Woman found strangled near railway tracks
Jalandhar, May 4
A 27-year woman was found murdered in a secluded place near fields along the Wariana railway tracks here this morning. The deceased woman, identified as Poonam, had been reportedly strangled with her "dupatta" and had an injury, sustained with a blunt weapon, on her head. Her slippers were lying at some distance from her body.

Policemen look for clues at the spot from where the body of a woman, Poonam (right), was found at Wariana village in Jalandhar on Saturday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

Rs 36-lakh penalty imposed on two streetlight contractors
Jalandhar, May 4
The Municipal Corporation (MC) committee constituted to look into the irregularities by the streetlight contractors, has submitted it report to Mayor Sunil Jyoti. The committee, headed by Senior Deputy Mayor Kamaljeet Singh Bhatia, has imposed penalty of about Rs 36 lakh on the two streetlight contractors for the year 2012-13.

Matter referred to JDA’s new Chief Administrator
Jalandhar, May 4
The long-pending matter of the Jalandhar Development Authority (JDA) regarding levying of Rs 4 crore non-construction charges on Reliance Eminent Trading and Private Ltd for a 2.94 acre multiplex site on Garha Road has now been referred to its newly appointed Chief Administrator.

Over 13,000 screened in 3 days during Army recruitment rally
Jalandhar, May 4
With thousands of job aspirants thronging the open recruitment rally organised at the Dogra Ground in Jalandhar Cantonment, the Army authorities have screened over 13,000 candidates in last three days. The screened candidate have to undergo physical and medical tests before a written test to get the admit cards.

Candidates appear in a physical performance test. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

Outstanding sportspersons honoured at Khalsa College
Jalandhar, May 4
The sportspersons, who gave outstanding performances in the national and international-level sports competitions this year, were honoured during a function organised at Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar, here.

Inspire Awards exhibition witnesses overwhelming participation
Jalandhar, May 4
The three-day Inspire Awards exhibition organised at Sain Das AS Senior Secondary School dispelled many myths about government schools being lesser than their private counterparts. The Central funds were put to use in a visionary project which will certainly broaden the horizons of government school students.

Mukti Karwan of Bachpan Bachao Andolan reaches city
Jalandhar, May 4
The Mukti Karwan organised by the Bachpan Bachao Andolan, which has been touring various states in the country, today reached the city. District Education Officer Kuldeep Singh flagged off the procession from Nehru Garden Senior Secondary School.

District Education Officer Kuldeep Singh flags off Mukti Karwan of the Bachpan Bachao Andolan at Nehru Garden Government Girls Senior Secondary School in Jalandhar on Saturday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

Innocent Hearts College of Education holds convocation
Jalandhar, May 4
The Innocent Hearts College of Education organised a convocation today. Prof MS Hundal, Dean, Academics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, was the chief guest and Yurinder Singh Hayer, SSP (Rural), Jalandhar, was the guest of honour.

Graduates from the Innocent Hearts College of Education in a jubilant mood after the annual convocation held on the college campus in Jalandhar on Saturday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

ZP polls: One nomination paper filed
Jalandhar, May 4
Just one nomination paper was filed on the second day of the submission of forms for contesting elections for the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti today. The first candidate, Davinder Kaur of Kolar village, has applied for contesting for the Zila Parishad polls from zone 11 on the Congress ticket. The process of filing papers will continue till May 7. TNS

Woman found strangled near railway tracks
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 4
A 27-year woman was found murdered in a secluded place near fields along the Wariana railway tracks here this morning. The deceased woman, identified as Poonam, had been reportedly strangled with her "dupatta" and had an injury, sustained with a blunt weapon, on her head. Her slippers were lying at some distance from her body. Having two broken marriages at Nagra village and subsequently at Kartarpur, she was living with her parents at Nandanpur village, falling on the other side of the tracks.

A daughter of a panchayat member and a labourer, the victim was working at the Sant Rubbers factory at Leather Complex. She had a six-year-old daughter. In the preliminary investigation done so far, the police has found that Poonam had gone to her workplace last morning and did not return home last evening. Ever since her parents had also gone to pay obeisance at the Baba Balak Nath temple.

Villagers claim to have seen her sitting with someone last evening at the same site under the shade of trees.

Prima facie the police does not have any evidence of any sexual assault on her. "Our further investigation will be largely based on the clues coming from the postmortem report," said SHO, Maqsudan police station, Surinder Pal. Police officials are also not very sure of when the murder took place. "We are yet to find whether she was done to death somewhere else and her body thrown here after the murder," said the SHO.

So far, the police has ruled out any possibility of involvement of her former husbands in the crime. "There has been no complaint against them by the family," he said.

Rs 36-lakh penalty imposed on two streetlight contractors
Tribune News Service

A broken streetlight post in Jalandhar. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

Jalandhar, May 4
The Municipal Corporation (MC) committee constituted to look into the irregularities by the streetlight contractors, has submitted it report to Mayor Sunil Jyoti. The committee, headed by Senior Deputy Mayor Kamaljeet Singh Bhatia, has imposed penalty of about Rs 36 lakh on the two streetlight contractors for the year 2012-13. Besides, Bhatia has given several recommendations to ensure the proper monitoring of the work undertaken by the streetlight contractors.

The contractors, who have been penalised, are Inderjit Bajaj and Raj Kumar Luthra.

Notably, there had been complaints about the non-functional streetlights from various municipal wards of the city. The issue was strongly raised by the Leader of Opposition in the MC House, Jagdish Raja, during the House meeting. Raja had on record stated that the streetlight contractors were working in irresponsible manner and had violated many terms and conditions mentioned in the contract.

Subsequently, a committee headed by Senior Deputy Mayor Kamaljeet Singh Bhatia, comprising councillors and civic officials, was constituted.

Speaking to The Tribune, Bhatia said during the inquiry, it came to light that there were about 565 missing points where the streetlights were not installed. "The erring contractors have been directed to install the lights at these points within 15 days or else amount of Rs 16.95 lakh would be deducted from their bills," he added. Apart from this, a penalty of Rs 3.5 lakh has been imposed on both the contractors for not painting the streetlight poles as specified in the contract.

The committee has also found that the high-mast lights were not being maintained by the contractors, for which a penalty of Rs 4.80 lakhs has been imposed. "It has been recommended to constitute a zone-level committee to monitor the streetlight contractors. Also, every 15 days, the SDOs will submit the report on the state of the streetlights in the areas under their jurisdiction," said Bhatia.

Matter referred to JDA’s new Chief Administrator
Levying of Rs 4 crore non-construction charges on Reliance company
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 4
The long-pending matter of the Jalandhar Development Authority (JDA) regarding levying of Rs 4 crore non-construction charges on Reliance Eminent Trading and Private Ltd for a 2.94 acre multiplex site on Garha Road has now been referred to its newly appointed Chief Administrator.

Even as two meetings were held at the PUDA office in Mohali to resolve the issue, Executive Engineer (Projects), Mohali, has now asked the Chief Administrator, JDA, Supreet Singh Gulati, to report on the matter. The Reliance group had last year sought clearance of its building plan for the construction purpose, but the office had asked the company to first pay up the pending non-construction charges. Company officials had also sought waiver on these charges.

The purchase of the site at Chhoti Baradari, Phase-II, in front of the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences in 2007 remained in headlines as it went for a whopping amount of Rs 107 crore. As per the PUDA bylaws, an allottee has to construct a building within three years of its sale, following which 2 per cent of the sale amount is levied each year as the extension charges.

Since it is the sixth year running since the plot was taken by the group in the open auction, the company will have to pay the amount prior to sanction of its plans. The fencing of the site, which falls near Cambridge International School in Chhoti Baradari, Phase-II, was done after its sale, but the mega project has somehow got delayed. The Chief Administrator has confirmed having been asked to report on the issue.

Over 13,000 screened in 3 days during Army recruitment rally
Tribune News Service

Col Atul Bisht, officiating Deputy Director-General (Recruiting) Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, interacts with mediapersons during the Army recruitment rally in Jalandhar on Saturday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

Jalandhar, May 4
With thousands of job aspirants thronging the open recruitment rally organised at the Dogra Ground in Jalandhar Cantonment, the Army authorities have screened over 13,000 candidates in last three days. The screened candidate have to undergo physical and medical tests before a written test to get the admit cards.

Briefing mediapersons, Col Atul Bisht, Officiating Deputy Director General (Recruiting), Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir (HQ Recruiting Zone), Jalandhar Cantonment, claimed that 3,000 candidates appeared on May 2, while 7,000 candidates participated in May 3, and 3,000 appeared today.

He said the physical fitness test (PFT) and physical measurement test (PMT) would be completed and medical examination for successful candidates will continue up to May 6. The Common Entrance Exam (CEE) of successful candidates will be held at the Dogra Ground on May 26.

Over 13,000 candidates from four districts -Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur - reported in the rally for the post of soldier general Duty (GD).

In addition to this, the rally was also open for all districts of Punjab for soldier technical, soldier nursing assistance and soldier clerk/storekeeper technical.

The officer said there was an overwhelming response from Hoshiarpur district. Response from other three districts -Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Nawanshahr - had also improved as compared to the previous rallies.

Outstanding sportspersons honoured at Khalsa College
Tribune News Service

The Deputy Director, Sports, Guru Nanak Dev University, Dr Harvinder Singh Randhawa, with sportspersons of Lyallpur Khalsa College, who were honoured at a ceremony in Jalandhar on Saturday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

Jalandhar, May 4
The sportspersons, who gave outstanding performances in the national and international-level sports competitions this year, were honoured during a function organised at Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar, here.

Dr Harvinder Singh Randhawa, Deputy Director, Sports, and head, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Guru Nanak Dev University, gave away prizes to the players of the college.

Dr Randhawa, an international athlete and also an alumnus of the college, said the students’ achievements were a result of the support provided by the college to them. That infrastructural development was very important, he said plans were being mooted to provide free education to sportspersons in colleges, increase their allowances and provide better infrastructure and lodging.

On drug addiction, he said though prevalence of addiction was not significant among sportspersons, few those indulged in drug abuse did for performance enhancement.

He added that if channeled constructively, sports could be a major factor to keep addiction at bay for the youth in the state.

Four students of Lyallpur Khalsa College were honoured for their participation in international competitions, 12 for participation in national-level competitions while six students were honoured for making significant contributions in winning the MAKA Trophy.

College principal Dr GS Samra said the contribution made by S Balbir Singh, former president of the College Governing Council, for the promotion of sports in Punjab, was unforgettable.

He said the college would continue to support sports in all possible ways so that the youth might be kept at a bay from the menace of drug addiction. He attributed the record 12-time win of the Teja Singh Samundari Overall Sports Championship at the university level, by the college to the efforts put in by S Balbir Singh.

Balbir Kaur, president, College Governing Council, congratulated the prize winners and assured them of all possible help and support.

Dr Jaspal Singh, head, Department of Physical Education, said the college had won overall sports championship of the university with 16,900 points.

Dr Kulwant Singh Sandhu, Dean, Sports; S Jaspal Singh Waraich, honorary secretary, College Governing Council; Olympian S Sanjeev Kumar and members of the College Sports Committee were present on the occasion.

Inspire Awards exhibition witnesses overwhelming participation
Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service

Students explain the functioning of their models to visitors during the Inspire Award exhibition at Sain Das Senior Secondary School in Jalandhar. Photos: Sarabjit Singh

Jalandhar, May 4
The three-day Inspire Awards exhibition organised at Sain Das AS Senior Secondary School dispelled many myths about government schools being lesser than their private counterparts. The Central funds were put to use in a visionary project which will certainly broaden the horizons of government school students.

While an overwhelming participation was witnessed from government schools during the exhibition, many of the concepts and models at the exhibition also came from them.

Pollution and other environmental concerns were on students’ minds going by a number of models created on the theme of solar energy and rainwater harvesting and recharging.

The three-day elementary level science exhibition saw participation from 237 students across the district, each of whom received a grant of Rs 5,000 from the Centre.

The exhibition saw 52 models on solar energy, 49 on water harvesting, 43 on technology, 39 mathematics models, 23 on biodiversity, 10 on earthquakes and the remaining on agriculture and pollution themes.

Concepts that won hearts were the presentation of a sound energy being translated into visual poetry depicted through flames in a poignant model (Class VI student), earthquake detecting device (through sound) from a student of Class VI, an anti-collision device in cars from a Class VII student and use of a hydraulics to lift loads (a private school student).

While the exhibition was seen to boost students’ confidence, this year saw the participation of school students from private and aided schools for the first time as well.

Karamajit Singh, Director Enforcement, from the office of the DGSE’s office visited the exhibition today.

District Science Supervisor Baljinder Singh, Principal Massa Singh, Bhupinder Singh, Edusat coordinator Jagtinder Singh Sohal, District Science coordinator Sanjiwan Singh Dadwal were also present on the occasion.

Mukti Karwan of Bachpan Bachao Andolan reaches city
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 4
The Mukti Karwan organised by the Bachpan Bachao Andolan, which has been touring various states in the country, today reached the city. District Education Officer Kuldeep Singh flagged off the procession from Nehru Garden Senior Secondary School.

Coordinator Dinesh Kumar said as per the Right to Education Act, education should be free and mandatory for all children aged 6 to 14, but as long as child labour was being practised, the act would not be implemented in its letter and spirit. He said it was the duty of the administration to conduct as many raids as possible and free the district from the menace.

In the city, the campaign was taken from the Ladowali Road, Master Tara Singh Nagar, station bus stand, Guru Nanak Mission Chowk, Model Town, Choti Baradari, Urban Estate Phase I, Nakodar Chowk, Sports Market Industrial Area and Focal Point. From here, it proceeded towards Amritsar.

BBA activists said as per the Juvenile Justice Act 2000, strict action should be initiated against those found employing children as labourer. They said policemen should be deployed at the railway station, bus stands and be instructed to inquire anyone suspected of indulging in child labour.

Innocent Hearts College of Education holds convocation
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 4
The Innocent Hearts College of Education organised a convocation today. Prof MS Hundal, Dean, Academics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, was the chief guest and Yurinder Singh Hayer, SSP (Rural), Jalandhar, was the guest of honour. Anup Bowry, secretary, BMEMT, Dr Chander Bowry, finance secretary, BMEMT, Shally and Aradhana, executive directors), principals, faculty members and other guests from various institutions were present.

A lamp was lighted and after that a report was presented by Principal Dr DK Joshi. Then the chief guest addressed the gathering.

Special certificates, degrees and medals were given to students. Degrees were conferred on nearly 250 graduates. Awards were given to university merit holders.

Dr Randeep Pannu presented a vote of thanks.