Farmers, teachers protest
Amritsar, July 23
Accusing the state government of promoting politician-police-musclemen nexus, activists of various farmer, labour, teachers and trade associations held a protest rally against the SAD-BJP government at the GT road near Tangra village today.

Improvement Trust accused of giving misleading information
Amritsar, July 23
Local RTI activist and youth leader of the People’s Party of Punjab Sandy Randhawa has accused the Improvement Trust of giving misleading information on an RTI application filed by him.

Stagnant water at old sabzi mandi poses threat to residents
Amritsar, July 23
The old sabzi mandi has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and is posing a serious malaria and dengue threat to the residents here.

Amritsar, July 23
The ambitious Mid Day Meal Scheme, meant to achieve 100 per cent literacy rate and reduce malnutrition among schoolchildren, is facing bottlenecks while getting subsidised LPG cylinders released, courtesy stringent norms.

Majority of schools offering mid-day meals are forced to cook the food by burning firewood in hearths. Not only shortage of LPG cylinders, there is space crunch for storing food material as well.

According to current norms, a school is entitled to get one LPG connection irrespective of its student strength.

"Before restricting the number of subsidised cylinders, the government did not realise the potential impact it would have on the schools offering mid-day meals," said head teacher of a government school pleading anonymity.

She said if the strength of students was over 150 in a school, the one-cylinder-a-month formula was not conducive there. In such case, the school staff has to arrange fuel such as twigs, wood etc to run a makeshift hearth. She said safety was paramount while operating such hearths.

The Amritsar Tribune team found that many schools housed kitchens inside classrooms which disturbed the students' studies. Besides, it risks the lives of students and teachers in case an accident occurs.

Educational institutes are offering mid-day meal to nearly 1.57 lakh students. About 97,000 students from primary schools and nearly 60,000 from upper-primary schools are benefiting from the scheme.

Manager, Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Santokh Singh said, "Neither the state government nor the Education Department can do much over the release of LPG connections to schools as mid-day meal is being run under a Central government scheme. The government does not release separate funds for procuring LPG cylinders."

The Central assistance under the Mid Day Meal Scheme to an upper-primary class student was Rs 5 per meal while it was Rs 3.34 per meal to a student of the primary class. This includes cooking of ration and fuel cost.

The Central government had launched the Mid Day-Meal scheme, also known as the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education, on October 2, 1995.

"Not all schools are facing storage problem. Many schools have adequate number of rooms and proper storage facility," Santokh Singh claimed. 

Amritsar, July 23
In a significant move, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has given a green signal to establish a Municipal Solid Waste Management Plant in the holy city. The case was pending in the court since the year 2006.

The HC in its verdict, kept reserved on July 2, has directed the Amritsar Municipal Corporation to hire a company within six months.

The division bench also instructed the MC to apply for authorisation of the site at Bhagtanwala with the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB).

Even as this condition would not be taken as a deterrent in hiring the company for the project, it would be the civic body's liability as well as the hired company to obtain a no objection certificate (NOC) from the Punjab Pollution Control Board before starting the work on the project.

In 2006, Amritsar-based Punjab Pollution Control Committee had filed a petition in the court objecting to the Bhagtanwala site for setting up of such a project.

On the other petition filed by AKC Developers Ltd challenging the cancellation of its contract for the project, the court said that contract awarded to the company could not proceed as the company insisted on possession of land without obtaining authorisation under the mandatory rules.

Newly appointed Municipal Commissioner DPS Kharbanda said the process of awarding the contract would be started soon as per the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. 

Amritsar, July 23
Accusing the state government of promoting politician-police-musclemen nexus, activists of various farmer, labour, teachers and trade associations held a protest rally against the SAD-BJP government at the GT road near Tangra village today.

The protesting associations were Kirti Kisan Union, Pendu Mazdoor Union, Mulazam Manch, Democratic Teachers Front, Teachers Ekta Manch, Asha Workers Union, Mid-day Meal Workers Union, PWD and Forest Department Workers Union.

Leaders of these organisations addressed the rally. Dhanwant Singh Khatrai Kalan, Dharminder Ajnala and Chanranjit Singh flayed the attack on the house of farmer leader Ravinder Singh at Chajjalwaddi village and filling of illegal cases against various leaders of employee unions, including Germanjit Singh.

They alleged the leaders of the ruling party were hand in gloves with the police circumventing the law to achieve their ulterior motives. They threatened that if these cases were not cancelled and the people behind the attack were not punished, they would hold a protest at the district headquarters. 

Amritsar, July 23
Local RTI activist and youth leader of the People’s Party of Punjab Sandy Randhawa has accused the Improvement Trust of giving misleading information on an RTI application filed by him.

On July 5, Randhawa had sought details of the development works being undertaken by the Improvement Trust.

He said, “As per its reply on July 16, the Trust has not given details of work orders for any of the projects in the city. It states that from January 1 to July 10, no work orders had been given.”

“I would be filing a complaint against the Trust for giving misleading information to the RTI,” said the activist.

In a complaint to the Trust, Randhawa has said the tiles being used for laying the footpaths at Ranjit Avenue were of inferior quality. He said the materials being used was not as per the quality standards prescribed by the Trust. 

Amritsar, July 23
The old sabzi mandi has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and is posing a serious malaria and dengue threat to the residents here.

The area was evicted from the vegetable and fruit merchants in 2009 as part of the plan to tackle traffic chaos in the area. But ever since then, the six acres of the evicted land is lying unused and has become a dumping ground of nearby business and homes to dispose waste.

A fruit shop owner near the place said, "The area has started emanating foul smell after the rain. We are facing a lot of difficulties because of this." He said even drug addicts could be seen using the old structures in the mandi to their advantage.

Amritsar, July 23
Only 500 of about 5,400 participants managed to complete the physical test on the last day of the Army recruitment rally here.

Director, Recruitment, Col NA Seethi said less than 10 percent were able to clear the first hurdle of 1.6 kilometer race.

The rally, which started on July 15 for the youths of four districts of region, a total of 33,000 youngsters had appeared for the test. Of these, around 3,000 cleared the race. Finally, around 2,000 candidates were examined to be medically fit.

The screening, besides 1.6 km race, includes pull-ups, balance and crossing a nine-foot ditch. The successful candidates would appear in the written test on July 28.

Colonel Seethi said a large number of candidates appearing for the rally indicated that youngsters in state were enthusiastic about joining the Army.

He said they had detected three youngsters trying to use unfair means to get into the forces.

"There are not many options except this one for rural the youth with educational qualification of Class XII. If we fail in this, we would have to live a life of poverty," a youth said.

"The 1.6 kilometre race is a run for life for them. We often see the youngsters who failed on the margins to plead for another chance," an officer said.

The recruitment officials rejected only seven candidates after they were found bearing tattoos on their bodies, except on palm and back of their hand.

During the recruitment rally last year, 450 candidates were rejected on the same grounds.

"The armed forces do not take persons with tattoos. At times, they come after the tattoos have duly been removed with medical help," the colonel said. 

Amritsar, July 23
One person was killed while over half a dozen were injured in a violent clash at Baabowal village in Majitha last night due to rivalry over recently concluded panchayat elections. Incidentally, both the parties belonged to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) group.

The deceased has been identified as Mukhtiar Singh (50), the brother of former sarpanch Mangal Singh.

The police has registered a case in this regard. The accused are still at large.

Reports said Mukhtiar Singh along with several of his supporters visited the house of Kewal Singh over some land dispute.

It was at about 10.30 pm that around 20 persons belonging to the camp of present sarpanch Harnam Singh reached there.

After a verbal spat, the group opened fire indiscriminately, resulting in the death of Mukhtiar Singh while leaving several others injured. The injured were Baldev Singh, Kewal Singh, Angrez Singh, Manpreet Singh, Ranjit Singh, Sawinder Singh, Balwinder Singh, Tarsem Singh and Major Singh.

They were admitted to the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital where their condition is stated to be out of danger.

Meanwhile, the Kathunangal police has registered a case against the accused identified as Dara Singh, Harjit Singh, Jodh Singh, Harpreet Singh, Sahib Singh, Sukhjinder Singh and Kuldeep Singh who fled from the scene after hurling gunshots.

Police officials said even as the victim and his men had gone to resolve a land dispute issue which the other party had objected to, the real issue was an old political rivalry.

Kathunangal police station in-charge Preetinder Singh said the body of Mukhtiar Singh was handed over to his kin after conducing post-mortem examination. The search is on to nab the culprits, he added. A case under Section 302, 307, 148, 149 of the IPC has been registered. 

Amritsar, July 23
A three-year-old boy, who had sustained injuries with a sharp-edged weapon, today succumbed to his injuries here. The victim, identified as Simarjit Singh, got injured when his family was allegedly attacked by the kin of the girl whom his uncle had got married sometime back.

Nobody has been arrested so far. The police has registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC against the accused. Simarjit's father Amandeep Singh, who is a priest at Nada Sahib Gurdwara near Chandigarh, said he had come along with his family at Channanke village on last Sunday.

"When I along with my wife and two children were going to my in-laws' place at Dakoha village in Gurdaspur, five armed men obstructed our way on the highway. They carried dagger-like weapons with them. Anticipating their intentions, we ran away to defend ourselves but my son Simarjit received serious head injuries after being hit by a sword," he said.

Even as the victim was rushed to the Guru Ram Dass Hospital but he could not be saved. The Mehta police has identified the culprits as Kulbir Singh, Harpreet Singh, Sandeep Singh, Malkiat Singh and Simran Singh.

Sources said the incident was fallout of an old rivalry after the victim's uncle Ranjit Singh got married to Kulbir Singh's sister one-and-half year back to which the girl's parents did not approve.

Police in-charge Avtar Singh said the real motive behind the incident was yet to be established.

"The case we had already registered under Section 307 of the IPC has been replaced with a case under Section 302. Search is on to nab the accused," he added.

Amritsar, July 23
Two motorcycle-borne youths snatched the earrings of a city resident near Ghumiara Wala Bazaar here. One of the accused has been identified but was not arrested.

In another incident, in teh city, unknown persons picked the pocket of a devotee who had come to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple.

Tripta Devi, the victim, said as she was passing through Ghumiaran Wala Bazaar on foot, two motorcycle-borne youths came from behind and snatched her earrings before fleeing from the spot.

Investigating officer Sub-Inspector (SI) Karanjit Singh told that one of the accused has been identified as Mandip Singh, a resident of Gali No 4, Ishwar nagar located on the Tarn Taran road. "He and his accomplice are still out of reach but a case under section 382/34 IPC has been registered in this regard", he said.

In second incident occurred yesterday, Sharanjit Singh, a resident of village Kalyanpur falling under police station Dasuya, Hoshiarpur told that he had come to the Golden Temple when his pocket was picked by an unknown person on the way. The accused decamped with his ATM cards, Rs 6000 in cash and a driving licence.

The victim alleged that the accused had also withdrawn Rs 40,000 from his ATM and his total loss was estimated to be Rs 46,000.

SI Bhagwan Singh of police station Galliara told that case under section 379 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered with the E-division police station but the accused is still untraceable.

Amritsar, July 23
The eight-day motorbike rally, Ride for Peace, was kicked off here today. The event is being organised by the Church of North India (CNI). Led by Bishop Pradeep Samantaroy of the CNI, the rally was flagged off by SP (HQ) Balbir Singh.

The rally would cover 2,000 km in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to spread the message of peace, harmony and brotherhood. The rally has in its itinerary Palampur, Manali, Kotgarh, Shimla and Chandigarh before culminating here on July 30.

Samantaroy said the message of oneness of mankind had become all the more important in the contemporary world where peace and tranquillity was being threatened by divisive notions of castes, colour, creed, origin and community.

For the first time, a foreigner, Neil Smith, a priest from Sydney (Australia), is participating in the rally, which has become an annual feature. Started in 2011, it went to Himachal Pradesh and in 2012 it covered Srinagar.

Director of the Socio-Economic Development Project Daniel B Das said the motive of the annual rally was to follow the message of Bible.