the matter and has now finally issued a notification in this regard.

G Vijaya Bhaskar, CEO, Cantonment Board, said, “The state government had assured of compensating the board following which a proposal was sent to the higher authorities.”

The CEO added that after the approval of the draft agreement to be signed with the state government, the proposal will finally be sent to the ministry for its final sanction for the suspension of octroi. "However, we will continue to levy toll tax on heavy vehicles entering our area," he said.

The Cantonment Board is generating revenue of Rs 4.5 crores per annum from the collection of octroi, which will henceforth be compensated by the state government with a provision for over 7.5 per cent annual increase.

“If the state government defaults on the payment for two consecutive quarters, the board will have the right to re-impose it,” the CEO said.

Brick kiln labourers seek revised wages
Tribune News Service

Moga, April 28
Thousands of labourers were up in arms against the brick kiln owners in Moga district over the issue of implementation of revised wages for them.

The labourers had alleged that the brick kiln owners were trying to do away with the age-old practice of giving fiscal benefits over and above the minimum wages announced by the state government.

The deputations of the labour unions and brick kiln owners, which were called by the officials of the labour department here, had talks on the issue.

The state government had revised the rates to Rs 472.65 for making earthen bricks and Rs 530.75 for earthen tiles from March this year as against the previous wages of Rs 434.70 and 492.80, respectively.

Sukhdev Singh, president of the Punjab Organised Labour Union, said the brick kiln owners had agreed to give Rs 505 as labour charges for making 1000 earthen bricks, besides Rs 25 as commission (for cleaning) and 14 per cent bonus. “However, our demand is to give Rs 600 for making earthen bricks, besides Rs 25 as commission and 30 per cent bonus,” said Mukhtiar Singh, senior vice-president of the labour union.

The labourers said in many districts, the brick kiln owners were giving more remuneration to the workers keeping in view the ever rising prices of the essential commodities.

It may be mentioned that there are more than 175 brick kilns in Moga district and at least 500 workers have been engaged for each kiln.

Murder of ex-DGP’s father
Accused alleges police officials taking personal interest in case

Moga, April 28
India-born Canadian citizen Jagdev Singh Gill who is facing allegations of criminal conspiracy in the murder case of former Congress MLA Nachattar Singh Gill, father of ex-DGP Paramdip Singh Gill, has alleged that some senior officials of the state police and the prosecution and litigation department were taking personal interest in the case, which may cause 'indirect interference' in the ongoing judicial proceedings.

Gill claimed that he had brought it to the notice of the Home Secretary in writing that Amarjot Singh Sidhu a joint director in the prosecution and litigation wing, posted at the police headquarters in Chandigarh, has been visiting Moga frequently.

However, when contacted, Sidhu denied the allegations saying an inquiry has already been held into Jagdev’s allegations and nothing substantial was found in it. “I am not even remotely related to the case. Can any outsider influence the court,” Sidhu asked. — TNS