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Highway project yet to be completed, but toll rates up
Centre’s Rs 1,000 cr for flood prevention misutilised: Bajwa
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Sukhbir emerges master strategist
Tougher security norms for VIPs
District officials relieved as Badal’s Sangat Darshan in Qadian concludes
Funds earmarked for repair of martyr Sukhdev’s house
Govt issues advisory to depts on VB probes
Historic mansion of Sikh general near Golden Temple razed
Police gears up for SAD meet
IAS post
MPs, MLAs resolve to prevent climate change
Docs demand immediate release of DA
Activists seek amendment to juvenile Act
Patiala civic bodies get grant worth
Rs 29.74 cr
Need to identify crop-specific areas: Experts
3 yrs on, woman moves HC to seek justice for murdered son
Pension sought for elderly villagers
Primary schools told to upload data of students on Education Dept’s website
Appointment of Jalandhar NIT director upheld
BSF seizes 11-kg heroin in Amritsar
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Highway project yet to be completed, but toll rates up
Ludhiana, September 2 Now car owners will have to pay Rs 110 for a one-way passage at the Ladhowal toll plaza. The charge earlier was Rs 102. For a two-way journey, the commuters will have to pay Rs 165. Similarly, the toll rates have been revised at the Karnal and Shambhu toll plazas. The charges for trucks, buses and other commercial vehicles have been revised accordingly. Commuters complain that even though the expressway is in a shambles, the company has gone ahead and revised the toll charges. Exasperated over the poor road condition, Darshan Singh of Bathinda said: "I have paid Rs 110 for travelling on a road full of potholes." Sarabjit Singh Kahlon, an RTI activist said: "If the company is not carrying out construction work, on what grounds has itt revised the toll rates? It is agonising for commutersto shell out money and then experience a bumpy ride." Congress leader Ishwarjot Cheema said the party would bring the matter to the notice of Minister of Road Transport and Highways Oscar Fernandes. During 2012-2013, the company collected Rs 290 crore. With the toll rates revised yet again, the company's projected earning would be an estimated Rs 315 crore during 2013 - 2014. Under the RTI Act, Sarabjit Singh Kahlon had tried to seek details of the expenditure incurred on the maintenance and development of the stretch under the Ladhowal toll plaza in the past 10 years. However, the NHAI authorities said that details of the same was "not maintainable." Satrajit Majumdar and Manvi Bhatia, spokespersons for SOMA- Isolux, claimed that the toll rates had been revised as per an agreement. They denied that the company had stopped construction work. "Owing to heavy rains, we could not carry out repair works at a fast pace," explained Majumdar. The company spokespersons blamed the NHAI for not releasing funds, thereby impeding repair work.
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Centre’s Rs 1,000 cr for flood prevention misutilised: Bajwa
Bathinda/Muktsar, September 2 Talking to The Tribune during his visit to flood-hit areas, Bajwa claimed the Congress would win the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. On reported differences with former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Bajwa said the party was united. The PPCC chief first visited areas under the Lambi assembly constituency. He alleged: “Sangat Darshan programme is a waste. In my constituency, the government deployed a heavy police force which clamped an undeclared curfew. No person with a genuine grievance could meet the CM.” Criticising the Badal government for “mismanagement” on flood protection and prevention, Bajwa said: “The Centre had sanctioned Rs 1,000 crore last year for strengthening canals in Muktsar, Faridkot and Ferozepur districts. Where has all the money gone?” He alleged that the government was giving selective relief, ignoring Congress workers and supporters. He demanded that the government must give a compensation of Rs 25,000 per acre to the affected farmers. Besides, Rs 2 lakh must be given to people whose houses had been damaged, said Bajwa. During his visit to Muktsar villages, Bajwa alleged the SAD-BJP government failed to properly utilise central funds for strengthening the canals. “It is surprising that Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon did not visit the flood-affected areas even once. He has no right to hold the post,” he said. He also lashed out at Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal saying that drains were overflowing in the district, but the Chief Minister did not take action against any official. Bajwa alleged that Badal was playing politics by holding Sangat Darshan in
Qadian.
Akalis blame own leader for waterlogged fields
Muktsar, September 2 “Residents of Karam Patti and Mohlan villages have made a huge bundh so that the floodwater does not enter their fields. They are close to an Akali leader who always travels in CM’s official vehicle during the latter’s visit to the area. We had lodged a complaint in this regard, but to no avail,” said Balwinder Singh, an Akali worker, whose brother is member of village panchayat. Another Akali supporter Malwinder Singh said: “Most people in this village are SAD supporters. We had elected an Akali sarpanch. But nobody is bothered about us. In the past, rainwater never inundated our fields, but this time the situation is grim.”
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Sukhbir emerges master strategist
There is no challenge to his leadership within the Shiromanai Akali Dal (SAD), thanks to his father's political moves. All senior Akali leaders, who at one stage were seen as a potential challenge to Sukhbir, have either become redundant in the party structure or have accepted him as their party chief. It is certain that Sukhbir will be unanimously re-elected president of the SAD in Amritsar tomorrow where party delegates will hold a meeting in this regard. Did Sukhbir introduce any major change in the party's strategy during his first tenure as president? Sukhbir replied thus: "Yes, I brought about significant changes in the party, especially in its agenda, structure and functioning to make it more pragmatic. The first thing I did was to make the party all-inclusive. Though, I have maintained the essentially Sikh character of the party, its doors have been opened to all communities. This is evident from the fact that the SAD has MLAs and MPs from almost from all sections of Punjabis." He said he was not from the traditional school of politics. " It is because of that reason that my style of functioning, often described as a corporate style of working, is different from my predecessors. Being a businessman at core, I believe in getting things done and that approach has paid dividends. Under my command, the party has won all elections, be it the DSGMC elections, the SGPC poll or the assembly elections. For the first time in its history, the party has won assembly elections second time in a row, only because I believe in preparing strategies by minutely analysing all factors," said Sukhbir. Parkash Singh Badal, now party patron, carefully crafted his son's taking over of the SAD command. He first made Sukhbir acting president of the party to gauge the mood of senior leaders. Some leaders launched a whispering campaign against the elevation, but no leader dared to speak openly against the decision. Sukhbir acted smartly after taking over as acting president. He enrolled wards of all senior leaders of the party in the SAD's youth wing, making most of them office-bearers. Their wards accommodated in the youth wing, senior leaders began to fully back Sukhbir in his endeavour to get a firm grip over the party. At one point of time, the SAD used was headed by sants. The late Sant Fateh Singh and Sant Harchand Singh were popular leaders of the SAD. That was a period when the party was involved in morchas (agitations) on various issues, including creating the state on the basis of language. Surjit Singh Barnala, who headed the party for a while, and Parkash Singh Badal, who remained its chief for a long period, participated in these agitations However, Sukhbir became party chief in peace times. "My entire focus is on development. There are many who think I am building castles in the air, but I will prove them wrong in due course. I am all set to change the profile of the state in three years," Sukhbir claimed. Attacking the Deputy CM, Congress spokesman Sukhpal Singh Khaira today said: “Sukhbir Singh Badal is devoid of Panthic ideology and has made no sacrifice for the party.What Sukhbir is today it is because of his father.” He said the SAD was at one time headed by selfless leaders like Baba Kharak Singh, Sant Fateh Singh and Sant Harchand Singh Longowal who had no personal agenda. “The SAD has now been reduced to a family empire in which Akali jathedars have lost all significance,” he added. Astute moves
Under my command, besides winning DSGMC and SGPC poll, the party has won assembly elections twice in a row only because I believe in preparing strategies by minutely analysing all factors The SAD has been reduced to a family empire in which Akali jathedars have lost all significance
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Tougher security norms for VIPs
Patiala, September 2 The fresh orders say that a security guard can accompany the VIP out of the state for a maximum 72 hours after which he will have to report to the battalion or unit concerned. The Supreme Court has slammed the state governments on VIP security and has asked it to follow the 2002 orders of the Central Government in letter and spirit. This means that all persons, other than those falling in the eight categories defined by the state's security branch, won't be allowed to take with them a security guard outside the state. Sources in the security wing said that all Deputy Commissioners and district police chiefs had been sent a communiqué stating that henceforth, it will be the responsibility of the security official to intimate the security wing about the VIP's travel plans outside the state and take the permission to accompany him. At present, Punjab has over 4,500 policemen on security duty. A communiqué by the Additional DGP, Security, Dinkar Gupta, says that no officer or politician, travelling outside the state will travel with the security officials, without informing the security branch. And if the security personnel is to travel outside, he needs to keep his battalion/unit in the loop. "This would mean that even for official engagements, Punjab's VIPs, including Cabinet Ministers, will not have their security guards with them if they stay outside Punjab for over 72 hours," sources said. "Several MLAs have been taking their securitymen outside Punjab during family trips, stretching for days. We will surely not allow such a practice to continue," said a senior official. Dinkar Gupta said security personnel would also be prohibited from displaying their guns.
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District officials relieved as Badal’s Sangat Darshan in Qadian concludes
Qadian (Gurdaspur), September 2 The Gurdaspur and Batala police had made elaborate arrangements to keep Congress workers at bay following intelligence inputs that at certain places, they were likely to disrupt Sangat Darshan functions. Qadian Congress MLA Charanjit Kaur Bajwa’s ‘charter of demands’ to Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Abhinav Trikha on Friday turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the already stressed out policemen. Sources claim that the MLA's brother-in-law Fatehjung Bajwa, who is also PPCC spokesperson, had planned to barge into the marriage palace at Bhaini Mian Khan Sunday where Sangat Darshan was being held. He gathered 1,000 Congress activists at his hometown of Qadian. However, as word spread that his sister-in-law had handed over a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner to be further submitted to the CM, a fuming Fatehjung called off the protest, leaving his supporters flummoxed. Nonetheless, fearing that the Congress workers may disrupt the CM's function, the newly appointed Inspector-General (IG), Paramraj Singh Umranangal, decided to be present at the venue. Charanjit Bajwa said she was not in favour of disrupting the proceedings. “I took this step after consulting my supporters and the voters of Qadian. I have done the democratic thing in submitting a demands' charter,” she maintained. The CM's three-day Sangat Darshan in Qadian was not without glitches. Senior SAD leaders have been criticised by Congress leaders for ‘forcing’ the CM to address four press conferences in 72 hours. Sukhpal Khaira, PPCC Spokesman, said that on Saturday, the first day of the programme, Badal was made to address a press conference at Qadian at the behest of halqa chief SS Sekhwan. Four hours later, the CM was yet again compelled to hold a press meet at Babbehali village, allegedly at the insistence of Parliamentary Secretary GS Babbehali. “Later two more such conferences were organised. The SAD leaders belittled the status of the CM only to satisfy their own ego,” Khaira alleged.
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Funds earmarked for repair of martyr Sukhdev’s house
Chandigarh, September 2 A revolutionary, Sukhdev, Bhagat Singh, and Shivaram Rajguru, were involved in the assassination of Deputy Superintendent of Police JP Saunders in 1928. A member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), he Sukhdev played a major role in India's struggle for Independence. Born in May 1907 in Ludhiana, he organised cells in Punjab and other parts of North India. He, along with other renowned revolutionaries, started the “Naujawan Bharat Sabha” at Lahore to gear up the youth for the Independence struggle. As a petition filed in public interest on the issue by Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Memorial Trust against the State of Punjab and other respondents came up for hearing before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih, an affidavit was filed in the court. Besides giving details of the funds sanctioned for preserving protected monuments, it said the department concerned had already taken up the work of maintaining Thapar’s house. “The tender for preparing a detailed project report has been finalised and consultants have been entrusted with the task of preparing a detailed project report,” it said. The Division Bench set a four-month deadline for carrying out the restoration work. The Bench asserted: “We call upon the respondents to ensure that the restoration work is carried out at the earliest, preferably within four months… The petitioner-trust would be kept associated”. Chief Secretary, DGP summoned
More than a year after a person was killed and another seriously injured during a protest in Gurdaspur police firing, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the State Chief Secretary and the Director-General of Police to appear before the Bench. The directions by the Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih came during the resumed hearing of a public interest litigation filed by a non-government organisation, Lawyers for Human Rights International. It is seeking an independent probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the incident. The High Court, during a previous date of hearing, had directed the state to send arms to a forensic lab in Mohali for finding out the weapon that killed Jaspal Singh and injured Ranjit Singh. The report was to be submitted to the High Court within a month. Details of the FIR registered in the matter were also sought. In the absence of requisite action by the state, the Bench asked the Chief Secretary and the DGP to be present on September 10. The FIR in the matter was registered on March 29 last year.
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Govt issues advisory to depts on VB probes
Chandigarh, September 2 All departments have been told to settle pending cases under this category at the earliest to facilitate independent Vigilance inquiries. Sources said the move had been initiated following incidents of contradictory findings of departmental and Vigilance findings, which used to land the state government in a tight spot. An official spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau said after the receipt of approval from the respective department, the Vigilance investigating officer would complete the investigation within three months. He said the investigation report would be submitted to the department, which will have to take appropriate action on the report within two months.
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Historic mansion of Sikh general near Golden Temple razed
Amritsar, September 2 Located near the Golden Temple Complex, the mansion was with the descendants of Ramgarhia for a considerable period of time after which they sold it off. Consequently, the property has now changed hands and its new owner probably intends to utilise the space to construct a new building. Though it is being said the structure was damaged by the recent rains, leading to its collapse, some residents claimed it had been demolished. Its remains, however, still reflect the rich heritage as rare artwork could be seen on its walls. Talking to The Tribune, Onkar Singh Sandhu, who has penned a book on the 500-year history of the Ramgarhia community, said he had urged the Tourism Department to take the responsibility of its preservation, besides bringing the matter to the notice of the Shiromani Gurgwara Parbandhak Committee. However, nothing was done to preserve it. The mansion was constructed with Nanakshahi bricks somewhere between 1850 and 1860 while its walls adorned beautiful frescoes. The elderly living in the area said the structure was part of Sikh heritage and various prominent personalities had visited it. It was also witness to drafting of various strategies during the Maharaja Ranjit Singh era. Even the street was named after the noted Sikh general and people know it as ‘Kucha Mangal Singh Ramgarhia’. Mangal Singh Ramgarhia was born in 1800 AD. He fought various wars under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, including the one with the Afghans in 1837. In 1839, he was entrusted the responsibility of looking after the forts in Peshawar and Kabul, which he discharged honestly. Maharaja Ranjit Singh even rewarded him with property. He passed away in 1879. About the mansion
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Police gears up for SAD meet
Amritsar, September 2 Sukhbir's re-election is a mere formality as there is absolutely no challenge to his leadership within the party. Talking to The Tribune, SGPC secretary Tarlochan Singh said they had provided a hall for the session at the SGPC headquarters as per the tradition. The SGPC task force would be deployed for security and would make arrangements for "langar." The police too had made security arrangements, he added. Elected as SAD president for the first time in January 2008, Sukhbir has consolidated his position with successive electoral wins over the past five years. He led the party to victories in the SGPC elections in September 2011, assembly elections in March 2012 and the DSGMC poll in January this year, ensuring the party dominance in religious as well as political affairs. Questions raised Some sections have raised a question mark on the entire election process. SAD (Amritsar) secretary general Jaswant Singh Mann said it was not a true democratic way of electing a party president as the entire power was in the hands of a single family. Former SGPC secretary Kulwant Singh said the process had been reduced to a mere formality. Earlier, the party president was elected unanimously but not before consulting the delegates. — TNS
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IAS post
Chandigarh, September 2 Parampal Kaur, daughter-in-law of Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka, however, has not been selected to be empanelled, as she did not have the required scale for eight years. She had reached the scale in 2011. Others who have reportedly been recommended are Mohanbir Singh, Dr Puneet Girdhar and Kamaljit Singh Sangha. These five officers have been selected from amongst 26 officers who were called for an interaction with the team on August 29 and today. Sources said the five names finalised by the committee would now be sent to the Chief Minister for approval. Once approved, the state will then send the five-member panel to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Meanwhile, there are murmurings in the corridors of powers that only politically well-connected people have been chosen in the panel and that merit has not been the sole consideration. A maximum of eight persons can be appointed to the IAS from amongst non-PCS officers. At present, only three posts of IAS officers are occupied by such officers. These officers are DS Grewal, Secretary, Food and Supplies; KS Pannu, Secretary, Agriculture; and VK Sharma, Commissioner, Ferozepur division.
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MPs, MLAs resolve to prevent climate change
Chandigarh, September 2 The discussion was jointly organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the British High Commission at the CII headquarters. Talking about steps being taken by the Punjab Government for environment conservation, Minister for Revenue, NRI Affairs & Non-Conventional Energy, Bikram Singh Majithia said: “Punjab has accorded significant attention to climate change issues in the recent years and is duly committed to sensitise its population towards environment”. “Punjab has already initiated the process of preparing a strategy and action plan for climate change with technical support from German International Cooperation as per the national action plan for climate change framework. It focuses on integrating climate change into policies and programmes of the state,” he said. He also informed that the government had planned to establish a centre of excellence on climate change at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Majithia said Punjab had already taken legislative measures to prevent transplantation of rice before June 10. He also highlighted various energy conservation measures being implemented by the Punjab Energy Development Agency like mandatory use of solar water heating systems in buildings having area of more than 500 sq yds. Besides, a policy was being made to make rainwater harvesting mandatory for plot sizes of more than 40 sq m, he added. Sharing the ideas to bring about global environmental change, Baroness Sandip Verma, Parliamentary Under Secretary, Department of Energy & Climate Change, UK, said: “Climate is far above politics. We all should work in tandem in spreading awareness among the masses. The UK aims at engaging with Punjab to solve its problems like depleting water table, reducing soil productivity, use of renewable sources of energy and increasing forest cover.” David Lelliott, Deputy High Commissioner, said: “The UK is keen on providing support to protect the climate and decrease Co2 emissions in Punjab and Chandigarh”.
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Docs demand immediate release of DA
Patiala, September 2 Federation president Dr DC Sharma said it was shameful that the Punjab Government had been denying employees their due even when it claimed to be financially sound and was "spending hundreds of crores of rupees for the purchase of new aeroplanes, helicopters and cars for ministers and luxurious items for bureaucrats". "It (state government) always has ample money to pay the dues of the Central services employees such IAS and IPS officers belonging to the Punjab Cadre but it becomes bankrupt when it has to pay its own employees.”
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Activists seek amendment to juvenile Act
Sangrur, September 2 The president of a local NGO, Scientific Awareness and Social Welfare Forum, Dr AS Mann, said an amendment in the Act was the need of the hour in the light of increasing rapes and other crimes by boys between 15-18 years of age. He said a majority of social activists were of the view that three years’ maximum punishment under the Juvenile Justice Act to a minor offender was insufficient in rape and murder cases. Various organisations and social activists led by Dr AS Mann sought capital punishment for the minor offender in the December 16 Delhi gang rape case. They took out a march from the local BSNL Park to Barra Chowk, carrying placards stating "Hang the rapists" and "Award capital punishment to the minor offender in December 16 Delhi gang rape case". They said three years’ detention was not justified keeping in view the intensity of the crime. — TNS
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Patiala civic bodies get grant worth
Rs 29.74 cr
Patiala, September 2 This grant is meant for the overall development of the cities of the district. This was disclosed by Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra here today. Rakhra said the grant was provided to the local bodies out of the VAT collection. The minister reiterated the SAD-BJP government's resolve for a facelift to all the cities with provision of basic amenities and "ultra-modern" infrastructure. He said while the Patiala Municipal Corporation had been disbursed an amount of Rs 12.07 crore, the civic body of Rajpura had been given Rs 8.39 crore, Nabha Rs 4.53 crore, Samana Rs 1.80 crore, Patran Rs 1.25 crore, Banur Rs 67.70 lakh, Bhadson Rs 50.04 lakh, Sanour Rs 20.55 lakh, Ghanour Rs 14.74 lakh and the Ghagga civic body had been disbursed Rs 14.43 lakh. The Rural Development and Panchayat Minister said these local bodies, including Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and panchayats, would use this grant for providing better civic amenities and to set up modern infrastructure. Meanwhile, Patiala Mayor Amrinder Singh Bazaz said they had sanctioned work orders worth Rs 8.5 crore to repair sewage roads today.
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Need to identify crop-specific areas: Experts
Rudki (Fatehgarh Sahib), September 2 He was in town today to address the "Young Farmers Conclave" organised by the Rashtriya Kisan Sangathan. Dr Gurbachan Singh said the farmers would go in for diversification only if they were assured of processing and marketing facilities. Expressing concern over the depleting ground water level in Punjab, he said rain harvesting was a must as the ground water level in the state has gone down to about 60 ft. "As of now, we are using only 29 per cent rainwater for irrigation purposes.This should be raised to at least 40 per cent to 45 per cent to help increase production.” Dr Gurbachan Singh warned the farmers against taking agriculture loans for improving their living standards. He said these should be taken only to increase their income. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mangal Singh, Director, Department of Agriculture, Punjab, said the area under wheat and paddy needed to be brought down as the crops required a lot of water. He said the area under these crops had gone down considerably to 1.29 lakh hectares. The farmers were now gradually shifting to maize and cotton in view of the marketing facilities for these crops. He said the state government had set up a drying facility for maize at Saila Khurd in Hoshiarpur district. Earlier, the farmers were getting lesser remuneration for their produce because of the high moisture content.
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3 yrs on, woman moves HC to seek justice for murdered son
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 2 Jaswant Kaur had been moving from pillar to post to get justice for her 25-year-old son Devinder Singh Jugnu, whose mutilated body was fished out from the Sirhind canal near Rajpura in 2010. Jaswant had also approached Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who directed the Director General of Police (DGP) on December 23, 2010, to hold a proper investigation in the case. The DGP wrote to Inspector General (IG), Patiala, on January 31, 2011, to investigate into the matter. The then Patiala IG, Paramjit Singh Gill, had directed the Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police for conducting a detailed enquiry into the case but the special investigation team of the Mohali police has failed to provide justice to the bereaved family. Jaswant had also approached the President of India and the Prime Minister in this regard. The police had earlier stated that Jugnu might have committed suicide. However, the post-mortem report revealed that there were injury marks on his head, shoulder and other body parts. The police had registered a case of murder on September 26, 2010. Jaswant Singh, Jugnu's uncle, said despite their meeting with senior police officers, nothing concrete had been done. He said though the names of the accused had been mentioned in the DDR at the Sirhind police station, the police has failed to nab the accused.
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Pension sought for elderly villagers
Sangrur, September 2 He criticised the Punjab Government saying it did not have any solid agrarian policy for the welfare of farmers. He said this during a dharna organised by the district unit of the Punjab Kisan Sabha at the local district administrative complex. The farmers demanded remunerative prices of crops and reduction in prices of agriculture inputs such as diesel and fertilizers. — TNS
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Primary schools told to upload data of students on Education Dept’s website
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 2 Deputy Commissioner (DC) Arun Sekhri said it was necessary to bring transparency in the functioning of the schools. He said the data of 442 primary schools out of the total 464 schools in the district had already been uploaded and the data of the remaining 22 schools would be uploaded by October 31. Sekhri directed officials of the Education Department to ensure that the students of the schools, which had failed to get recognition, should be admitted to other schools. The DC said in order to improve basic amenities in the schools, the administration had spent Rs 1.17 crore on the renovation of toilets in schools. Sekhri also directed the SDMs and the District Education Officer to regularly monitor the quality of the mid-day meal. He said Rs 27.91 lakh had been paid to 1,163 cooks engaged under the mid-day meal scheme from April to June this year.
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Appointment of Jalandhar NIT director upheld
Chandigarh, September 2 Dismissing the case, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih observed: “We find no fault with the selection made through a committee of eminent persons….We find the writ petition completely misconceived and is dismissed.” The Bench added the petition, otherwise too, was filed three years after Dr Dass’ appointment, though his tenure as Director was to end in another two years. Challenging his appointment through a petition filed in public interest, Chandigarh-based RTI activist Dr Rajinder Kumar Singla had said the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development had invited applications in September 2010 for filling vacancies for the post of Director, National Institutes of Technology, Allahabad, Bhopal, Calicut, Durgapur, Hamirpur, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kurukshetra, Nagpur, Rourkela, Surat, Tiruchirappalli and Warangal. The candidate was required to have 15 years' experience in teaching/industry/research of which 10 years was a must at the level of professor or above in a reputed educational institute, industry or research organisation. Dr Dass, however, did not have the requisite 10 years' experience at the level of professor, the petitioner claimed. Dr Dass, he said, joined the IIT, Kharagpur, in 1997 as associate professor and was promoted as professor in 2004. As such, he had about six years' experience as Professor while applying in response to the advertisement. The Bench said: “This aspect has been explained in a counter-affidavit. The experience which was required was not as a professor, but at the level of professor. The pay scale of an associate professor in the IIT is equivalent to the pay scale of a professor in the NIT;and it is in view thereof that his experience has been considered at the level of a professor”. The experience which was required was not as a professor, but at the level of professor. The pay scale of an associate professor in the IIT is equivalent to the pay scale of a professor in the NIT;and it is in view thereof that his experience has been considered at the level of a professor
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BSF seizes 11-kg heroin in Amritsar
Amritsar, September 2 The Indian smugglers who had managed to sneak in the contraband through the fence on the India-Pakistan border, however, managed to escape. Addressing mediapersons, BSF Deputy Inspector General MF Farooqui said the incident occurred on the intervening night of Sunday-Monday. The BSF personnel noticed some movement near the border and alerted a patrolling party. “The BSF men tried to intercept the smugglers but they managed to escape taking advantage of the darkness, leaving behind the 11 packets of heroin wrapped in a cloth,” said Farooqui. On August 27, the BSF had seized 10 kg of heroin from Udhar Dhariwal village. The BSF has already seized 185 kg of heroin this year whereas the total seizure last year stood at 288 kg. The rise in smuggling attempts at the India-Pakistan border is being attributed to the record production of opium in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of foreign troops from the trouble-torn nation. The monsoon and the paddy crop are the other factors to blame for the increase.
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Qadian (Gurdaspur), September 2
Amritsar, September 2
Amritsar, September 2
Sangrur, September 2
Amritsar, September 2
Chandigarh, September 2
